Resources

Education for Life (book)
Calm and Compassionate Children (book)
For Goodness' Sake (book)
I Came From Joy! (book)
All the World is My Friend (music book)
Mindful Parenting Symposium (DVD)

 


Education for Life
Preparing Children to Meet the Challenges

by J. Donald Walters
214 pages, $10.95 (read online here for free)

from Library Journal review:

Walters believes that the major weakness of contemporary schooling is its failure to teach basic human skills like getting along with others and oneself, living healthfully, developing latent talents, and acquiring the tools of self-education. His curricular program, tested at the private Ananda's Living Wisdom School, stresses the importance of experience, physical well-being, the emotions, will power, and the intellect. He recommends organizing all subjects under five categories: Our Earth-Our Universe, Personal Development, Self-Expression and Communication, Understanding People, and Cooperation. While many of the ideas are familiar, his approach is innovative and his presentation effective. Parents, as well as educators, will be interested.

 


Calm and Compassionate ChildrenCalm and Compassionate Children
A Handbook

by Susan Usha Dermond
240 pages, $15.95

Building on such inherent qualities as openheartedness and trust, parents and teachers can help children develop empathy and integrity as they grow and mature. From nature activities to conscious quiet time to tips on daily routines, Calm and Compassionate Children provides practical guidance to help grown-ups model behavior and suggests dozens of activities to foster children's joy, wonder, kindness, and love.

  • A parents' and teachers' guide to developing children's concentration, self-discipline, and compassion, as well as heartfelt qualities like openness and enthusiasm.
  • Includes more than 90 techniques and exercises drawn from the author's experiences as a teacher and director of the Living Wisdom School, a nonprofit elementary school that emphasizes nonsectarian spiritual principles and practical skills for living.
  • Recommends books, music, games, and other resources to help grown-ups nurture calm and compassionate kids.
 
 

For Goodness' Sake
Supporting Children and Teens in Discovering Life's Highest Values

by Michael Nitai Deranja
134 pages, $12.95

Nitai Deranja, a parent and school teacher for over 30 years, explains some basic, non-sectarian tools and techniques that parents and educators can use to help children and teens cultivate positive values. Through the helpful discussion and hands-on exercises he provides, children and teens will have fun while learning universally esteemed values such as kindness, cheerfulness, courage, willingness, and self-control, among many others.
 


I Came from Joy!
Spiritual Affirmations and Activities for Children

Written and Illustrated by Lorna Ann Knox
172 pages, $19.95

I Came From Joy! is a beautifully conceived, non-sectarian tool for developing a child's inner, spiritual life–ideal for parents, teachers, youth group leaders, and religious educators. Written for children age 5-11, but adaptable for all ages, I Came From Joy! offers fun and uplifting exercises that teach children values such as kindness, love, concentration, happiness, discrimination, sharing, patience, security, and how to be a success.

This easy-to-use workbook features:

  • A complete curriculum for use at home, youth groups, schools, and Sunday schools
  • 26 lesson plans with all necessary materials
  • Reproducible picture pages for coloring, arts and crafts, and bulletin boards
  • Guidance on how to teach spiritual values to children
  • Take-home pages for sharing topics with parents
  • Lists of recommended children's books and additional resources

Lorna Ann Knox, BSN is a private school teacher, parent, and has been director of the Ananda Sunday School in Portland, Oregon for the past 6 years. She also teaches educational workshops for educators and parents. Prior to working with schools, Lorna was a health educator for 15 years and is a certified nurse. She is married and the mother of three children.

"At last, a workbook designed to awaken each child's unique sense of the divine as well as strengthen their relationship with God. Lorna Knox is a natural-born teacher who through her book I Came from Joy! brings the love and light of God to our children through her activities and spiritual affirmations."
     –Connie Bowen, author of I Believe in Me

 


All the World is My Friend

$6.00

Contains words, music, and guitar chords to twenty songs by J. Donald Walters. Both lyrics and melodies express qualities such as calmness, joy, and determination.
 

"Music [is] a universal language. It isn’t just a matter of taste—there’s music that lifts your consciousness and music that debases it. It’s not necessary for music always to be calm or tranquil, but in the end it needs to uplift and take you to a higher state of consciousness."
     –J. Donald Walters

 
Mindful Parenting Symposium DVD
from March 18, 2006, three talks given at New Renaissance Bookshop in Portland, OR

Approximately 3 hours. $14.99 

Raising Compassionate Children by Susan Usha Dermond, author of Calm and Compassionate Children (see above)

 

Nurturing Your Child’s Gifts by David Marshak, author of A Common Vision

 

Conscious Parenting:  How and When to Counter the Culture by Lorna Knox, author of Scary News:  12 Ways to Raise Joyful Children when the Headlines are Full of Fear (details...), and I Came from Joy (see above)