Simple Wonders

Charlotte Mason famously stated that parents and teachers have three instruments available to educate children: atmosphere, discipline, and life. What did Charlotte mean by "atmosphere?" She explains: “When we say that "education is an atmosphere," we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a 'child-environment' especially adapted and prepared,...

Children need love and discipline to reach their full potential. But what happens when parents exert too much control and not enough love? Or the opposite: too much love and not enough authority? What does a balance of love and control look like? Today we’ll discuss the ideal balance: authoritative parenting. Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/05/the-ideal-parenting-style/

Charlotte Mason advised that we shouldn’t use external motivators  to make children learn. She said “[grades], prizes, places, rewards, punishments, praise, blame, or other inducements are not necessary to secure attention, which is voluntary, immediate and surprisingly perfect” without them. ( A Philosophy of Education, p. 7.) But is this true today? Are rewards really that bad? How will our kids...

We can't discuss the big idea of authority without addressing rewards and punishments. Do they actually contribute to our goal of developing moral, disciplined, and curious kids? What are the temporal and spiritual effects of extrinsic motivation? And if we shouldn't use extrinsic motivators, what is the better way to motivate children? I'll answer these questions and more on this epis...

In this episode I’ll discuss the big idea of authority: what it is, why it's important, and how parents can maintain loving authority in their homes. The principles of authority and docility are important enough that Charlotte Mason placed them as principles 3 and 4 in her 20 principles of education: “The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are natural, nece...

As I've studied attachment and love, I've wondered how they affect children's learning. So I asked Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, an expert in both attachment and learning, to come on the podcast to discuss the connection between the two. In this episode we discuss how attachment affects behavior and learning, and how parents can create an atmosphere of love that invites deep, meaningful learning. ...

Many of the behavioral problems parents face, during all generations of time, all stem from one thing: attachment. A healthy attachment to a parent affects everything from learning to to self-regulation.  But  why  is attachment so important? How do we nurture a healthy attachment with our children? And how do we know if our attachment is suffering? In this episode I'll answer these...

Why is it so difficult to teach my own children? It feels like my child is emotionally distant. How can I repair our relationship? Why has my child become so defiant? Although these parenting issues may seem unrelated, they all have one thing in common: attachment. Unconditional love is the foundation for parenting and teaching because loving relationships are what keep our children's hearts tende...

Although I've been studying Mason's philosophy of education for a few years now I still had some unanswered questions about her first principle. How does Mason's theory of child development compare to the well-known theories today?  How do I respect my child's personhood and still set boundaries?  What does Mason's first principle, children are born persons, look like in practice? ...

It’s important to understand principles, to have a framework, before we move on to applying her methods.  So for the rest of the season we'll be discussing the big ideas in Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles. First, Children are Born Persons.  “We believe that the first article of our P.N.E.U. educational creed—“children are born persons”—is of a revolutionary character; for what is a revol...

My child has a learning disability. Can I still apply Charlotte Mason’s methods?  I'm feeling like my child needs more support outside of what the school system can give; where do I start? How do I have a peaceful homeschool when my child's challenges create so much tension? Because her philosophy is largely based on self-education, Charlotte Mason believed that her educational methods were f...

We all want our children to receive a high-quality education – one that builds knowledge and teaches them how to think. But how do we go about this? Charlotte Mason said that education should be focused on feeding children a feast of living ideas (from books)  then narrating what they learn, by speaking or writing about it. But how does Mason’s method compare to cognitive science today? And w...

What makes Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods different from others? How do we nurture a love of learning in our children? What should parents look for in a curriculum or school? Over 100 years ago, Charlotte Mason said “Teaching, talk, and tale, however lucid or fascinating, affect nothing until self-activity be set up; that is, self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mer...

Families, especially mothers, are devalued in our society. We're told mothers are replaceable, that we need to modernize motherhood; but all the science says the opposite.  In this episode, Cassie Shepherd and I discuss the importance of motherhood and why mothers are the best people to nurture a child's heart and mind. Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/11/mothers-work-wonders-w-c...

In this episode, we explore the history of institutions for children and what we've learned from them. I'll discuss why home-centered learning is essential for all families and I'll share some simple strategies you can begin implementing today, no matter where your children go to school.  Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2022/10/24/home-centered-learning/

Welcome! This episode is the taste of what's to come with Simple Wonders. We explore the research of why "home-centered parenting" is needed and where to start. Hopefully you'll feel empowered and learn something on the way. 

Simple Wonders is a new podcast for parents who want to raise happy, curious, life-long learners. Join me, Jessica Smith, as we discuss big ideas about education and parenting and how you can apply simple strategies that will work wonders in your home.