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THE MEHER SCHOOL
Love Nurtures Learning
Parenting from the Heart
Weekly insight and tips for a loving approach to parenting from our preschool director Susie Kohl.
Susie Kohl
Sep 30, 20212 min read
Harmonious Resolutions
“I know my voice can sound a little intense sometimes when I’m under stress, so I try to tune in to the way I sound with my co-workers,”...
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Susie Kohl
Sep 23, 20212 min read
Telling the Truth
The Nurtured Heart Approach helps us deal with many complicated issues in a straightforward, transformative way. One example is the...
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Susie Kohl
Sep 16, 20212 min read
The Need for Some Alone Time
“If I’m around people right now, I might bite someone,” a preschooler explained. She wanted to stay in the quiet space she had created...
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Susie Kohl
Sep 9, 20212 min read
Adding Whimsy to Our Lives
I never learned to blow bubble gum and pop it. My granddaughter told me it’s never too late and kindly broke bubble blowing into steps:...
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Susie Kohl
Sep 2, 20212 min read
A “Life-Changing” Approach
Before: “I was hesitant when I heard about it – it’s the opposite of the way I’ve always thought as a parent and a teacher.” “I felt like...
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Susie Kohl
Aug 27, 20212 min read
A Community Based on Caring, Inclusion
"When I becomes we, even illness becomes wellness.” Charles Roppel My grandson always loved giving me high-fives. That stopped during...
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Susie Kohl
Aug 3, 20212 min read
Communicating About the “Ripples”
Maria Montessori, the famous Italian educator, called the process of helping a child successfully adjust to a new class and be open to...
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Susie Kohl
Jun 11, 20212 min read
Nothing More Important
One evening I arrived punctually at an editor’s house to talk about a manuscript. “I’ll be a few minutes,” she said as she opened the...
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Susie Kohl
Jun 3, 20212 min read
Welcoming Summer, Mindfully
Parents and teachers have become better observers of children over this year. Staying home, starting distance learning, going back to...
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Susie Kohl
May 27, 20212 min read
Pat Yourself on the Back
It took months for Margo to help her son Michael to show some self-regulation and talk about his feelings rather than having a tantrum...
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Susie Kohl
May 20, 20212 min read
Creating Positive Outcomes
This is the season to remind children of important milestones. Whether a child is going to a new class or a new grade, rest assured that...
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Susie Kohl
May 13, 20212 min read
Having Two Feelings at Once
Children feel safer when adults have the wisdom to know that two emotions can be real at the same time. Traditionally, grown-ups have...
260
Susie Kohl
May 6, 20212 min read
Rewards as Incentives, Not Bribes
Companies are spending millions to research what incentives motivate employees to give their best. Fitness and dieting gurus use...
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Susie Kohl
Apr 29, 20212 min read
Naming Those Big Feelings
“My friends left me out today. No one likes me.” It can be hard for adults to know how to respond to children’s painful feelings. We want...
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Susie Kohl
Apr 22, 20212 min read
Admitting Our Mistakes, Resetting
“You need to reset your voice,” one of our first graders reminds his mother when he thinks her words are carrying too much intensity. How...
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Susie Kohl
Apr 15, 20212 min read
When a New Rule Is Needed
A kind of daily art auction began occurring in one of our preschool rooms. Individual artists would spontaneously give work to their...
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Susie Kohl
Mar 31, 20212 min read
Resisting the Temptation to Blame
“It’s all their fault.” Last spring a few kindergarteners announced that Asian people had caused the coronavirus. Their teachers, who...
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Susie Kohl
Mar 25, 20212 min read
A Timely Solution
Parent: “Time to turn off the TV.” Child: “No, I want to see the next part.” We often wish for magic solutions for challenges that...
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Susie Kohl
Mar 22, 20212 min read
Finding the Right Way to Say No
In a popular Discover Card ad, actors say no in a variety of ways: “C’mon, now, no,” “No way,” “Uh-uh,” “Nyet!” It’s fun to see...
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Susie Kohl
Mar 11, 20211 min read
Channeling Children’s Spring Energy
Expect new behaviors in spring. The same force that courses through blossoming plants and propels baby animals to explore their...
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