We Nurture: Waldorf Inspired Parenting
286 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 months ago -This parenting podcast empowers parents on their journey by exploring what it means to nurture and be nurtured with mindfulness and presence. Listen to learn how you can best meet your child’s developmental needs as your child grows and develops while cultivating a nurturing, joyful home life.
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Episodes
Why Conscious Parenting Matters
May 01, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBParenting wakes us up, sometimes in jarring ways especially when we begin to be more aware of our actions and behavior. In fact, it can sometimes be a surprise to us. It can be frustrating, scary, confusing and leave us feeling helpless. When we become conscious of our behavior, our words and actions we see that we actually have a choice, we can choose to raise our consciousness and live in alignment with the person we’re striving to become. Being conscious brings us closer to making the cha...
Creating a Waldorf Inspired Home using the Waldorf-Home-Schooling Method
April 24, 2023 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBYou're in for a real treat in this episode! Listen in to my in-depth conversation with guest Catherine Read, PhD author of 'The Genius of Home' - Teaching Your Children At Home With The Waldorf Curriculum. Catherine and I met about 30 years ago when we attended a Waldorf Playgroup at a Waldorf school in Southern California and then after moving across the country we reconnected again on the East Coast when we both moved at different years to Pennsylvania. Catherine and I share immense res...
Navigating Boundary Expectations When Parenting Together
April 17, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBBoundary expectations are connected to how parents choose to raise their children. The way you both think, the decisions you both make are informed, consciously or unconsciously, by what you both value and perhaps even more so, the personality traits you want to see in your child. But you both will not know what characteristics or traits are important to you unless you both talk about it. Because it takes being sensitive to each other’s perspective, communication is key. It's the best way ...
Finding Joy in Ordinary Days
April 10, 2023 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBYoung children thrive in the ordinary, to them it's reliable, predictable and feels safe. There's less anxiety, less overwhelm, less to be nervous about especially when the ordinary is nourished by a healthy rhythm. It can be hard to slow down, be present and fully embrace ordinary moments and ordinary days. How you wash the dishes, do the laundry, sweep the floor, set the table; these and more can make you feel like you're not seen and perhaps this is what makes simple, ordinary moments an...
The Nurturing Circle Membership: Our community for parents to connect, grow & transform
April 03, 2023 14:00 - 5 minutes - 3.51 MBClick here to join the membership today! Website Instagram
How to Help Your Child Have Better Sleep
March 27, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBFor young children sleep is a sacred time that needs to be protected. Sleep is often a vulnerable time for young children and when they need us by their side. In this episode, I talk about what it means to nurture your child’s sleep as soul care. How slowing down life supports a child in "digesting" their day and also in being able to let go of the day in order to fall asleep. I touch on emotional overload and overwhelm and what happens when we view sleep as a holistic experience. Join m...
How Observing Your Child Can Make You a Better Parent
March 20, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBOver 30 years ago when I was first introduced to Waldorf education I heard about the immense value of observing my children and how it would help me know them better. This concept was new to me as a valuable parenting tool. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. In this episode, I share what I learned from observing my children. I also talk about a good starting place should you choose to practice observing your child as a way to know them better. I'm so glad you've joined me! Webs...
Deepening Your Understanding and Love for Your Child Through Observation
March 20, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBOver 30 years ago when I was first introduced to Waldorf education I heard about the immense value of observing my children and how it would help me know them better. This concept was new to me as a valuable parenting tool. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. In this episode, I share what I learned from observing my children. I also talk about a good starting place should you choose to practice observing your child as a way to know them better. I'm so glad you've joined me! Webs...
The Benefits of Creating Rhythmical Meals
March 13, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBWhy do rhythmical meals work? And What are the benefits? It's no surprise that young children do best when life is consistent and dependable. They feel safe when life happens in the same way over and over and even in the same order. They want daily life to be reliable and this is one reason why rhythmical meals work. When your rhythm includes a rotation of weekly meals that your child can count on then mealtimes are more likely to go smoother. Creating a rhythm with meals will also create m...
Balancing Your Needs With Your Child's Needs
March 06, 2023 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBBeing a parent is so rewarding but also hard. There’s so much that you need to surrender to much of which you were not even aware of before having a child. Finding balance in daily life is definitely one as well as balancing your needs with that of your child’s. It’s really a constant challenge. What does the heartbeat in your home feel like? Do you have clear intentions for your family's lifestyle? Is there a rhythmic heartbeat in your home? Join me in this episode for advice and tips ...
