About The Author
About the Author
Julia Ann Roberts
Julia Ann Roberts is a Waldorf-Inspired homeschool teacher and licensed massage therapist, who has worked with young children in care, entertainment, and teaching environments for decades.
These books bring together her knowledge, talents, and conviction that teaching children how their bodies work at a young age supercharges their development and increases their ability to self-regulate.
This book, along with the additional materials and lesson plans offered on our website, gives parents and teachers tools to help children begin the dynamic inner journey of self-awareness that will help them know the truth of who they are in an ever-changing world.
These books bring together her knowledge, talents, and conviction that teaching children how their bodies work at a young age supercharges their development and increases their ability to self-regulate.
This book, along with the additional materials and lesson plans offered on our website, gives parents and teachers tools to help children begin the dynamic inner journey of self-awareness that will help them know the truth of who they are in an ever-changing world.
Q&A
Most frequent questions
Who is Julia Ann Roberts and what is "The Bones Family"?
Julia Ann Roberts is the creator, author, and illustrator of “The Bones Family”, a revolutionary curriculum and book series designed to teach anatomy to preschoolers. Through her program, she aims to foster self-awareness and conscious evolution by empowering young children with an “owner’s manual” for their bodies
.
Why is it better to teach anatomy to preschoolers rather than waiting until middle school?
Roberts explains that by the fifth grade, anatomy often becomes just another science class full of rote memorization, and older children tend to lose the natural wonder they had when they were younger. Preschoolers, on the other hand, still have a magical connection to nature and are inherently fascinated by their bodies, making them eager and capable of absorbing complex concepts like circulation
.
What is "interoception" and why is it so crucial for children?
Interoception is the ability to perceive what is happening inside the body, which includes physical sensations like hunger, thirst, and temperature, but most importantly, emotional responses. This internal awareness is key to self-regulation. When children understand how their bodies and brains function, they can better remain calm during injuries or stressful situations, manage their emotional reactions, and find their own “personal truth” without being swayed by outside chaos
.
What teaching methods are used in the "Bones Family" curriculum?
The program utilizes a child-led approach inspired by several educational philosophies:
- Waldorf methods: Incorporating music, singing, and physical movements—especially movements that cross the body to engage both hemispheres of the brain, which makes learning simpler and reduces the need for repetition.
- STEAM education: Helping children grasp complex concepts by having them build physical models of bodily systems (like the lungs, blood, or digestive system) using everyday household items.
Why are "The Bones Family" books mostly black and white?
The books use sparse colors primarily to avoid overstimulating young children, who are already heavily bombarded by screens in today’s society
. Furthermore, they are intentionally designed as coloring books because children naturally want to interact with black-and-white images and add their own color, making the reading process a hands-on activity
.
What is the creator's ultimate vision for the future of the project?
Julia’s ultimate vision is to produce an animated series where the Bones family travels around the world to places like Mexico, Peru, and Egypt
. The goal is to explore the deeper, spiritual meaning of bones across different indigenous cultures, such as the ancient Egyptian belief that knowledge is preserved within bones.
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