Parent & Child Classes

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Our Philosophy

Our classes are rooted in the belief that parents already hold deep wisdom about their children and their family life. These classes are less about adding more advice or techniques and more about creating space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with your own intuition and your unfolding child.

Each class offers a seasonally inspired container where parents can process and integrate their lived parenting experience with support, beauty, and intention.

Children are held in simple, predictable rhythms that honor healthy development and the need for movement, meaningful work, and real connection. Together, parent and child are invited into a grounded, nourishing experience that supports the whole family, not just one stage or challenge.

This is a space to slow down, reconnect, and remember that parenting is not something to perfect — but something to live into, season by season.

What makes these classes unique:

  • Seasonal parent conversations
    Our discussions are guided by the wheel of the year, using the qualities of each season to invite reflection, insight, and meaningful dialogue about parenting and family life.

  • Beauty as nourishment
    Art, poetry, and music are woven throughout the class to support realignment, soften the nervous system, and reconnect us to the heart, not just the head.

  • Thoughtful, intentional circle times
    Circle includes seasonal songs and movement that nourish both parent and child. These are not overstimulating or performative, but rooted in intentional movement, primitive reflex integration, and healthy, archetypal motor development.

  • Children held in rhythm and presence
    Children are gently enfolded into a predictable, simple rhythm. Guidance and redirection come through the adult body and presence, rather than constant verbal instruction.

  • Meaningful work and real experiences
    Children are welcomed into purposeful activities — washing linens or dishes, gathering eggs, harvesting plants, and exploring the natural world. They are given space to be with themselves and their environment, safely held within attentive adult presence.

In partnership with Forest Lake Nature School

These 2-hour seasonal outdoor sessions for caregivers and children are to offer rhythmic opportunities to explore nature, play, and connect in community. This non-separating class includes nature play, seasonal circle time songs with movements and gestures, meal preparation and blessing, snack, parent discussion, and goodbye song.

Tuition is $395/ 8-week session per family
* Please note that sessions are not charged per individual child to support the growing family

The registration link will bring you to Forest Lake Nature School’s page.

Register

Mondays 9:30 -11:30am Location: Columbus, MN

June 1 - July 20 (8 weeks)

Vail Art Co.

Rhythm:

Gather, Connect, & Free Play

Snack Preparation

Snack Time

Free Play & Parent Discussion

Circle Time

Goodbyes

Wednesdays 9:30 - 11:30 Location: Sunrise Park, Stillwater, MN

June 3- July 22 (8 weeks)

Emily has a heart of gold and truly cares about children and their parents. I had the lovely opportunity to be in many of her classes with my son, I learned so much and really felt welcomed and listened to. She meets you wherever you are in your journey with compassion and zero judgment. She has a comprehensive understanding of how children develop and I always appreciated her wisdom.

- B.B., Mother of 2

Our Team

Emily Barstad

Parent Educator  & Co Facilitator

  • Holding parent child classes since 2017 in both public schools and Waldorf education

  • Founder and practitioner at Tending the Currents in Stillwater, MN

  • Master’s in Family Education from UMN-Twin Cities

  • Cranial Sacral Therapist (Heartwood Institute)

  • Waldorf teacher trained Extra Lesson practitioner (Waldorf Learning Support)

  • Forest Teacher trained (Forest School Teacher Institute)

  • Continued training in primitive reflex integration through continued mentorship at Shen Men Spirit Gate and at the 2025 Learning Support Conference in Dornach, Switzerland

  • Homeschooling mother of 3

Children's Guide & Co Facilitator

Melissa Ulrich

  • Co-Founder, Director & Guide at Forest Lake Nature School

  • Assistant Teacher, Minnesota Waldorf School (2022-2025)

  • CPR/AED certified through the Red Cross

  • Animal Tracker Level III with MN Wildlife Tracking Project (Nov 2025)Track & Sign Practice Assessment

  • Driven to cultivate expansion, curiosity, and support the ongoing journey and discovery with all children

  • Passion for wildlife tracking, mountain biking, archery, and walking snowy forest trails with my golden retrievers

  • Advocate of seasonal rhythms, place-based learning, and fostering a deep connection with the natural world

  • Mother of 2, seeking to bring wholehearted enthusiasm and an openness to the beauty and challenges it bring

Inquire Here

Feel free to email with any questions or curiosities.