INTRODUCTION TO THE NURTURED INSPIRATIONS APPROACH (Excerpted Sample)
The Seven Pillars of Well-Nurtured Children (With Activities)
As human beings, we crave a deep sense of connection: to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. Living in connection and community with others gives us a sense of well-being that is innate to who we are and shows us the interconnectedness of everything. This satisfaction, calm, and sense of self is very evident in our children as well and, as we grow and learn alongside them, we understand the importance of nurturing our connection to the world. In this way, we become better stewards of our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls, and can share these gifts with others. Nurtured Inspirations takes a holistic approach to nurturing children as the foundation for all discovery and growth. Among many things, this includes relationships with self, others, space, place, materials, environments, and the natural and built world around us.
Embracing a philosophy of nurture is an empowering way to step out of the traditional paradigms of raising children. Rather than a hierarchical approach to teaching our little ones, where we are the arbiters of knowledge, we believe that paying close attention to our children as whole beings exactly as they are in each moment and learning from their unique sense of things, we can nurture connection and co-construct what it means to live a well-balanced life. It is through creating a sense of calm, well-being, and strong sense of purpose that our children are empowered to be themselves fully and without compromise.
When our children learn to embrace their unique inner compass, they are able to understand their purpose and readily share their gifts with the world. Children can learn to self-regulate their emotions and express themselves clearly even in difficult situations. Our approach is to give you thoughtfully written resources to think with you on your own journey towards living a well-nurtured life with your children. Through The Seven Pillars of Well-Nurtured Children, we focus on a holistic approach to guide and nurture children as they evolve through connected relationships, and grow in their understanding and love of themselves, and their unique identities. The Seven Pillars invite us to nurture children’s well-being and guide them to find meaning, inspiration, and purpose in their own lives. This holistic way of being invites us to listen and learn alongside children by honoring the experiences and contexts from which they come. We believe that in order to nurture calm in children we must nourish and develop The Seven Pillars of Well-Nurtured Children.
The Seven Pillars of Well-Nurtured Children give you a foundation to support all of the complex elements of children's growth and development. These are the Emotional Pillar, the Social Pillar, the Physical Pillar, the Intellectual Pillar, the Moral Pillar, the Spiritual Pillar, and the Nature Aesthetic Pillar. Through considering and nurturing each pillar, you will find how each is a starting point for diving deeper into supporting a well-nurtured child. You will discover the impact of each pillar in creating a sense of calm in children’s understanding of self, relationships, and ways of being in the world. The Seven Pillars will empower you and your children to connect, reflect, and engage in dialogue. This guide will give you a greater sense of how each Pillar connects to a well-nurtured life, offer a relevant activity that will orient you and your children to thinking about each Pillar, and will open up a space for reflection and calm as you navigate life's mysteries and joys together.
1. The Emotional Pillar
The Emotional Pillar invites us to consider our emotional well-being and to care for the emotions of others. Our lives carry complex situations with have a direct corollary to our emotional landscapes, and our children also experience these complexities. Nurturing the ways in which children absorb and respond to their environments, we engage children in thinking about their inner lives and expression of themselves as full, complex people.
Research continues to prove that children with high emotional intelligence are happier, more connected, and have more meaningful relationships with others. As we nurture the Emotional Pillar in children, we bring to their being a way of understanding what it means to be connected,
through the heart, with those around us. We help them to think about what it feels like to share an emotional relationship with others.
This exploration into the Emotional Pillar offers an encounter with heart-forward dialogue between you and your little ones. We invite you to use this as a template for engaging in conversation with children, and to add or change the suggested elements to your own unique situation. Allow space for any emotions or conversations that arise, for you or your children, and model for your children the ways you nurture calm throughout.
Around the Circle
Purpose: An insightful exchange between you and your children, that emphasizes the importance of conversation, listening, and reflecting. Through opening our hearts to one another in dialogue, we nurture the value of individual opinions and feelings. By encouraging our children to share and be shared with, we give them the confidence to express themselves and model empathy for others.
What You Need: A microphone, talking stick, or other speaking tool chosen by the child and the parent. Or, take some time before the exercise to craft one together. Create a calm space that is comfortable, quiet, and distraction-free to have a dialogue.
How to Begin: Create a list of questions with your children that you will pose to one another. Be as creative, fun, or thoughtful as you like! An example question: If you could describe your day as a color, what color would it be and why? If you could describe yourself as a color, what color would you be and why?
Once you have your questions, pose one at a time to one other. The person asking the question will use the speaking tool to pose the question, then the person answering will hold the speaking tool. Allow each child and/or parent to share their responses without interruption.
Thoughts to Consider: Although the goal is to have a thoughtful, fun dialogue with one another, to support other's experiences of the world, and to grow emotional intelligence and connection, some unforeseen emotions and particular vulnerabilities might enter this activity as well. These can be wonderful moments to reflect on the Emotional Pillar. When interruptions or negative emotions come up, give space to them. Children may also struggle with articulating themselves in this way. Consider these questions to support your little ones as they ease into conversation:
How do you feel in this moment?
What does it feel like?
Are you feeling any fear or feelings of being uncomfortable?
What did you like about (name of other child or parent)'s response to the question?
Did you feel supported when you shared your emotions?
Reflections: In making space for children to express their emotions, they nurture their own sense of identity and empathy towards others. When moving on from this activity, acknowledge with your children that spending this time was meaningful and important. Give each child or parent the ability to reflect in their own words how they felt about sharing their thoughts and emotions, and any other closing thoughts.