A giraffe threw a temper tantrum on my kitchen floor last week.
 
Now, this wasn’t just any giraffe.  This giraffe is “Baby.”   My two year-old’s baby, to be specific.  My son loves to give Baby rides in his wagon or on his tricycle.  He sleeps with it, runs to help it when he sees it endangered, and carries it tucked in the crook of his neck, sweetly rubbing its back and telling it what a “cute baby” it is.  This giraffe-boy …

Thank you to all who are participating in the Simplicity Parenting book study!  If you are just finding us this week, you are welcome to join in the discussion in the comments below.   I am enjoying the thoughtfulness of your comments and the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences!
This week’s reading, Chapter 2, was on “Soul Fever” – Soul Fever is what Kim describes as the emotional equivalent of a physical fever.  When small (or large) stresses accumulate, you …

Photo Courtesy of parentingwithpresence.net
There are 4 critical areas that need a parent’s attention and appropriate response when it comes to bringing out the best in our children and a clue to why our little ones may be suffering from “soul fever”: rhythm, sleep, nutrition, and media exposure.
Children tend to sleep when they are tired, play when they want to learn, eat when they’re hungry, and cry when they need to release stress.
“…and cry when they need to release stress” …

Kids Haven’t Changed; Kindergarten Has:  New data support a return to “balance” in kindergarten By LAURA PAPPANO from the Harvard Education Letter Sept-Oct 2010.
An 18 month study by the Harvard School of Education compares child development to Gesell’s “Developmental Schedules” from 1925, 1949, 1964, and 1979. The study responds to the feelings of many adults that children are growing up faster, and asks the questions, “Have kids gotten smarter? Can they learn things sooner?”
Re-searchers found that there is remarkable similarity …

At the beginning of August, we had a great blog post by Tammy Sanders on ‘Soul Fever’. When first introduced to the concept in Simplicity Parenting, I had a hard time ‘diagnosing’ it in my own child. She sometimes seemed ‘soul fevered’ all the time- -how was I to know what needed extra love and what to ignore as simple toddler whining? However, as I’ve been implementing SP values in our lives, I have been weeding out a bunch of …

Have you ever wondered what is wrong with your child and just not been able to put your finger on it?  He could be moody, crying, pitching fits or isolated, quiet, and withdrawn.  All you know it something just isn’t right.
Soul fever is just as real as a physical fever. For your child, it can be completely consuming.  Something is causing undo stress in your little one’s life leading to an unleashing of emotions.  Figuring out the stressor is …

When my children are in good form they are dynamic and funny, adventurous and just really good company. Sometimes though, particularly at the end of the week when we are all a bit worn out, I know it isn’t going to be one of those blissful days. I find days like this a little easier to cope with when I am prepared mentally for them. When I am ready to write the day off before it even begins I can …