Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
SparkleCast Episode 6 – Inspiring a Love of Music with Andrew & Polly
In this episode, Andrew, Polly, David, and Rebecca talk about music and ways to introduce or boost music appreciation in your home. They use the Junkyard Tales story “The Band” as a model of how music can create community and be a mechanism for social inclusion. They also show how music can come naturally to children.
Storybox Playlist: Stories of Thanksgiving
When we feel gratitude, we cannot feel fear, anger or resentment. It is the elixer of happiness — and here are some stories about our national festival of gratitude — Thanksgiving.
Friday's Kind Words: Road Trip Life Saver
We listen to your stories during all of our road trips it's an absolute lifesaver. ~Kelly Kelley
Find Calm, Reach Out, and Then — Do Something Brave
Let us take a moment to find calm.
Sparkle Kitchen: Campfire Stew
This week's recipe comes from another chilly night when something equally magic happened by the light of an autumn fire. It was a good friend's birthday, and, to celebrate, she invited us all out to her teepee to have stew for dinner.
Post Election Support – Suggestions and Stories
I want to write some thoughts about how to support yourself and your children today — as emotions run high, as the media frenzy now feeds on “what if” stories, and we all recover from the outcome of the election.
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "As I Truly Am"
Hello again, Sparkle Friends! Nice to be with you and our nurse and healer of Dry Gables, Liesl Herz.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Taking Care of Yourself
It is a busy time of year — there are many expectations of ourselves and others and what we often forget is how to prioritize self care. Here are a few stories that encourage self care and then give practical ways on how to do it.
Friday's Kind Words: Stories as Inspiration
I am fairly certain I am inspired by these stories as much as my child is! ~ Melissa Teske
Nature School Project: Candle Luminaries
We are joined by Rachel Wolf, who shares with us her tutorial for candle luminaries that will help bring a bit of the magical in-between glow to your home.
"The Lantern Prince" – a Free Martinmas Story
Next week is Martinmas – a festival that may not be familiar to many of you – but one that is perfect for the mood of early November and in cultivating festival life. Days are shortening.
Peanut Butter and Banana Quesadillas
These peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chip quesadillas are perfect for letting even little kids make their own snack. Just lay out the ingredients (on a cutting board) and let the kiddos spread and chop and sprinkle to their heart's content.
Healing the National Rift — A Story to Help Children & Families Post-Election
How do you bridge the gap?
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Cultivating Festival Life
Here are some stories that will help mark the seasons, big events, and traditions in your family.
Friday's Kind Words: Such a Wonderful Resource
I've listened to the first couple of SparkleCast podcasts and already feel a subtle shift in my parenting. ~MagicMama1978 iTunes Review
Nature School Project: Plaster Casting
Today we are joined by Dave Scott, director of Earth Native Wilderness School, who shares with us his method for creating plaster casts.
Sparkle Kitchen: Cream of Tomato Soup and Cheesy "Bone" Sticks
This creamy tomato soup with cheesy “bone” breadsticks is more like the cartoon bones than the real thing. It's the fun kind of scary. And, perhaps more importantly, it's easy to make and hearty enough to fill your little goblins' bellies before a night of trick-or-treating mayhem.
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "A Great Burden is Lifted"
The stories from the two "Dry Gables" Series include an accompanying post from the Sparkle Schoolhouse Educator, Meredith Markow. In this post we cover our good friend, Wilhelm Bauer, Dry Gables’ Carpenter and Town Planner.
Announcing! Our newest Series — Dry Gables: Hands Together!
The second Dry Gables Series is officially underway!
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Embracing Change
Some children love change — they throw themselves into new environments and meet new people with enthusiasm and curiosity. But, many children are not so easy with change — in fact, they dread it. Here are some stories about meeting a threshold with anxiety, fear and resistance — and how they break through.
