Why Children Need Joy

Awarded the 2016 Nautilus Gold Medal for Parenting and Family! Spirit Rock founder, author, and teacher James Baraz’s Awakening Joy offers his large and devoted readership a program to gain contentment and happiness by cultivating the seeds of joy within. Here he joins with Michele Lilyanna, a classroom teacher for 25 years, to offer caregivers and children ways to find joy in each day together. This unique offering nourishes both adults and kids. James shares the practices for the adults—parents, caregivers, and teachers. Michele offers her own experiences as a parent and as a teacher, showing how the themes work with kids, followed by the tried and true lessons that she's used herself in the classroom and at home. Packed with practices and activities that James and Michele have gathered over their many years of working with thousands of adults and children in retreats, workshops, and the classroom, Awakening Joy for Kids is imbued with compassion and delight. Part of Parallax Press' growing curriculum for parents and educators designed to cultivate joy and mindfulness in children.

This book asserts Joy as one of the most important building blocks of every child’s development and wellbeing. Using the latest research in neuroscience and biochemistry this book will demonstrate how critical simple moments of joy can be for children and the role of the adult in supporting joy through compassion.

Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior now asks: what are the effects of children on their parents? In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior tries to tackle this question, isolating and analyzing the many ways in which children reshape their parents' lives, whether it's their marriages, their jobs, their habits, their hobbies, their friendships, or their internal senses of self. She argues that changes in the last half century have radically altered the roles of today's mothers and fathers, making their mandates at once more complex and far less clear. Recruiting from a wide variety of sources—in history, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology—she dissects both the timeless strains of parenting and the ones that are brand new, and then brings her research to life in the homes of ordinary parents around the country. The result is an unforgettable series of family portraits, starting with parents of young children and progressing to parents of teens. Through lively and accessible storytelling, Senior follows these mothers and fathers as they wrestle with some of parenthood's deepest vexations—and luxuriate in some of its finest rewards. Meticulously researched yet imbued with emotional intelligence, All Joy and No Fun makes us reconsider some of our culture's most basic beliefs about parenthood, all while illuminating the profound ways children deepen and add purpose to our lives. By focusing on parenthood, rather than parenting, the book is original and essential reading for mothers and fathers of today—and tomorrow.

Understand the connection between how kids grow and how they learn After 35 years as an education consultant, Rae Pica knows the importance of understanding the natural course of child development. In this collection, she keeps kids front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and actionable insights on topics such as the Common Core, the self-esteem movement, and standardized testing. Sure to inspire discussion, this pocket-size powerhouse of educational philosophy includes 29 short essays on topics critical to best practice in child development and education Opinions of experts supported by research and anecdotal evidence Real-life stories shared by teachers and parents References to related articles and interviews with experts

“Our children are destined for greatness, each and every one of them. But let us not confuse fame with greatness. All of our children, whether they lead ordinary or extraordinary lives, are called to exemplary virtue, generous sacrifice, courageous heroism, and above all, deep, enduring love. They are called to be saints.” These words of Mary Cooney are the driving force behind her book Evangelizing Our Children with Joy. With an energizing zeal and drive, Mary shares with us the wisdom that has come from the highs and lows of parenthood, intermingled with the inspiration she has received through prayer and the Bible. From the virtues of mercy, kindness, and patience—virtues abundantly needed in the family setting—to the riches of the sacramental life, Mary shows us how to teach our children that the path to living an extraordinary life leads through the ordinary actions and habits of everyday living. Mary Cooney, wife and mother, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. With a degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy, she has been teaching children for over twenty years. Her most delightful students are her own five, lively homeschooled children. She currently lives in Maryland.

From the bestselling author of Jesus Calling® Embrace the true meaning of Joy with the young believers in your life in Sarah Young’s newest 365-day devotional, Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids. In Sarah Young’s newest 365-day devotional for kids, Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids, she focuses on the biblical teaching of the joy we can experience at any time and in all circumstances. With Scripture and new personal reflections, the #1 bestselling author brings Jesus’ message of joy—for today and every day—to children. Adapted from the bestselling Jesus Always, each day’s devotion has the same theme as the adult version, as well as written-out Scriptures. It is a great choice for families to read and discuss during devotional time together. Written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to the reader, Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids will engage your children and help them find lifelong true contentment and joy. Reaching out with joy-filled reminders from the Word of God, these devotions will intimately and gently connect your children with Jesus—the One who meets you where you are. Help your children draw near to Him in Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids.

The single greatest lesson parents teach their kids isn't anything they say--it's what they do. And while most parents would say they want to raise compassionate kids, they might be surprised to discover just how little they're actually modeling the behaviors they hope to pass on--qualities such as unconditional love, gentleness, forgiveness, patience, gratitude, humility, and more. In this unique book, Sami Cone shows parents a new way to look at molding their children, one in which focusing on adding good behaviors and attitudes is more powerful than eliminating bad ones. Grounding her advice in Scripture--specifically the twelve characteristics found in Colossians 3:12-17--Cone offers plenty of stories from her own life to show these principles in action. And she offers practical things parents can do right now to create a home and family that exhibits love, harmony, and generosity of spirit in a self-centered world.

Parents let go of their children every day, even in ways they don’t realize. The 52 devotional readings within shine a light on all the times readers have loosened their grip on their children and encourages them to continue to let go in life-giving ways. Written by a parenting and education expert, The Joy of Letting Go will comfort and inspire parents in all seasons of parenting.