The Joyful Child - by Kira Willey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Rediscover the pure delight of parenting with 75+ playful activities that help kids focus their attention, calm their bodies, and let go of anxiety--from the bestselling author of Breathe Like a Bear.

What if your chaotic mornings, bedtime battles with your child, and their transition meltdowns could turn into moments of laughter, connection, and genuine joy between you? What if your child was able to manage their emotions, focus when needed, and stay in control even in challenging circumstances? You don't need special training to bring about this magic--you need bestselling author, recording artist, and mindfulness teacher Kira Willey's expert, energetic guidance. Her signature method prioritizes presence and play and honors a child's natural love of music and movement as pathways to calm and focus. Rather than dealing with emotional overwhelm after it happens, her simple activities build lasting regulation skills in kids while making everyday moments more fun for the whole family.

The Joyful Child is organized by time of day--from "Wake-Up Wiggle!" which transforms mornings into celebration with fun movement, to "The Worry Box," which gives children a place to leave their concerns at night. Each activity takes one minute or less but transforms ordinary routines into extraordinary opportunities for connection.

The Joyful Child includes:

- QR codes to videos demonstrating songs and rhythm games that captivate children while helping them find focus and calm
- Classroom adaptations for teachers to bring these practices to school
- Curated song suggestions from the author's award-winning catalog
- "Calm Starts with You" tips for grounded, present parenting

Parents of young children need proactive solutions that prevent crises before they start--especially with children's anxiety at an all-time high. Consider The Joyful Child your essential toolkit for creating the calm, joyful family life you've been craving.

Review Quotes

"Warm, immediately practical, and fun, this book gives parents tools that can be used during the most stressful, chaotic parts of parenting. It reminds us that small, playful moments can create big, lasting change for building skills that help our kids thrive. If you thought mindfulness wasn't for you or your kids, get ready to change your mind, and watch tricky moments become much easier!"--Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline

"Hope. This book brings simple hope that everything is going to be all right. A child's behavior is a signpost to their deeper needs, and this book shows you the pathway to understanding and meeting those needs. Kira playfully prompts and encourages--there are no unrealistic expectations here, rather a feeling that someone is walking alongside you, telling you with quiet surety, 'You've got this.'"--Kim John Payne, MEd, author of Simplicity Parenting and The Soul of Discipline and co-author of Emotionally Resilient Tweens & Teens

"Wow! Kira Willey has a special kind of magic. She takes profound concepts of child development and brain science and makes them instantly understandable and usable. Her great (and fast!) ideas for calming the chaos with children--with detailed scripts and adaptations--meet each individual child's way of living in the world. Best of all, she gets that children are wired to move their bodies, to respond to music, and to extend their mighty imaginations. If we meet children in those places, the result is joyful, mindful connection."--Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of Playful Parenting

About the Author

Kira Willey is the author of seven bestselling children's books that have been translated into twenty-four languages, including the #1 beloved bestseller Breathe Like a Bear. A world-renowned recording artist, Kira is also the co-creator and host of three PBS mindfulness, music, and yoga television shows and the creator of Rockin' Yoga school programs. As a yoga teacher and lifelong musician, Kira's unique and powerful method of integrating music and movement into joyful, child-centered mindfulness practices has resulted in millions of streams, more than half a million children's book sales, and a massive, devoted fan base spanning the globe. A mother of three, she lives in eastern Pennsylvania.