Season 7 Intro
February 27, 2023 10:00 - 2 minutes - 1.62 MBWelcome back to the We Nurture Podcast! We are so excited to announce that Season 7 will be starting next Monday. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss the first episode. Subscribe to our newsletter, The We Nurture Journal, to be notified when the season has begun and to receive updates throughout the season! Website Instagram
Upcoming Webinar! How to Create a Restorative Daily Rhythm
January 22, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 2.07 MBJoin Chinyelu for a talk on How to Create a Restorative Daily Rhythm: The key to reducing stress in your child’s day. A good rhythm is the foundation of a peaceful, low-stress home life with your children. In this webinar, you will learn the steps to creating a rhythm for your family and how to implement it each day. Learn more! Register
How to Curate Outside Toys and Backyard Play and Increase Your Child's Outdoor Play
July 15, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBSpending time outdoors is real food for the soul, real food for the senses, as it nourishes the young child’s senses. Spending time outside helps your child breathe deeply and be better regulated. Nature reduces overwhelm and eases tension. It will bring your child to a calm peaceful state. One of the great benefits of being out in nature is that it also gives your child time away from screens, and makes it possible for them to intimately reconnect with themselves. Join me in this episode...
The Benefits of Creating a Summer Seasonal Table
July 14, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIt’s Seasonal Thursday and I’m so excited to have you here today. Welcome to the We Nurture Podcast with me, your host, Chinyelu. Today, I’ll be talking about the benefits of creating a summer seasonal table for you and your child. Waldorf Education calls it a nature table and it is all about creating nature scenes that reflect what is happening outside in nature, during that season. I’ll speak to you about how a seasonal table opens up opportunities for creativity, engagement, bonding, comm...
5 Waldorf Inspired Practices for a more Balanced Lifestyle
July 13, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBWelcome to a new episode on The We Nurture Podcast! Today is Inspirational Wednesday, and I will be talking about five Waldorf-inspired practices that I believe will help you cultivate a more balanced, nourishing lifestyle for your family (and for you too!). No matter your parenting situation, looking after little ones is no easy task. While focusing on the five practices, which are self-care, rhythm (one of my favorites!), daily routines, family values, home life and connecting with nature,...
Using Stories to Help your Child Handle Change
July 12, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBWelcome back to another bountiful episode of blossoming Tuesday on the We Nurture Podcast. I’m your host, Chinyelu. Today, I talk about how you can use stories to calm your child when they are distressed. Your child could be agitated due to a break from routine or nervous about an upcoming event. In any case, stories are a way to capture your child’s attention and imagination, in an effort to bring calm to a situation. I will tell you how descriptive language is great for early childhood dev...
Why Time Outs Don't Work and What to Do Instead
July 11, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today is Mindful Monday, and I will be discussing why giving a child a timeout doesn’t work. Timeouts, which are ineffective and punitive, never serve their intended purpose. While delving deep into the topic, I explain why we need to change our perception of dealing with negative behavior, and how by doing this, we create an opportunity to support our children, connect with them, and build a relationship. I try to help you understand the i...
Managing Bedtime With Multiple Children
July 08, 2022 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today is Q&A Friday, and I am going to be talking about how to manage bedtimes when you have children of different ages. I am going to talk about the power of healthy, daily rhythms and having a holistic overview of the day. Before I get deep into today’s episode, I recap the six foundations of a healthy rhythm and give some quick examples of how to make sure you achieve these. Then, I will help you understand the effect a busy day has on t...
Summertime Rhythm to Nurture Your Child and Family
July 07, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today is Seasonal Thursday, and I am going to be chatting about how to create, and maintain, a nourishing, balancing summertime rhythm to nurture your child and family. We all know that the summer season is notorious for unplanned, changing activities. So, when reflecting on our rhythms, we need to focus on creating predictable and consistent routines that will support our child's ability to self-regulate, have a sense of normality, and sup...
How Opened Ended Toys Build the Imagination
July 06, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBDid you know that when your child plays with a toy, they actually build a relationship with the toy and the material that the toy is made from can affect how they play with the toy. It’s important when we are intentional about the kinds of toys or play materials that we give to our child. Does it have warmth? Does it invite your child to play? How does it feel? How does your child engage with it? These are all good questions to ask. Just by watching your child, you can see how much their ...
