Parenting with Spirit [3-workshop set]
Three Workshops by Cindy Brooks and Joya Birns
These three workshops explain and further develop the themes in their book, Parenting with Spirit: A Waldorf Guide for the Three Phases of Childhood.
The first CD covers "Working with the Spiritual World." In this workshop, Cindy and Joya focus on the reality of spiritual guidance and ways to connect to this source of inspiration and support in daily life. Working with music, meditation, discussion and artistic process, they develop a practice for ongoing dialogue with the angelic realm.
The second CD on "Waldorf-Inspired Communication and Empathy Skills" covers how children develop through the three 7-year periods and ways to work with developmental forces in parenting. The focus is on discovering how age-appropriate communication and mirroring can improve the parent-child relationship. Discussion time is included to assist with practical application.
The third CD focuses on boundaries, tolerating negativity and Waldorf-inspired discipline strategies for each 7-year period. Discussion time is included to help with practical application.
Order the 3-CD set and save $5! You pay only $32.50 instead of $37.50, if purchased individually.
Also purchase the book Parenting with Spirit: A Waldorf Guide for the Three Phases of Childhood ($15)
Regarding the book:
Cindy and Joya have written a much-needed book describing the three phases of childhood and ways in which effective parenting skills change in response to children's changing levels of development. The seven-year phases of development are described in the chapter on "Working with Developmental Forces in Parenting," as well as ways to influence children when they are centered in imitation (bith-7), admiration (7-14) and individuation (14-21).
The next chapter, "Discipline Skills for Parent-Child Conflicts," focuses on age-appropriate communication skills and strategies, and ways in which these need to change as your child grows and matures. Working with the spiritual world is also discussed, along with tips for co-parenting and single-parenting. The book ends with extensive appendices on therapeutic stories, suggested reading, and community resources.
I highly recommend this book! It is short--only 60 pages, spiral bound--but it's hard to find this information in such a concise, clearly written format! --Rahima
About the authors:
Joya Birns and Cindy Brooks co-lead the monthly support group at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School ("Parent Circle") and various workshops for parents. Joya previously taught early childhood and handwork classes in three Waldorf Schools and has worked with parent groups since 1982. Cindy received her MA in transpersonal psychology from Antioch University--Seattle in 1990. In 1995 she completed a two-year training in sandplay at the Child Therapy Institute of Marin and was licensed as an MFT in California in 1996. In 2003 she graduated from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and has worked with the Care Group at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School since 2003.
