I don't even say hello. I just start the beat.
Connection vs. Control: What 350 kindergarteners taught me about attention.
Joyful Kids with Kira Willey
A weekly letter helping you raise (mostly) calm and happy children—one mindful moment at a time. Offering insights, stories, and easy-to-use-right-now tips from a joyful parenting expert, recording artist, and bestselling children’s book author.
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Latest posts
Back-to-school isn’t about the new backpack
What your child's nervous system needs this fall.
Kindness, grit and other lessons for children from the World Cup
Still a soccer mom, still learning from the game
Songs You Need This Summer
You’re the DJ in your house. Turns out the right song can do a lot.
We Missed Our Flight (One of Our Best Memories)
What actually helps summer road trips with young children go better
Scotland, a Stadium, and Songs I Haven't Written Yet
What I’ve been up to, and remembering that we don’t need to earn joy
A Few Things I Wish More Dads Knew
A simple framework for building a deeper bond with your child, starting today
"It feels like play" + a big ask from me
June is a critical month for The Joyful Child—and you can help.
Less Schedule, More Summer
A gentler way to think about summer, easy connection practices, and the magic of snack boards
A Personal Update: What I'm Up To, What's Keeping Me Centered, and What I'm Still Figuring Out
On being online while talking about getting outside, and other things I'm sitting with