Nurturing Compassion with Doll Play
July 05, 2022 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBWelcome to the We Nurture Podcast. Today, I will be talking about the importance of doll play in your young child’s development. Doll play can nurture compassion in your child, and give them the ability to care for someone or something else. Waldorf education states that dolls are the archetype of the human being and I have seen this to be true in my experiences with preschool children. I will show you how doll play can lead to you, as a parent, being more mindful, what to avoid when you are...
The 4 Temperaments - A tool to Better Understand Your Child’s Personality
July 04, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBToday on Mindful Monday, I will be talking about the four temperaments as a tool to better understand your child’s personality. By understanding temperaments, we, as parents, can meet our child's needs in a more effective way. The four temperaments, which can be defined as traits and characteristics, are known as air (sanguine), water (phlegmatic), earth (melancholic), and fire (choleric). “Although each temperament has specific qualities, we can expect that every one of the qualities will ...
Daily Self-Care for Stressed Parents
June 24, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBIn this Q & A Friday Episode , I’ll be talking about Self-Care for Stressed Parents. This question was asked on our instagram poll when we asked parents to submit their questions for Q & A Friday on the podcast. It received a lot of votes which made it the clear choice for this episode. If you would like to ask a parenting question you can submit it on Instagram @we (underscore) nurture on Mondays during season 6! Listen in as I guide you through how to acknowledge your stress, process ...
The Benefits Forest Bathing and Why It's a Healthy Activity
June 23, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBIn this episode, I talk about Forest Bathing, the benefits and why it's a healthy activity. What is it about forest life that draws us, heals us, and brings us joy? What does it mean to bath our senses in the atmosphere of the forest? In the forest, nothing is asked of us so we find ourselves listening, observing and noticing what’s around us. We relax. And when we are in a place where we can calmly take in our surroundings, particularly in a forest where our senses are bathed, we become...
The Benefits of Forest Bathing and Why It's a Healthy Activity
June 23, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBIn this episode, I talk about Forest Bathing, the benefits and why it's a healthy activity. What is it about forest life that draws us, heals us, and brings us joy? What does it mean to bath our senses in the atmosphere of the forest? In the forest, nothing is asked of us so we find ourselves listening, observing and noticing what’s around us. We relax. And when we are in a place where we can calmly take in our surroundings, particularly in a forest where our senses are bathed, we become...
12 Types of Play Your Child Needs
June 22, 2022 12:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBAs parents, we know how important play is for young children. For the young child, play and learning are one and the same. Through play, children try out their ideas and develop new capacities at their own pace and in their own timing. It's been said that the most effective way for a young child to be educated is to let them learn through play at their own pace. - To let them learn when they are ready and interested. The types of play that I’ll focus on is based on research that was used...
Nurturing Your Child's Ability to Self-Regulate
June 21, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutes - 8.99 MBWelcome to another inspiring edition of Blossoming Tuesday on the We Nurture Podcast. Today, I talk about how to nurture your child’s ability to self-regulate. I highlight three stages of learning - supporting self-regulation, co-regulating, and achieving self-regulation that, when nurtured, builds your child’s ability to regulate. You’ll come to understand what role your triggers, as a parent, play in your child’s self-regulation journey. I share insights on the importance of breathing,...
The Effects of Screen Time on the Young Child
June 20, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today on Mindful Monday, I will be chatting about the effects of screen time on our young ones. I'll open a dialogue around why screen time should be limited for younger children. I'll talk about how I raised my children, the research and resources I used, and the methods of observations that better equipped me to create and maintain a screen-free home. While acknowledging that this is a difficult task, I'll give advice, tips, and powerful ...
The Effects of Screen Time
June 20, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today on Mindful Monday, I will be chatting about the effects of screen time on our young ones. I'll open a dialogue around why screen time should be limited for younger children. I'll talk about how I raised my children, the research and resources I used, and the methods of observations that better equipped me to create and maintain a screen-free home. While acknowledging that this is a difficult task, I'll give advice, tips, and powerful ...
Navigating Resistance and Aggressive Language
June 17, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBToday on Q&A Friday, I talk about how to mindfully navigate resistance and aggressive language in our children. With no simple one-size-fits-all approach, I guide you in understanding that each situation requires a personal tailored response: one that is in the best interest of your child. You'll learn the importance of a child being able to express themselves, and how to look beyond their behavior with kindness and empathy for underlying issues that they may be trying to express. Discover s...
