In the past several months, my young daughter has become quite interested in sounding out words. With her wee hand, she pens consonant-rich missives to her family, friends, and neighbors. While I know this is only one small step in the development of language and literacy, it feels like a big one. I can think [...]
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In an age where the world seems to be moving at an ever-increasing pace, a shift is occurring in many women, bringing them back into the folds of domesticity. Once seen as a 1950’s sitcom standard, or an oppressive way of passing away the days with laundry, cooking and cleaning, domesticity is taking on new [...]
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Lent, the forty days leading toward Easter, is a sacred season of reflection for many Christians as they remember Christ retreating into solitude for forty days and forty nights where he resisted temptation and stood true to his connection to Truth and Light. What is your truth? What, in your life, is tempting you? What [...]
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Spring is a wonderful time to plant and craft, enjoying a wide array of newly blossomed color and fun. Below you will find a collection of spring crafts to enjoy this season. :::::::::::: Garden Markers Materials One of each vegetable you plan to grow in your garden Knife Paints/paintbrushes ¼” plywood cut into small pieces [...]
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As we dive into the beauty of Spring and the awakening of the earth again, we find celebration in singing songs, acting out finger plays and telling stories with our children. Here is a collection of verses, songs and fingerplays to enjoy throughout the entire season. :::::::::::: The Daisy In the early Springtime, When the [...]
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In the last issue, we opened the subject of the importance of Play in the life of the young child. Let’s look a little more closely at this question, and see if we can tease out some answers: Why is Play, both indoors and out, so critically important? Through Play the child creates herself. Play [...]
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LifeWays North America is devoted to developing healthy childcare, parent-infant and parent-child programs, and training programs for caregivers, parents and parent educators. These activities are inspired by the works of Rudolf Steiner and the experience of Waldorf education and are supported by contemporary early childhood research as well as common sense and wisdom of many [...]
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Celebrating the season’s festivals is one of the most beautiful aspects to Waldorf education, and a favorite with children as well. Here is our collection of the many of the season’s festivals, and a few resources to help make each a cherished tradition for years to come. :::::::::::: St. Patrick’s Day ~ March 17th Holi [...]
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Spring is the perfect time to open a book and bring the beauty of the season to life. Below is a collection of some of our favorite spring books, and those of our readers. We hope you enjoy and cherish these treasures for many years to come. Spring by Gerda Muller The Story of the [...]
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Every year, when I ask my husband to drag out the heavy boxes of Passover dishes, pots, flatware and other kitchen necessities, he reminds me that we are preparing for a holiday and removing the chametz – the leavened goods – from our home, we are not spring cleaning. And he is right, although not [...]
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Every year, as Earth Day approaches, there is a lot of talk about being green or making changes in our lives to live more sustainably. You might hear about a local tree planting or that your supermarket is giving away reusable bags to celebrate this event. You might wonder: what can you do to bring [...]
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Spring Nature Play Like so many mothers of young children, I’m trying to slow down time. Just enough to appreciate those everyday moments of pure wonder: the warmth of a small hand pressing into mine on a crisp day, the slant of sunlight that transforms golden curls into a crown of light, the tinkle of [...]
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It was just past three o’clock as I ran up the path towards Turtle Rock. The shadows were long, the sun was warm and a gentle breeze was blowing in the air. As I sat there listening, I could hear the sounds of crows cawing, buzzing bees, the annoying mosquitoes, and squirrels running up and [...]
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“Mama, when will it be spring?” I first hear this question around the beginning of March. My daughters look forward to the end of cold and snow almost as much as I do. Even though I love winter, I’m always ready for warmer temperatures. Alas, March’s sporadic warm days merely taunt me with a peek [...]
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With so many baby girls being born to my friends in the upcoming months, I wanted to come up with a gift for all of their mothers to welcome their new additions. A pattern to celebrate baby girls. I designed this little going-home dress with spring in mind. Warm days that fade into chillier nights. [...]
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Spring comes slowly in the Midwest, and I find my wrists getting chilly once I transition to my spring jackets. Slip these on instead of gloves to keep your arms and wrists toasty, while leaving your fingers free. Or, wear them inside under your favorite spring tee. A little ruffled and buttoned cuff makes them [...]
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Last night, while the garden snoozed under blankets of snow, I placed a jar of our home-canned pickles on the dinner table. “Pickles,” mused my six year old son thoughtfully, “aren’t like food you grow. They come from another food.” It could have been an answer from Jeopardy! The Kindergarten Round, as in: “I’ll take [...]
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“Please, come to our town and I’ll show you guys our oak grove. Some of the acorns are fist-sized and look like sea anemones.” Two years ago, the above comment appears on my blog post about acorn necklaces. My kids and I accept the invitation and journey to meet Maya of Urban Organica, who lives [...]
