Parenting from the Heart

Building a compassionate community starts during these foundational first weeks of school, and this is a crucial time to dedicate...

Chris Cameron likes to speak at Room 1’s end-of-the-year class parties about how long each child who is graduating to kindergarten has...

“I’m always worried that my child isn’t getting enough nutrition. He will only eat certain foods and often leaves half his lunch.” Eating...

What will the next thing be like? When our children are about to make a transition, it’s natural to want to talk to them about the...

When my dad yelled “Calm down!” he didn’t mean “Find a quiet place within yourself” or “Take a deep breath and blow out slowly.” “Calm...

How do we respond when asked to wait? In our individualistic society, adults are notoriously impatient when faced with a line—in a store,...

“WATCH THIS!” CHILDREN YELL as they perform a cartwheel, ride fast on a bike, or build a tall tower with blocks. Often the request isn’t...

Parents can feel discouraged when their children greet them at the end of the day with a whine rather than a hug. In our imaginations,...

When my friend was upset as a child, her Native American grandmother would suggest she work at her weaving. My friend was always...

If your child's personality seems to change at this time of year, try not to worry. In spring, a child’s fancy turns to pushing limits...

Our recent time change provides a good reason to think about sleep and some of the lore surrounding nocturnal happenings. We all know...

Children’s statements of boredom often sound like a “right”: “I’m bored; I shouldn’t have to do this homework.” “I’m so bored, I don’t...

“Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you.” – Lyrics from the song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield “Do you make...

We can’t say good-bye to this year’s Founders Day celebration without highlighting the central role of compassion at our school. Last...

“What seems to be the problem, Mr. Clark?” This is the question posed by older students when they encounter our facilities coordinator,...

How do children perceive themselves? One of the ways we can find out is through their self-portraits. Depicting oneself in art starts in...

I never learned to blow bubble gum and pop it. In order to set this up as a short-term goal for me (it’s never too late), my...

Hearing children repeat requests over and over can make adults feel dizzy—especially when saying “Please wait a moment” intensifies the...

When my dad yelled "Calm down!" he didn't mean "Find a quiet place within yourself' or “Let’s just stop and breathe together.” "Calm...

I was impressed and amused by a class journal entry written by one of our third graders pointing out that her dog had demonstrated one of...