What if this December your family traded holiday chaos for calm, connection, and the quiet wonder of winter?
Introducing
The Longest Night
A Gentle Countdown to the Winter Solstice
Say goodbye to the frantic pace of the holiday season and step into a gentler rhythm with a 21-day, advent calendar inspired, nature-connection countdown designed for children (ages 3–12) and the caregivers who love them. A simple way to slow down, ease the overwhelm, and savor the quiet gifts of winter—together.
Through child-centered activities and tender caregiver reflections, you’ll move together with intention toward the Winter Solstice and the stillness of the longest night.
There is a steadier way to move through December — one that actually supports you and your child.
Because somewhere along the way, December became too loud, too fast, and too overwhelming—pulling families far from what the season is truly asking of us.
Our bodies feel it. Our children feel it.
But winter offers a different kind of guidance: a call to slow down, soften, and notice the quiet beauty gathering around us. And when we follow the Earth’s rhythm instead of the holiday rush, everything shifts—our pace, our presence, the feeling in our home.
And this matters, because a simple, nature-rooted rhythm is one of the most powerful ways to bring calm and connection back into family life.
Here's why:
Children regulate through rhythm. Winter’s natural slowness helps settle overstimulation and creates a deeper sense of safety.
Nature connection grounds the nervous system. Even a few moments outdoors can restore calm and presence—for both children and caregivers.
Simple daily invitations ease the mental load. When you’re not deciding what to do each day, there’s more room to breathe and be present.
Small, intentional moments build true connection. You don’t need elaborate activites, you need meaningful presence.
And, most of all, a steady seasonal rhythm helps your whole family experience winter as it’s meant to be lived—slow, spacious, and deeply nourishing.
But here’s the truth
The holiday season wasn’t designed for the nervous system—especially not a child’s
You want to slow down, to offer your children calm and connection in the swirl of holiday rush… but your days are already full and it’s hard to create the rhythm you crave.
You might be feeling the tug of too many obligations and not enough space.
You might be noticing your children becoming overstimulated, dysregulated, or wired by the "too muchness" of December.
You might be longing to bring more intention and meaning into this season… but unsure how to begin without adding more to your plate.
And that can leave you feeling stretched thin, disconnected from the natural world, and wishing for a slower, gentler way to move through the month.
If nothing shifts, December passes in a blur
and the Winter Solstice arrives before you had a chance to notice the waining light, let alone honor it.
It doesn't need to be this way...
What if this winter you had a simple way to soften the pace, help your children feel rooted in the season, and create space for the steadiness you’ve been craving?
As mothers and early childhood educators, we know this longing intimately.
For years, we’ve walked families through the seasons in our early childhood programs, watching how children thrive with nature's rhythm… and how caregivers flourish when they feel supported, resourced, and connected to the natural world.
Over time, we noticed:
When families follow winter's rhythm instead of the holiday rush, everything changes.
The Longest Night was born from that truth—
a 21-day arc of child-centered nature invitations and tender caregiver reflections that gently guide families through the darkening days.
Nothing performative.
Nothing overwhelming.
Just small, meaningful moments that help your days unfold with more ease.
All of this becomes possible when you move with winter’s natural rhythm—
and The Longest Night is here to support you along the way.
root into winter with
The Longest Night
A gentle, nature-rooted countdown that helps your family slow down, stay connected, and move with intention toward the Winter Solstice.
Here's what's inside...
21 Daily Nature Invitations for Children
Value: $25
Say goodbye to the decision fatigue of trying to “make December magical.”
These child-centered nature invitations give you 21 days of simple, sensory-rich activities rooted in the six ways children naturally connect with the world: Look, Make, Listen, Move, Wonder, and Play.
Each activity is intentionally chosen to support your child’s nervous system as the days darken—offering regulation, rhythm, and grounded winter connection.
Inside you're getting:
21 printable cards so your child can experience the quiet magic of a solstice countdown
Nature invitations designed for real family life (minimal prep and materials, maximum meaning)
Activities that mirror winter’s energy, helping your child slow down with the season rather than fight against it
Developmentally aligned prompts that support sensory processing, imagination, and emotional regulation
21 Daily Caregiver Reflections
Value: $25
Alongside every child’s invitation, you’ll receive a short, grounding reflection that supports you.
These reflections offer you a brief, meaningful pause each day—something to steady your breath, soften your nervous system, and reconnect you with the living Earth. Because when you feel grounded, your whole household feels it too.
Inside you're getting:
Short, spacious reflections written to meet you exactly where you are
Prompts that mirror your child’s activity, bringing the whole household into shared rhythm
Daily grounding moments that help you access presence even in the busiest season
A guided emotional arc that gently supports you through winter’s darkening days
The Longest Night Companion Guide
Value: $15
A beautifully crafted guide that brings depth, clarity, and meaning to the entire journey. This guide transforms the countdown from a list of activities into a deeply meaningful seasonal practice your family can return to year after year.