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In spring, the little sprouts come up through the earth; up out of their protective shells to begin their adventure in the world. These finger puppets can do the same. Used by parents in storytelling, or by children in play, they reflect the natural cycle of birth in the plant world around us, in a [...]
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Lately my six-year-old has been overwhelmingly interested in handcrafts. She has always kept an eye on my creations, and longingly watches while I sew or knit. It is exciting for both of us that she is now at an age where she is equipped and ready to delve in. To celebrate this thrilling development, together [...]
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Within our homes, we have so many opportunities to either bring the world to life for our children, to foster connections, or to join the modern age of deadening our senses and disconnecting from the world. We can choose to place our families (and ourselves) within a long line of humanity, by performing tasks the [...]
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“For everyone who has ever been seven years old, or is, or soon will be.” ~ Dedication of The Seven-Year-Old Wonder Book, by Isabel Wyatt I remember the day my seven-year-old son turned to me, his face stricken. “Mommy, I can’t see heaven anymore.” His words, and his obvious sadness, tugged at my heart. And [...]
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Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower. ~ Shigenori Kameoka We are slowly emerging from the dark, cold depths of winter and getting ready to embrace the beauty that comes with spring. Symbolically, spring represents a time for new beginnings. Depending on where you live in the world, [...]
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Whether you are celebrating summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere or winter vacation in the South, the spring may find you making plans for travel. As parents, I think we’re all familiar with the duality of travel with children: the privilege of visiting a new place coupled with the challenges of being outside of our [...]
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I have been waiting patiently (sort of) for the time when fruit will be abundant and fresh from farm stands and markets. As I shop the produce aisle of our local grocery store, I realize with every pass that almost everything either came from thousands of miles away or from a crate somewhere in storage [...]
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As I sit and pore over seed catalogs… I mark the calendar with the last frost date… I discuss with my family what we should grow… I glance at the mounds of snow blanketing the raised beds when I’m out feeding the birds… I dream… I wait. And then one day, the soil is free [...]
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I offer to all parents, with great love, a gentle way that we have found for dealing with tantrums. Not that I always manage it myself; far from it. When I am stressed, tired or overwhelmed I do not live up to my ideals. But when I can and I do, it brings peace, calm [...]
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Unlike many wildflowers, the violet is not harmed by picking its blossoms, for these showy flowers seldom or never produce seed anyway. Apparently they are produced out of sheer exuberance, so take all of them you want, for the more you pick the more the plant will give. - Euell Gibbons Every spring we get [...]
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Spring is the perfect time to clean out closets and dresser drawers. Our family of five enjoys working together to clear out the things that we no longer need and then venturing out on a “donation trip” so that we can pass these items on to those who can make use of them. But once [...]
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Spring is a time of renewal. Coming out of the cold winter season to green grass, new buds on trees and sunshine is one of my favorite times of the year. Since stories carry us from season to season with our children, they are a wonderful way to transition from our wintertime activities to springtime [...]
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Fairy babies are a fun springtime surprise for children to find in the garden. They wait amongst the flowers, wearing little acorn bonnets, tucked snugly into colorful wool blankets. Each fairy baby takes only a couple of minutes to create, so you can make dozens and hide them just like Easter eggs. Fairy Babies Materials [...]
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It is a valuable practice at night to spend a little while revisiting sanctuaries of your lived day. Each day is a secret story woven around the radiant heart of wonder. We let our days fall away like empty shells and miss all the treasures. – John O’Donohue My children taught me to open [...]
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Celebrate the fresh giddy nature of spring with a bevy of posies to adorn your and your child’s hair. These are three fast and easy ways to felt up some flowery hair accessories to help usher in this most welcomed season; two different felted flower bobby pins and a wet-felted flower head band. Needle Felted [...]
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I love craft projects that involve nature, creating with nature and being outside. I enjoy collecting treasure after treasure from long nature walks or short trips around the neighborhood. While collecting nature for this lovely spring project, you will find yourself noticing how little bits of green are starting to pop up all around; sprouts emerging [...]
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Who doesn’t love a bunny rabbit? My children always oooh and aaaah when they see them at the petting farm and pick them up right away. Sometimes we see bunnies hiding in the bushes next to the house and sneaking around in the garden and it always delights the children. I noticed long ago that [...]
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St. Patrick’s day is one of the most celebrated saint’s days in many countries across the world. The celebration has become more than just a day to celebrate St. Patrick’s life and now is a celebration of Ireland, Irish Heritage, folklore and all things green. And while we enjoy sharing stories of Finn, learning about [...]
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When we align ourselves with the primary action of each season, we can harness the energy that permeates the natural world and, thus, facilitate our own transitions. During autumn, as we witness the falling of leaves, we open to the energy of shedding and ask ourselves, “What is it time to let go of?” In [...]
