#91 A Candle in the Night

It was autumn in the Good Forest where Grandmother Oak stands proud and strong as she has for many, many years. One beautiful autumn day, sunbeams were streaming through Grandmother's branches and the leaves on the branches looked like she was wearing a majestic cloak in vibrant colors of yellow, red, and brown. She looked grand! As her branches gently swayed in the breeze, a few leaves from her cloak danced down to the forest floor covering the earthen floor with a soft blanket of golden colors. Grandmother Oak called all her forest friends and said. “Let’s have a feast and invite everyone in the forest”.

Heave HoNow we goUp into the treePicking applesRed and GoldRipe for you and me Join Scurry Squirrel, Woodland elves Nutmeg and Clover and Ringtail Raccoon as they get ready for Thanksgiving.   Ages 3-7 About the Author, Christy Klincewicz “This is my 20th year as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. My early experiences of exploring the wonder and beauty of the natural world and the reverent moments created by lighted candles on the Christmas tree and ringing a bell to invite the angels in, have shaped me to take up my work with young children. The imaginations impressed upon my soul from the taste of cold, clear mountain streams and peeping into the magical worlds hidden beneath their mossy banks have given me a rich pictorial language. I love creating stories where the world is good, kind friends help those in need and love weaves a mantle of safety and warmth. Often these stories arise when the children say, “Tell us a story.” Then I, too, listen as Mother of the Fairy Tales whispers in my ear.” To learn more about Christy’s work and to purchase her book “Fleetfoot Fox Catches a Cold”, visit www.rockinghorsestories.com Stay connected! Sign up for the Journal and beginning next month you’ll receive monthly seasonal children’s stories that you can download plus the latest news from We Nurture. Click here to sign up for Free! Follow us on Instagram @we_nurture  

 One windy autumn morning the wind fairies called BearBear out to play. Today was a good day to fly his kite. The wind fairies blew strong and lifted his kite high in the air. BearBear watched as his kite went sailing over the treetops. Oh, no, now his kite was lost. BearBear goes on a journey to find his kite. Ages 3 - 7 About the Author, Christy Klincewicz “This is my 20th year as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. My early experiences of exploring the wonder and beauty of the natural world and the reverent moments created by lighted candles on the Christmas tree and ringing a bell to invite the angels in, have shaped me to take up my work with young children. The imaginations impressed upon my soul from the taste of cold, clear mountain streams and peeping into the magical worlds hidden beneath their mossy banks have given me a rich pictorial language. I love creating stories where the world is good, kind friends help those in need and love weaves a mantle of safety and warmth. Often these stories arise when the children say, “Tell us a story.” Then I, too, listen as Mother of the Fairy Tales whispers in my ear.” To learn more about Christy’s work and to purchase her book “Fleetfoot Fox Catches a Cold”, visit www.rockinghorsestories.com Stay connected! Sign up for the Journal and beginning next month you’ll receive monthly seasonal children’s stories that you can download plus the latest news from We Nurture. Click here to sign up for Free! Follow us on Instagram @we_nurture

There is much unrest and fear in our world which causes anxiety and nervousness. Young children feel this deeply and are the receivers of this vibration. I wrote this story as a healing balm for young children because they are caught in the middle of the fear, anxiety, and nervousness and they do not have the capacity to express all that they feel. The story was born out of my personal childhood experience of being caught in my war torn country of Nigeria as a child of 7 as the country went through a civil war. My family survived the initial onslaught of war before narrowly escaping and fleeing to the United States.  Stories can offer healing simply in the telling. They don’t have to be dissected, turned upside down or inside out to hold meaning and value. They just need to be heard over and over and over again so they can become a healing balm. I hope this story becomes a healing balm for all who hear it.  You can use this link to get a copy of the transcript.  We recommend this story for ages 3 - 7   About the Author Chinyelu Kunz, is the founder of We Nurture Collective. In 2020, after 25 years as a Waldorf early childhood educator, her growing passion to support parents of young children, on a bigger platform, led her to leave classroom teaching. She created the parenting podcast, We Nurture which was quickly followed by The Stories for Children podcast. She loves writing stories for children and hopes to do this more in the future. To discover more please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children Stay connected! Sign up for the Journal and beginning next month you’ll receive monthly seasonal children’s stories that you can download plus the latest news from We Nurture. Click here to sign up for Free! Follow us on Instagram @we_nurture

One bright September morning Eloise, the Fairy Queen, called all the fairies to the Emerald Glade to announce the Farewell Festival which was set to take place in two days. All the fairies were given a task except for the youngest fairy, Fiona, who had been asleep. When she woke up and remembered that it was the day Queen Eloise would be assigning tasks for the festival. As fast as her wings could take her, she flew to Queen Eloise so she could receive a task.    Recommended for ages 3-7   About the Author: Christy Klincewicz “This is my 20th year as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. My early experiences of exploring the wonder and beauty of the natural world and the reverent moments created by lighted candles on the Christmas tree and ringing a bell to invite the angels in, have shaped me to take up my work with young children. The imaginations impressed upon my soul from the taste of cold, clear mountain streams and peeping into the magical worlds hidden beneath their mossy banks have given me a rich pictorial language. I love creating stories where the world is good, kind friends help those in need and love weaves a mantle of safety and warmth. Often these stories arise when the children say, “Tell us a story.” Then I, too, listen as Mother of the Fairy Tales whispers in my ear.” To learn more about Christy’s work and to purchase her book “Fleetfoot Fox Catches a Cold”, visit www.rockinghorsestories.com   Stay connected! Sign up for the Journal and beginning next month you’ll receive monthly seasonal children’s stories that you can download plus the latest news from We Nurture. Click here to sign up for Free! Follow us on Instagram @we_nurture