Inside you're getting:
A warm welcome into a gentler, more intentional December
Guidance on how to use your cards simply and sustainably
A full introduction to the seasonal arc:
Quieting → Deepening → DarkeningSeasonal context that helps you understand why these practices matter
Encouragement to take what works and leave the rest
A 3-Week Arc That Follows the Waning Light
Value: $15
Rather than random winter-themed crafts and activities, this countdown follows a meaningful arc—Quieting → Deepening → Darkening—mirroring the Earth’s turning toward the longest night.
Inside you're getting:
A cohesive narrative that builds day after day
Weekly themes that offer emotional and seasonal orientation
A structure that holds the whole household, not just the children
A guided path toward the Winter Solstice, giving the season depth and meaning
BRING HOME THE LONGEST NIGHT FOR$80
just $17
This is a limited seasonal release that closes as the Winter Solstice approaches.
Yours forever, to revisit every winter.
Bonuses for your journey
A few
extra gifts
for you
BONUS 1: The Returning Light (December 22–31)
Value: $15
Ten additional days of simple, nature-rooted invitations and caregiver reflections to guide your family through the final stretch of December.
As the light begins its slow return, these gentle practices help you notice early brightness, welcome hope, and stay connected to winter’s unfolding rhythm.
Why you'll love it: This bonus extends the magic of The Longest Night past the Solstice, offering continuity, grounding, and a soft landing as the year draws to a close.
BONUS 2: Four Original Stories for Winter
Value: $15
Four original tales, one for each weekly theme: Quieting, Deepening, Darkening, and Returning.
These simple, warm stories nurture imagination, emotional grounding, and weave your child more deeply into the rhythm of the season.
Why you'll love it: Story is one of the oldest ways to root children in the wisdom of the living Earth. These tales bring depth to the countdown and offer a ready-to-use seasonal storytelling practice for morning circles, bedtime, or quiet winter afternoons.
BONUS 3: Solstice Soup Recipe
Value: $5
A nourishing, golden soup to serve on Winter Solstice (or any time throughout the season).
This warm, comforting recipe pairs beautifully with the nature connection activity planned for Day 21. Together, the soup and the activity, will create a sensory experience your children will remember for years to come—light, warmth, and shared presence.
Why you'll love it:
This bonus helps you create a celebratory moment without any added overwhelm. Perhaps it becomes a family tradition.
BONUS 4: Winter & Solstice Picture Book List
Value: $5
A curated collection of 20 winter and solstice picture books chosen to reflect the season’s beauty, quiet magic, and gentle wisdom.
Perfect for bedtime reading, morning baskets, and seasonal shelves.
Why you'll love it:
This list makes it easy to infuse your home with winter stories that nourish wonder and deepen your child’s connection to the living Earth—all season long.
What makes The Longest Night unlike any other seasonal countdow:
Child-Focused Nature Invitations
Each day offers one simple, developmentally appropriate nature-connection activity that supports nervous system regulation, meaningful play, and a deeper appreciation for winter—helping your home feel calmer and more connected to the season.
Gentle Caregiver Reflections
Each day includes a short, grounding reflection to help you come back to yourself, soften your breath, and move through winter with greater intention. Supportive and spacious, they offer a simple way to feel more present in the season.
A Solstice-Based Arc
This isn’t a set of random activities. It’s a 21-day arc that reflects the Earth’s path toward the longest night, with weekly themes—quieting, deepening, darkening—that give your family a natural, steady rhythm through the season.
Simplicity with depth
No elaborate crafts, no long supply lists, no pressure to “perform” the season. Every activity is intentionally designed to fit into real family life—especially for mothers who are already doing so much. This is rhythm made accessible, not aspirational.
We’ve created a simple, accessible path rooted in seasonal nature-connection practices—so your family can move through December with more ease and connection, and far less overwhelm.
Imagine how it will feel...
To go from this:
Constant holiday noise + overstimulation
Dysregulated kids + chaotic days
Overwhelm every time you try to “make it meaningful”
Reaching December 21st exhausted and emptied
To this:
A slower rhythm that matches winter’s quiet
Calmer children grounded by simple nature moments
A gentle, doable path that naturally builds connection
Arriving at the Solstice steady, present, and rooted
If something in you is whispering “yes,” then…
All You Receive Inside
The Longest Night
21 Daily Nature Invitations for Children (Value $25)
21 Daily Caregiver Reflections (Value $25)
The Longest Night Companion Guide (Value $15)
A 3 week Arc That Follows the Waining Light (Value $15)
BONUS #1: The Returning Light (Dec 22–31) (Value $15)
BONUS #2: 4 Original Stories, one per theme (Value $15)
BONUS #3: Winter Solstice Soup Recipe (Value $5)
BONUS #4: Winter & Solstice Picture Book List (Value $5)
TODAY FOR $120
ONLY $17
WHAT OTHER FAMILIES ARE SAYING
SOME
kind
WORDS
“
Your seasonal resources always bring us back to what matters. I feel calmer, my children feel more grounded.
