The author, with more than 30 years of Montessori education experience, shares classroom-tested activities to help foster the love light in every child. This book provides practical and imaginative ways to help children recognize and experience their love lights and become responsible global citizens. The peace-education activities help to nurture skills such as effective communication, conflict resolution, self-confidence, cultural awareness, and more.

Honoring the Child Spirit is an inspirational, emotional, and prescriptive book that calls upon each of us to recognize and honor the openness, creativity, innocence, and awe of children—and to tap into and pay tribute to the childlike spirit that lies at the heart of us all. Adulthood, according to the late Michael Jackson, is not the be all and end all of growing up and living a worthwhile life. With society’s high expectations placed upon maturity and responsibility, we often shut down our curiosity, sense of play, and deep sensitivity. And with this shutting down, we too often fail to recognize and cherish that spirit in our own children—and the world’s children—so that they can thrive and flourish as children. With evocative chapters on the childlike qualities most important to Michael Jackson—from Awe and Wonder, Creativity, and Gratitude to Imagination and Security—this heartfelt book gives voice to the eternity of Michael’s spirit and how he should be remembered: as someone who tried to live by these childlike qualities. Though far from perfect, it was this attempt to sustain innocence amidst the trappings of fame that became his life’s goal.

Experience this gripping true story of a Japanese American family’s transformation from brokenness to wholeness in the face of tragedy. The inspirational account of a Japanese-American family’s triumph after grappling with the death of their three children—two from AIDS and a third the victim of a tragic drive-by shooting—Honor Thy Children chronicles the creation, devastation, and remarkable resurrection of the Nakatanis, who journey from unimaginable grief to healing. Praise for Honor Thy Children “This is a story that will break your heart and make it whole again. It will bring you into a realm of humanness and compassion you didn’t know you had. It might even set you free to love in ways you’ve never loved before.” —Sister Helen Prejean, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dead Man Walking “I have never read such a powerful story about a Japanese American family like this before. It relates a universal message of the deep love the Nakatanis have for their children which transcended alienation and despair.... It is the Nakatanis enduring legacy of love and hope to the world.” —Ford H. Kuramoto, national director, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse

The philosophy of Child Honouring is captured in this anthology of essays by leading child advocacy proponents. The introduction by Raffi and foreword by the Dalai Llama focus on the importance of looking at the world and the future through the lens of "what's best for kids is what's best for us all." Contributors from across many disciplines include renowned child development author Penelope Leach, Nobel Prize nominee Lloyd Axworthy, celebrated cultural historian Riane Eisler, bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver, and ecological economist Ron Colman.

Part of a Thoughtful Living Series designed to help five to nine year-old children Cherish peace with all people.

Children in a classroom use a peace rose as a means to communicate with each other. They settle disagreements and call attention to hurtful behavior. Some children understand that they can resolve their differences even when the rose is not present.

The absence of a child or loss of a pregnancy is a void and, frequently, a profound loss experienced as a failure, a lack, a shame, something that needs to be fixed or hidden, even when it is a choice. For the most part, there is no frame, no structure, no rituals, no celebration, no acknowledgment, often even no words. It has no name, no category. The pain, loneliness and awkwardness can be unimaginable until it happens to you.What if "not children" isn't really that unusual? What if the vast majority of women have had, are having, or will have some experience of what we call missed motherhood in their lifetime, whether or not they ever have children?Based on available statistics, it appears that is the case-that as many as 75% of women in America have had or will have one or more experiences of missed motherhood at some time in their lives through miscarriage, adoption, abortion, infertility or the choice to be childfree. This is a stunning percentage! If this is true, the experience of missed motherhood appears to be as common an experience as being a mother. As a society, we need to name and include missed motherhood as part of the cultural norm, to bring it out into the open and offer effective steps for grieving and healing that go beyond what each woman can accomplish on her own. When we do this, each of us can move forward in life with passion and enthusiasm.