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Between those fragile seedlings set at the window in late winter to the first ripe tomato in early summer, spring presents us with the most splendid of miracles in its sweet delicate vegetables. After a winter of crafting and board games indoors it feels so right to be digging in the earth with my children [...]
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With the coming of spring comes bright colors blossoming and butterflies fluttering in. What better way to welcome this seasonal change than with a handmade magic wand for your little one ? Handmade Magical Wands Materials 1/2 inch round, dowel rod, at least 18 inches to make one wand, available at most local craft or [...]
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In my son’s early years, it was difficult for me to keep him occupied when we were out and about. Of course I tried, I bought matchbox car sets and then Playmobil micro magnetic playsets for time spent sitting at a restaurant, during car trips, etc. They were all very fun for him, very entertaining. [...]
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Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king ~ Thomas Nashe In spring, our thoughts often turn to poetry. What better way to display it than in a PoeTree? Small books, each with a poem, hang from gathered branches. In the early days of spring, they may be brown twigs. Later in the season [...]
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Like many curious children, my daughter Maia, five years old, picks up everything on our walks – leaves, twigs, robin’s egg shells, insects, rocks (Oh yes! Rocks!), flowers, and interesting bits of what I might call litter and she would more likely refer to as treasure. Her excitement and praise for each new find is [...]
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The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around…. Throughout history, “tender loving care” has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing. ~ Larry Dossey The spring brings with it many blessings: warmer days, more hours of [...]
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The sanguine spring awakens, stretches her vining arms, leggy roots and heady blooms and reminds us of the power all living things have to rejuvenate, renew and reinvent. For although she may have been flaming in summer, wilting in autumn and hiding in winter we all know that she will once again come around to [...]
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Lately I’ve noticed that many mothers I talk to are really open and forthright about all of the areas in life in which they feel that they are struggling. Yet I find them very private — almost silent -- about the areas in which they believe that they are thriving and doing well. And although [...]
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This woolly nest is made from recycled wool suit material (coats or pants). It comes together very quickly and easily, with just a little bit of cutting and crochet. Even if you’ve never crocheted before, the textured style of this sweet seasonal project is very forgiving. Enjoy! Crocheted Woolly Bird’s Nest Materials Recycled wool suit [...]
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“Mama, come see this!” “ Mama, you have to see this!” These words echo in our home most days. It is usually something they’ve created, or one of our family pets doing something funny or cute, or a dance or yoga move they have made up and want to exhibit. As spring begins, though, “you [...]
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Spring is coming, Spring is coming! Birdies, build your nests… Spring is upon us! For our little family, it is time to once again spend our days outside in the fresh green grass, soaking up the fragrant rebirth of our neighborhood! What a joy! Tiny buds wake up and show their faces… Birds sing us [...]
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One of the delights of springtime is when our flowers bloom and color sparkles everywhere. Here are two of our family’s favorite spring flower crafts to enjoy throughout the season. May Day Baskets Hundreds of years ago, May Day (May 1st) marked the first day of summer and a celebration of flowers. Even today, many [...]
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Wet-on-wet watercoloring is a wonderful painting method that an educator, parent, or artist can use to: :: Teach the development of technical skills, :: Accompany story-telling, and :: Express emotions that the colors elicit. Before teaching children, complete four watercolor paintings on your own. This is a great opportunity for you to learn a new [...]
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Last year, just three weeks before our son was born, we moved into a dinky house with a big backyard – over a third of an acre. It was more than we had hoped for, and we were thrilled to have the space to become more self-sustaining. I nursed our baby while my husband and [...]
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Ever since I first saw the movie Casablanca, I’ve been fascinated by Morocco. There’s just something about that North African country that inspires my imagination. The colours, the textiles, the kasbahs, the desert, but most importantly, the food(!) I vividly remember my first visit to the country. My sister, Batgirl and I had decided to [...]
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Birthday celebrations are precious moments for a family. Surrounding ourselves with natural beauty and handmade gifts makes a birthday very special. Instead of featuring paper streamers and other decorations that are commercially made and then thrown away after a party, why not create a lovely banner and crown? The banner might have the child’s name, [...]
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It is Sunday morning. In this house that means it is farmer’s market day! Rain or shine, wind or snow, every season, every single Sunday of the year, unless it is Christmas. It will be four years this spring that we have been attending the same market. We started eating a local, fresh, seasonal diet [...]
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The return of migratory birds is our family’s most celebrated event of spring. The first sighting of robin red breast ignites a special magic. “The birds are back!” My six-year-old is enthralled with the construction techniques of bird nests. My five-year-old daughter delights in imitating different bird calls. We can be distracted by a roaring [...]
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Spring is the perfect season to enjoy the garden of childhood. A springtime day is sanguine by nature, cheery and cheerful, yet angry storms can appear from nowhere under late afternoon spring skies. Spring reminds us of the natural state of young children, mostly pleasant but with occasional unexpected temper tantrums! Best of all, a [...]
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