— Meagan J,
Your guidance has changed how we move through the seasons as a family. Your reflections remind me to breathe. They make me feel seen as a mother.
— EMMA O.
Kathryn and Mariah have a gift for making the simple feel magical. My family feels so held by their work.
— KELLY C.
MEET THE FOUNDERs
We're Kin of the Earth
Hello, we’re Kathryn and Mariah — the co-founders of Kin of the Earth and Wild Beginnings Forest School in Olympia, WA.
We’ve supported hundreds of families as they move through the year, watching children thrive with daily nature connection and caregivers flourish when they feel rooted in the wisdom of the season.
While each season carries its own magic and wonder, winter brings a familiar tension:
the natural world asks us to slow down… while the culture around us keeps speeding up.
We feel it, and the families we serve feel it too.
The Longest Night grew from a shared longing — a desire for a gentler December, for rhythm instead of rush, and for a way to help children feel connected to winter’s beauty while giving mothers a place to breathe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is The Longest Night designed for?
The activities are sensory-rich, simple, and adaptable, making them meaningful across early childhood through elementary years. This countdown is crafted for children ages 3–12, however younger siblings can absolutely join in with simple support. Teens may enjoy the caregiver reflections — explored together you may find they spark beautiful, deep conversations.
I’m religious — can I also celebrate the Winter Solstice?
Of course! This is a nature-based countdown, not connected to any specific religion or belief system.
The Winter Solstice is a seasonal turning point that cultures around the world have honored for thousands of years — a moment to notice the darkening days, welcome the returning light, and root into the rhythm of the Earth.
Families from all religious or secular backgrounds can celebrate this season in a way that aligns with their own values and traditions.
How much time will this take each day?
As much or as little time as you want to spend exploring the activities as a family. Most invitations can be completed in 5–10 minutes, and many can simply be woven into the natural flow of your day.
These are not tasks to “keep up with” — they are gentle invitations you can stretch or shorten depending on your family’s rhythm, energy, and interest.
Do what fits. Leave what doesn’t. Let it be simple, let it serve you.
Do I need special supplies?
No — we've intentionally crafted these activities to use everyday household items. It is our hope that you are able to use what you have, or find in nature, instead of buying new.
This is designed to reduce your mental load, not add to it. We do suggest you read through the cards before you start and gather any supplies you might need.
Do I need to be “outdoorsy” to use this?
Not at all! Though we do hope this gets you and your family outside and exploring what Winter has to offer.
Every invitation can be adapted for your home, yard, balcony, or neighborhood. Some can even be done inside while simply looking out the window.
This is about connection, not wilderness adventure — noticing, slowing, being present. No special outdoor knowledge required.
What if we start late or miss a day?
The 21 invitations and reflections are designed to hold you through the season — whether you start on December 1, December 10, or whenever your family is ready.
While the countdown is crafted with a 3-week arc, the activities and reflections are independent from each other.
If you miss a day, simply continue.
There is no “behind” here.
And remember, you can always return to this next year!
How long do I have access?
You’ll have lifetime access.
Download the files once, and they’re yours forever — you can revisit this rhythm year after year.
What happens once I check out?
You’ll receive an email with your download links.
Everything arrives in an easy-to-open PDF format, ready to print or use digitally. No complicated log-ins. No portals to navigate.
Just simple, immediate access so you can begin whenever you’re ready.
8. Why is this only $17?
Because accessibility matters.
We created The Longest Night as a way for families to experience seasonal rhythm, nature connection, and daily grounding without financial strain.
This offering is intentionally priced to be a gentle “yes” — a way to support families while staying aligned with our mission.
One last thing before we close:
If your heart has been longing for a calmer, more intentional December — let this be the moment you choose it.
The turning of the seasons is steady and sure.
Childhood, too, moves with quiet momentum.
And winter’s gifts—its slowness, softness, and wonder—can slip past unnoticed as the world speeds up around us.
But you don’t have to keep moving at the hectic pace of the holidays.
You can choose a gentler path — one that helps your children feel connected, calm, and held, and helps you feel steady and rooted in what truly matters.
The Longest Night gives you that path.
It’s simple. It’s doable. And it’s ready to meet you exactly where you are.
All that’s left is for you to say yes to a slower, softer December.
We’d be honored to walk with you.