About
Built by the Village It Takes
RootedSparks is co-created with educators, learning specialists, and child development experts who help us spark lessons that are real, resonant, and research-backed.
The Humans Behind the Fox
Our family gave us a unique laboratory for understanding what kids really need. A 20-year-old changing college majors to adapt to workforce evolution, a 15-year-old mastering high school's social landscape, and a 10-year-old discovering middle school independence. Two neurodivergent learners, multiple school experiences—each teaching us something different about how children develop and thrive.
This diversity revealed our opportunity: to create something broader and more action-oriented than traditional approaches. Kids need comprehensive life skills they can apply immediately—tools for handling peer pressure today, making decisions tomorrow, and building resilience that lasts.
Conversations with other parents confirmed what we suspected: families everywhere wanted practical, transferable skills that work across different situations and learning styles.
Chris brings strategic vision while Kristin develops curriculum tested in our own dynamic household. We build lessons that are immediately usable—because the best life skills are the ones kids can apply right now, not someday.
Hence, RootedSparks—where comprehensive meets actionable, and every child gets tools they can use today.
Why Ember?
Our fox mascot does the important work of making mistakes and growing from them—because kids learn better from a relatable character who's figuring things out alongside them than from perfect adults telling them how to feel.
Ember isn't a flawless role model. He gets overwhelmed, makes poor choices, and sometimes handles situations badly—just like real kids do. Then he learns, tries again, and gets a little better each time. This authentic growth process gives children permission to be imperfect while they're learning, and shows them that mistakes are part of the journey, not failures to avoid.
What Grounds Us
Developmental psychology, Universal Design for Learning, and the deep belief that every child—neurotypical, neurodivergent, quiet, loud, artistic, analytical—deserves tools that honor how they learn and grow.
Why We're Here
This generation doesn't need more content—they need character-building tools. They don't need more apps—they need frameworks that help them become people they can be proud of.
That's what we build. That's why we're here.
Our Commitment to Every Family
Every child deserves access to life skills that help them thrive. If your family is unable to purchase our lessons, please reach out to hello@rootedsparks.com—we will find a way to accommodate those in need.