Connecting your Child to Life Through Gardening
June 16, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB“Gardening isn’t just an activity that we do. In so many ways, it shows us the essence of the cycles of life, from the seed to the aging, dying plant.” Today on Seasonal Thursday, I’ll be talking about a Waldorf inspired approach to gardening with young children. Once again, I will invite you to place yourself in the young child’s world of feeling instead of knowing, experiencing instead of overthinking. I'll take a look at the importance of nature in early childhood before taking a deep div...
The Benefits of Cooking with Your Child
June 15, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 9.83 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today is Inspirational Wednesday, and we will be chatting about the power of cooking with your child. In this episode, I share personal experiences I had with my mother, my experience as a Waldorf educator, and experiences with my children in their early childhood years. I use all of these experiences to guide you through the benefits of cooking and preparing food with your child. From social-emotional and cognitive development, building s...
The Benefits of Cooking with Your Child
June 15, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 9.83 MBWelcome to a new episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today is Inspirational Wednesday, and we will be chatting about the power of cooking with your child. In this episode, I share personal experiences I had with my mother, my experience as a Waldorf educator, and experiences with my children in their early childhood years. I use all of these experiences to guide you through the benefits of cooking and preparing food with your child. From social-emotional and cognitive development, building s...
Activities to Calm and Ground Your Child
June 14, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBDo you feel like your home needs more calm? Well, get ready for some peace at home as we welcome you to another episode of the We Nurture Podcast! Today, on Blossoming Tuesday, I talk about activities that you can do to ground and calm your child. Behavior is something that needs to be carefully considered and in this episode you'll learn how your child’s behavior determines which calming activity best suits their needs. You'll also discover just how important it is to identify your child’s ...
Why It's Important for Children to Know There's Goodness in the World
June 13, 2022 10:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBWelcome to another exciting edition of Mindful Monday on the We Nurture Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the importance of letting children know that there is goodness in the world. Life is hard, so children need to know that even in difficult times, goodness does exist. You'll learn that parents need to protect our children from our adult fears and anxieties and that we, as adults, need to be a model of happiness that our children can look up too. We come to understand that f...
Story: Grandmother's Root Cellar
June 07, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBLong ago, in a tiny house at the edge of the forest lived grandmother. Grandmother loved to spend her days in the garden tending to the flowers. She grew more than she needed so she could share with the birds and small animals that came to visit. Grandmother had a tiny root cellar beneath her house where she stored her carrots and pumpkins in the winter and in the summer it was cool. in the summer. It was where she always went when there was a storm and she needed to be safe. “This ...
Bossy and Aggressive Behavior Towards Siblings
June 03, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this episode, I talk about my parenting experience with bossy and aggressive behavior. I discuss the importance of having unconditional love, compassion, and empathy as a way to understanding how our child's behavior stems from their internal fears and desire to control (because of their fears). In sharing my personal story my hope is that it will help you if you are facing this kind of behavior. If you think my story and advice might help a family member or friend, please share it with...
Restorative Foods for Spring
June 02, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBToday, the We Nurture Podcast is all about making your child blossom like a spring flower! We have the added pleasure of being joined by health and beauty coach, Jolene Hart. Jolene speaks about the importance of getting your child into the rhythm of eating with the seasons from an early age. And that it’s possible to make healthy eating fun for them! Tune in to hear Jolene's advice and tips from her own personal and professional experience. Key Points From This Episode: Jolene’s most imp...
Nurturing Confidence in your Child
June 01, 2022 10:00 - 11 minutes - 8.1 MBToday on Inspirational Wednesday, I'll show you ways in which you can nurture your child's confidence and I'll share the value of raising a self-confident child, how to achieve this, and how a child’s early experiences lay the foundation for their life. For a child to be self-confident, they need to be given the freedom to experience new things in their world of “play“ and you, as their parent, need to allow them the opportunity to be governed by their own will. Moreover, parents need to pra...
Story: The Groundhog Family Goes to Farmer John’s Compost Pile
May 31, 2022 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.18 MBOnce upon a time, in a green meadow dotted with wildflowers, there was a cozy earthen hollow that went deep into the ground. This is where a family of groundhogs lived. Every morning they climbed out of their hollow and ate handfuls of yellow dandelions and red clover. But it was not enough food for little groundhog because he was always hungry. So the family scurried to Farmer John’s compost pile to look for good food to eat. We recommend this story for ages 3 - 7 About the Author Chiny...
