Are these resources Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, Waldorf, or Classical Education inspired? What educational philosophy do your resources folllow?
The In Harmony Kids philosophy developed over the last 30 years, as Stephanie was working with thousands of children as a caretaker & educator in a variety of settings and with a wide range of ages and abilities. Therefore, all of the educational materials offered are first and foremost derived from her personal real life experiences with children and what she’s found has worked the best for all involved.
After solidifying her philosophy, she was exposed to other educational philosophies and has found immense wisdom and often a lot of similarities in them. Therefore, you will likely find many similarities (and differences) between her work and that of all of these different philosophies.
Find more information through the Educational Philosophy page and the IHK Philosophy articles.
What is your experience and education?
Stephanie has worked with all ages of children in home, public, and co-op settings. Her various roles have included: nanny, camp counselor, day care worker, tutor, latchkey worker, public school teacher, after school club coordinator, program director, pediatric therapy center faculty member, special needs educator, community center teacher, curriculum developer, co-op teacher, extracurricular director, and homeschool mother.
She received an Interdisciplinary Humanities degree from Michigan State University in 2002 where she specialized in English, Psychology & Theatre. She then received a Language Arts teaching certificate in Florida in 2008. She has received numerous certifications over the years covering a wide range of topics pertaining to the development and education of children, and continues to learn more every day.
Despite decades of education and experience, Stephanie feels becoming a mother was, by far, the most profound and life-altering adventure thus far. Becoming a mother dramatically changed her perspectives on parenting, educating, and the motivations of children – giving her much deeper understanding and empathy.
Do you sell physical products?
A couple times a year we try to make it to conventions which share our values to connect with homeschooling families and to sell physical products. This is currently the only way to purchase physical educational resources from us.
Check out our Public Events for places to purchase physical products.
Do I have to be a Christian to use your resources?
No, you are welcome here regardless of your faith background. However, you will experience the fullness of our resources if you share Christian values & beliefs.
Do I have to be a homesteader to use your resources?
No. While many of our resources relate to the homesteading lifestyle, you do not need to be a homesteader to use or enjoy them.
Where can I find you on social media?
You can’t. Currently, our mission is to connect with the right people, not necessarily the most people. We are consciously curating our reach, hoping most people find us by word of mouth. We are also very cautious of the overuse of technology (especially in the home & education sphere), and we are practicing what we preach. So at this time, you can not find us active on any social media.
What do you mean by “In Harmony with God’s Creation & Design”?
God’s Creation is the natural world. God’s Design is the way in which he calls us to live.
At In Harmony Kids, we believe God has called us to strive to live in harmony with His perfect creation. This means respecting the mystery and awe of the natural world, recognizing our important role as stewards of His creation, as well as integrating His creation into our homes, education, and health.
We also believe God has called us to strive to live in harmony with His perfect design. Some of this design is known to us and was created for the benefit of our health, family, relationships, children, and society as a whole. This design includes traditional marriage, family, and values as found through the traditions of the Church, the teachings of the Bible, and the example we find in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Some of this design is unknown to us, and is God’s will for our lives. Since we are each designed for a unique purpose, it is our job to seek out and follow God’s specific guidance and wisdom for our lives. We believe this is a deeply personal and spiritual life-long journey for each of us.
What do you mean by “whole, thriving & free”?
Our mission is to give parents the tools to create whole, thriving & free children (and families). To us, this means:
Whole – Paying attention to the whole human being – Body, Mind, Heart & Soul.
Thriving – We want families to thrive, not just survive.
Free – We believe in True freedom – the freedom God has given us, which comes with sacrifice and grace.
Does your logo have any meaning?
Yes! Stephanie created the In Harmony Kids logo to represent the fullness of living In Harmony with God’s Creation & Design. She took inspiration from round windows found in medieval Orthodox Churches & Monasteries, as well as barn quilts & Appalachian folk art.
The logo is filled with deep symbolic meaning about God’s Creation. The entire logo is made from only circles & triangles. The circles represent the totality of God, while the triangles representing the Holy Trinity. You can find the sun, moon, and stars in the design. The 12 pointed star symbolizes harmony, while the different colors represent the 12 months of the year.
