Conscious Families

This month's conversation is with Priya Wong who has over 40 years of diverse experience in public education in addition to being both a parent and grandparent. Her interest in innovative education was sparked by the Education for Life schools and she took these principles to charter school education in 2001 and was the co-founder and Executive Director of Forest Charter School in California. Priya's continued passion for Education for Life is driven by her sincere enthusiasm for seeing every child succeed by acknowledging and nurturing their unique gifts.In this episode, we discuss:Success for every childPersonalize learning and education beyond academicsThe importance of the parent-school partnershipNurturing the joy of learningWorking with your childs’ gifts and strengths for motivation and successHow to work with unrealistic expectations Using inquiry and conversation to guide your childPlus much more!Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom School, Nevada CityAnanda VillageForest Charter SchoolEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, check out www.consciousfamilies.org and sign up to our weekly newsletter!

This month our conversation is with Gita Matlock, mother of 2, who resides with her family at Ananda Village, the spiritual community in Northern California where she was born and raised. She attended the Living Wisdom School where her children are now students and serves on the Board of Directors for the school as well. Gita is also an equine-guided life coach and co-founder of Herd Spirit which offers coaching, retreats and even yoga classes with horses. This work with horses, along with her training in yoga and meditation, has not only supported her own personal growth but has had a profound impact on her parenting as well.In this episode, we discuss:developing a love for learningtips and tools for working on ourselves as parents/adultswhat gets in the way of parenting consciouslypractices support ourselves as parentswhat's really involved in behavior changehow to work with big emotionscommunication, body language and working with energyResources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom School, Nevada CityAnanda VillageIndividual Coaching with ErinHerd Spirit: Healing Equine Reflection and DiscoveryEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, check out www.consciousfamilies.org and sign up to our weekly newsletter!

This month's conversation is with Gary McSweeney, an Education for Life middle school teacher who has spent the last 20 years with the Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto. He is also the parent of a Living Wisdom School graduate who has since become an Education for Life teacher himself as well as an EFL teacher trainer!In this episode, we discuss:what makes an EFL child uniquewhy EFL is a universal approachworking with expectationsblending old and new approaches to find the best of what worksthe power of positivity and redirection for "negative" behaviorsworking creatively with conflicts, consequences and challengessupporting the middle school and teen yearsclear consistent boundaries and positive challengesResources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom School, Palo AltoAnanda WorldwideAnanda CommunitiesEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, check out www.consciousfamilies.org and sign up to our weekly newsletter!

This month's conversation is with Helen Purcell, director of the Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto, California. Helen is veteran educator with over 40 years of teaching experience as well as mother of two grown children.  Helen was part of the first team to spread the word about Education for Life and she says the EFL philosophy has informed both her teaching and parenting ever since.In this episode, we discuss:Education for Life as a map for understanding and working with energyCreating a solution oriented family cultureWhat to do when your child wants to quitReleasing expectations and nurturing the individualThe mistake of over scheduling and how to combat itSingle parenthood, small families and the need for communityHow to prioritize meditation as a parentDeveloping your child's spiritual lifeSharing values like kindness and joyResources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom School, Palo AltoAnanda CommunitiesEducation for LifeAwake and Ready ExercisesAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, check out www.consciousfamilies.org and sign up to our weekly newsletter!

✨Parenting Pause ✨This monthly segment includes inspiration and a short guided centering practice to relax, reset and awaken your highest parenting potential.This month the focus is on letting go of fear and worry and  includes a short 10-minute centering practice with deep breathing and visualization to help you release anxiety and reconnect to a sense of peace and calmness within. Centering practice starts at 1:55 To sign up for FREE monthly parent circle:www.consciousfamilies.org/monthly-circleFor breathing practices to share with your child, check out our YouTube channelAnd if you want more tips and inspiration and to find out what's coming next sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org

This month's conversation is with Kshama Kellogg, director of the Living Wisdom High School in Palo Alto California. Kshama is an EFL specialist who has spent the last decade exploring the field of education and consciousness, having taught elementary, middle and high school students. She spent many of her early years at Ananda Village attending the Living Wisdom School there and shares with us the influence and impact EFL has had throughout her life and some of the lessons she's learned as both student and teacher.In this episode, we discuss:travel and service as a way to develop values and life skillsseeing the best and helping children discover their true selfthe power of cooperation to learn and grow togetherlearning to work with habit patterns in a more conscious waymentorship and community in developing our abilities as conscious adultstrusting and embracing the natural process of growth and developmentResources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom High SchoolAnanda VillageEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.

