Resources for Parents & Caregivers
Links
allianceforchildhood.org - The Alliance for Childhood seeks to reduce children’s stress through promoting child-initiated play, reducing screen time and high-stakes testing, and increasing healthy play opportunities. There are many excellent articles and resources here created by deeply committed educators and researchers.
commercialfreechildhood.org - The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood asks us to imagine a world in which children can be free from brands, marketers and attention-hijacking devices, and where children’s needs come before corporate profits. The site offers up-to-the-minute excellent and concrete articles for coping creatively right now with COVID-19 restrictions.
informedfamilylife.org - This ‘Waldorf in the Home’ website was created by Rahima Baldwin Dancy, author of the perennial favorite, You Are Your Child’s First Teacher, Encouraging your child’s natural development from birth to age six, now in its third edition. You’ll find helpful articles and other resources here.
simplicityparenting.com - The Simplicity Parenting website has a wealth of resources for parents and caregivers, including podcasts, videos, Simplicity starter kits and more! The website and related trainings grew out of the book by Kim John Payne: Simplicity Parenting: Using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier and more secure kids.
pikler.org - The tagline for Pikler-Lóczy USA’s website is “Well-being for the Children of the World.” And that is what they are all about, inspired by the groundbreaking work of Emmi Pikler, MD, the Hungarian pediatrician who advocated for respectful care for infants and children.
www.rie.org - RIE, or Resources for Infant Educarers, was founded by Magda Gerber, who studied with and was inspired by Emmi Pikler. The RIE site is filled with resources to help parents and caregivers respond to babies and young children with gentle, attentive respect from the very start.
sophiashearth.org - Sophia’s Hearth is a flagship childcare facility and teacher training institute that combines the wisdom of Emmi Pikler and Waldorf education to provide a model approach to childcare in which all children are met with dignity and respect for the unique, multi-faceted beings they are.
waldorfearlychildhood.org - This site from the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) offers information and resources about a Waldorf approach to early childhood education that emphasizes play, movement, imitation, imagination, rich sensory experience, story, song, reverence for the natural world and loving care for humankind.
junipertreepuppets.com - This site highlights the work of Waldorf early childhood educator and puppeteer Suzanne Down. It’s a treasure trove of stories, seasonal activities, puppetry materials and inspiration.
Articles
Making Peace with Toddler Conflict by Trice Atchison
Five Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job by Alfie Kohn
Learning through Imitation by Rahima Baldwin Dancy
Pikler’s Trust in the Wise Infant by Jane Swain
Sweet Dreams by Susan Weber
TLC With Backbone by Tara M. Fass, on Robin Berman’s excellent book, Permission to Parent
Who’s in Control? by Jean Leidloff