One sunny summer morning, BearBear set off on an adventure. One of his favorite places to go was lily pad pond where he loved to paddle around in his little birch bark boat and play with his friends. On this particular day, BearBear heard the humming sound of honey bees and decided to climb the Honey Tree to get some delicious honey. At the tippy top of the Honey Tree there sat Queen Beatrice surrounded by pots of honey.  Ages 3 - 7 About the Author, Christy Klincewicz “This is my 20th year as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. My early experiences of exploring the wonder and beauty of the natural world and the reverent moments created by lighted candles on the Christmas tree and ringing a bell to invite the angels in, have shaped me to take up my work with young children. The imaginations impressed upon my soul from the taste of cold, clear mountain streams and peeping into the magical worlds hidden beneath their mossy banks have given me a rich pictorial language. I love creating stories where the world is good, kind friends help those in need and love weaves a mantle of safety and warmth. Often these stories arise when the children say, “Tell us a story.” Then I, too, listen as Mother of the Fairy Tales whispers in my ear.” To learn more about Christy’s work and to purchase her book “Fleetfoot Fox Catches a Cold”, visit www.rockinghorsestories.com Stay connected! Sign up for the Journal and beginning next month you’ll receive monthly seasonal children’s stories that you can download plus the latest news from We Nurture. Click here to sign up for Free! Follow us on Instagram @we_nurture

There was once a little boy who longed for a friend. One summer day as he skipped through the meadow he noticed Dandelion's wishing crown. Blowing into the wishing crown he made a wish from his heart. Standing on her tippy toes, the littlest seed in the wishing crown caught his wish. Tucking it into her parachute, little seed sailed away to find the little boy a friend. About the Author: Christy Klincewicz “This is my 20th year as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. My early experiences of exploring the wonder and beauty of the natural world and the reverent moments created by lighted candles on the Christmas tree and ringing a bell to invite the angels in, have shaped me to take up my work with young children. The imaginations impressed upon my soul from the taste of cold, clear mountain streams and peeping into the magical worlds hidden beneath their mossy banks have given me a rich pictorial language. I love creating stories where the world is good, kind friends help those in need and love weaves a mantle of safety and warmth. Often these stories arise when the children say, “Tell us a story.” Then I, too, listen as Mother of the Fairy Tales whispers in my ear.” To learn more about Christy’s work and to purchase her book “Fleetfoot Fox Catches a Cold”, visit www.rockinghorsestories.com Follow along on Instagram @we_nurture

One mid-summer’s day, ten little fairies danced in a ring of stones under the wise, old elder tree when suddenly, Dahlia smelled smoke. Her pet hawk, Jupiter swooped in to help as the fairy queen told all the animals how they could help alert their forest and field friends. Everyone jumps into action including Dahlia. A very touching story about friends helping each other in a moment of need. Perfect for children ages 3 to 7About the Author: Mary NataleMary has been a teacher of young children for many years. She studied at the Institute of Child Study in Toronto, and upon graduating with her Ontario Teacher's Certificate and Diploma in Child Studies, she began working in a private setting, telling stories and engaging children in artistic activities. After teaching Kindergarten at the Toronto Catholic District School Board for ten years, to her delight, she discovered Waldorf education and has been working at the Toronto Waldorf School for the past sixteen years as an Assistant in the Nursery and Kindergarten programs.  “It was not until I began assisting in the Waldorf Early Childhood programs, where my soul was fed each day, that I began to write children's stories.” Mary lives in Toronto with her husband, two sons and two spoiled dogs - Joey and Charlie. Follow along on Instagram @we_nurture

Winter is coming! Mother Earth calls her children for now it’s time to rest. Brother Wind leads her children to warm and cozy nests that Mother Earth has prepared for each one. We recommend this story for ages 3 - 7   About the Author - Wendalyn von Meyenfeldt   Wendalyn von Meyenfeldt has taught children's artistic movement classes (Eurythmy) for many years on the West Coast of Canada. Years ago, while teaching in a Waldorf Kindergarten in California, she fell under the spell of 'dancing stories' in her circle-times with the children. Wendalyn teaches in several Canadian Waldorf teacher-training institutions. When not harvesting apples and pears on her rural property, or stirring up a batch of blackberry jam, she continues to write children's stories and poetry.   Follow along on Instagram @we_nurture

Long ago, in a tiny house at the edge of the forest lived grandmother.  Grandmother loved to spend her days in the garden tending to the flowers.  She grew more than she needed so she could share with the birds and small animals that came to visit.  Grandmother had a tiny root cellar beneath her house where she stored her carrots and pumpkins in the winter and in the summer it was cool. in the summer. It was where she always went when there was a storm and she needed to be safe.   “This protection story was written for the children of Ukraine. It is in loving memory of my beautiful grandmother who passed away last winter, a first generation Czechoslovakian farmer with Ukrainian ancestry. Her name meant “one who comes from where the wild roses grow.”  And in gratitude to my Ukrainian friends whose light and beauty sustained me for 10 years when I was away from home. There is nothing more important than home and kin.  We recommend this story for ages 3 - 7About the AuthorDarla Barrows was born and raised on a small family owned dairy farm in the Driftless region of the Midwest.  She and her family recently moved back to the Driftless to be near her parents who have turned their 70 acres of farmland into prairie flower conservation. Darla holds a degree in ASL Interpretation and Transliteration from Saint Paul College and is a graduate of the Birth to Three Program at Sophia’s Hearth in Keene, New Hampshire. Darla first began teaching Parent and Child classes twenty years ago in ASL before becoming a Waldorf Parent and Child educator and running her own program in Canada for nearly a decade. Darla is a mother, a gardener, and works as the Online Programming Coordinator for Sophia’s Hearth.  To discover more please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-childrenFollow along on Instagram @we_nurture