✨Parenting Pause ✨This monthly segment includes inspiration and a short guided centering practice to relax, reset and awaken your highest parenting potential.This month the focus is on the importance of relaxation and  includes a short 10-minute centering practice with full body relaxation to help you rest, reset and return to your center. Centering practice starts at 3:26To sign up for FREE Family Yoga via Zoom: www.consciousfamilies.org/family-yogaFor breathing practice to share with your child, check out our YouTube channelAnd if you want more tips and inspiration and to find out what's coming next sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org

This month's conversation is with Hridaya Atwell, director of the original Living Wisdom School at Ananda Village in northern California where she has been for the past 26 years. She is mother of 2, stepmom of 5 and grandmother.In this episode, we discuss:learning from experience for you and your childhow to work with fear and worryworking with each child's unique strengths and challengesResources Mentioned in this EpisodeLiving Wisdom SchoolAnanda VillageEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.

✨Parenting Pause ✨A new segment this month that includes inspiration and a short guided centering practice to relax, reset and awaken your highest parenting potential.This month I talk a bit about the benefits and challenges around self-care for parents and the power of pausing. Then I share a short 10-minute centering practice to help you to set an intention and tune into what it is you're needing right now. To sign up for the next Monthly Circle (it's free to register!) go to www.consciousfamilies.org/monthly-circleAnd if you want more tips and inspiration and to find out what's coming next sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org

This month's conversation is with Rose Neal, mother of 3 and long time EFL educator. She is currently the Interim Director of the Living Wisdom School in Portland, OR.In this episode, we discuss:the importance of community in conscious parentingthe challenges and misconceptionsa focus on the teen years and young adult parentinghow to work with screen time as a conscious parentResources Mentioned in this EpisodePortland Living Wisdom SchoolEnergization ExercisesAnanda communitiesEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.

This month's conversation is with Lorna Knox, author, educator and mother of 3 grown children who currently lives and serves with the Ananda Community in Portland, Oregon.In this episode, we discuss:the benefits and challenges of homeschoolingthe need for routines and scheduleshow to have tough conversations with your kidshow to define and share your valuesResources Mentioned in this EpisodeI Came From Joy!: non-sectarian tool for developing a child's inner, spiritual life—ideal for parents, teachers, and religious educators.Scary News: how prepare children for life in a scary world while also protecting their hearts and minds and nurturing their natural inner joy.Ananda communitiesEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.

This month's conversation is with Nitai Deranja, life long educator, author and co-founder of Education for Life (EFL). In his current role as president of Education for Life International, he oversees a network of ten schools in the United States, Europe, and India. He is also parent to two wonderful adult children and is now a grandfather as well! In this episode, we discuss:what is Education for Life?the role of awareness in teaching and parentingexperiential learningand much more!Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeFor Goodness’ Sake: guidance, activities and games for helping children and teens in discovering values such as kindness, concentration and honesty. Life Skills Action ChartsLiving Wisdom School of Nevada CityEducation for LifeAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.

Our first conversation is with Usha Dermond, EFL educator and author of the book Calm and Compassionate Children: a handbook.In this episode, we discuss:how to cultivate calmness in childrenthe role of movement in development and concentrationmistakes and lessons as a parentand much more!Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeCalm and Compassionate ChildrenPortland Living Wisdom SchoolEducation for LifeCalm and Compassionate Parenting courseAnd if you want more tips and inspiration, sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.consciousfamilies.org.