What You Can Learn From Your Childs Drawings (part 2)
May 31, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBToday on Blossoming Tuesday, I am continuing the discussion of how to understand your child's drawings. I'll explain the importance of being patient with your child and allowing them freedom of expression as they transition through their developmental stages. You will begin to understand that something as simple as the ability to draw a circular shape, sun-ray shapes, dots, and lines sees a child go through many processes and developmental stages. We start to understand the significance of d...
Cultivating a Habit of Eating Wholesome Food
May 30, 2022 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBToday on Mindful Monday, I will be exploring what it means to cultivate a habit of mindful eating. You will learn, through my personal stories and tips, what wholesome food is and how to introduce it into your children's lives. First, I'll begin with the understanding that food needs to be seen as much more than just what we eat. I will guide you through what a good relationship with food looks like and how to foster this in your children. Secondly, I will share insight into the healing prop...
How to End Non-Stop Begging
May 27, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBToday is Q&A Friday on The We Nurture Podcast and our Instagram followers voted for todays topic on how to end non-stop begging. First, I’ll discuss why begging is a learned behavior and the importance of teaching your child to accept your decision. I also discuss why suppressing your child’s emotions is not helpful for establishing healthy communication. Next, I’ll talk about how you can calm yourself and really listen to your child and then I’ll go through some steps you can take to help y...
Spring Rituals to Refresh, Restore, and Reconnect
May 26, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBToday on Seasonal Thursday, I'll discuss how to create spring rituals as a way to refresh, restore, and reconnect. Spring is known as a time for an evaluation of what we should keep and let go of, mindfully connecting to areas in our life that need focus. I'll explore how these rituals are a way to inspire fresh ideas and shift focus in the home, body, and soul. During today’s episode, you will learn how to implement a slow and intentional daily practice and the benefits it has for a child’s...
Building a Trusting Relationship with your Child
May 25, 2022 10:00 - 10 minutes - 7.53 MBTrust is the foundation of all relationships. Today on inspirational Wednesday on the We Nurture Podcast, I am helping you find ways to build a trusting relationship with your child. First, I’ll discuss why trust is so important for the development and blossoming of children and look at what happens when there is no trust between children and parents. I’ll then talk about how to build trust with your child in the early years of infancy and toddlerhood before discussing how keeping your word ...
What You Can Learn From Your Childs Drawings (part 1)
May 24, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBThe ability to understand your child's drawings gives you a new perspective into their own, private world. Today on Blossoming Tuesday, I explore drawing as a process of developing interconnections and expressing emotions through different shapes and images. I'll describe the positive exploration, expressive, and anchoring processes a child goes through by drawing. I will guide listeners through the sequences and phases of development to give a glimpse into the growth of a child's individu...
What You Can Learn From Your Child's Drawings (part 1)
May 24, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBThe ability to understand your child's drawings gives you a new perspective into their own, private world. Today on Blossoming Tuesday, I explore drawing as a process of developing interconnections and expressing emotions through different shapes and images. I'll describe the positive exploration, expressive, and anchoring processes a child goes through by drawing. I will guide listeners through the sequences and phases of development to give a glimpse into the growth of a child's individu...
Story: Billy the Little Bunny Rabbit
May 24, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutes - 6.8 MBWelcome to the We Nurture Stories for Children podcast. We utilize the power of storytelling to encourage language development, inspire moral growth, and enliven the imagination. We hope you enjoy the timeless activity of getting lost in a good tale. There was once a little bunny rabbit named Billy who lived in a burrow with his mommy, daddy and brothers and sisters. The burrow was very snug for the bunny family and as the baby brothers and sisters began to grow bigger, it became rather s...
Reconnecting with your Child at the End of the Day
May 23, 2022 04:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBAfter a full day of work, school, or daycare, you and your child may have been apart for many hours. Today, on Mindful Monday, I'll share some strategies for reconnecting with your child at the end of the day. Firstly, I discuss how important it is to reconnect with yourself before you reconnect with your child. Next, you’ll learn a simple breathing exercise to help you do so and I'll discuss how important it is to slow your thoughts down in these moments. Lastly, you’ll discover four ways t...
Creating a Waldorf Atmosphere at Home
May 20, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBToday is Q&A Friday on the We Nurture Podcast, and I will be sharing tips on how to create a Waldorf atmosphere for your children at home. I'll discuss the foundation of the Waldorf education system and how you can begin to create a similar atmosphere in your home. You’ll learn how important it is to develop yourself as a parent, as well as how rhythm contributes to the Waldorf atmosphere, and I'll delve into what it means to embody a space before listing the three most important rooms in a ...