Self-Care by Jaimmie Stugard

 Self-Care  

by Miss Jaimmie

Self-care is a term we hear a lot these days.  As parents and caregivers, we are often stretched thin and we recognize how important it is to care for ourselves as well as our children. So, for many adults with young children, when we think of self-care, we think about taking some time to decompress - whether it is savoring a cup of tea, getting a good night’s sleep, reading a book or a getting a manicure. 

For children, self-care is really about learning how to do things for themselves - building their competence and confidence. How do we encourage our children to care for themselves at LifeWays? What are they capable of in their early years?

Self-Care in the early years

Infants – At LifeWays, we offer plenty of freedom of movement so that babies can learn to roll-over, sit-up, crawl and stand on their own. We avoid putting little ones in positions that they cannot get into themselves for their safety. We do not use bouncers, walkers or other devices that inhibit natural movement and we resist the urge to rescue little ones if they become a bit frustrated while learning a new skill, like rolling over. Babies are encouraged to participate in their care by letting them help as they are able (for example, lifting their hips during diaper changes) and talking with them about what we are doing when they are not (i.e. I am going to help you get your shirt on now). Cups without lids, plates and baby safe silverware are introduced when older infants begin to enjoy table foods.

Toddlers – As you may know, toddlers love to take off their socks and shoes! At this age, they are also able to undress with some help. At LifeWays, toddlers begin to learn to take off their own shoes, coats and snowpants. They can eat independently and are becoming more capable with using silverware and drinking from lidless cups.  If they drop food on the floor or the table, they can help clean it up. Now that they can walk, they can be carried less and enjoy exploring under watchful eyes. They will also begin to express themselves with words and make requests.

Two-year-olds – Now that they know how to undress, children are ready to learn how to get dressed with some help around age two. They can learn to put on their clothes, jackets and shoes independently (with a little help with zippers and mittens).  Parents can support this learning by providing shoes and clothes that are comfortable and loose-fitting. Skinny jeans, overalls and snug sneakers can be very frustrating for little ones who are learning to dress themselves. Two-year olds are also becoming more skilled with silverware and enjoy helping set the table and tidy up after meals. 

Children who have learned to dress and undress independently will be well-positioned to begin exploring toileting when they show signs of readiness (often around age 3). They will also be able to use the stool to get on and off the toilet on their own. With practice, they will learn to clean up afterward without adult help.

Preschoolers – At LifeWays, preschool-aged children become more capable and confident caring for themselves and for one another.  They pour milk and water for themselves and may serve their younger friends. On bagel day, they can spread their own cream cheese or peanut butter topping.  The KinderHouse children love to help wash dishes and sweep the floor. When it is time to get dressed for outdoors, LifeWays preschoolers often offer to help their younger friends with their zippers and shoes. Older preschoolers thrive when they are able help out more around the house, feeding and caring for pets and doing simple chores.  Outdoors, they love to help in the garden and climb trees. And, just like when they were smaller, we give them space to learn to move their bodies on their own. They may ask us to give them a boost when they are climbing, but we know that it is much safer and more satisfying for them to learn to do it on their own. 

Festival Life at LifeWays by Jane Danner

 Festival Life at LifeWays 

by Miss Jane

Rudolf Steiner, who was the inspiration behind the LifeWays movement, gave lectures on the importance of festival life for children and adults. He stressed the importance of marking in an intimate way what was happening in the wide world of nature and how important it was to make it immediate and personal. Our LifeWays festivals are simple affairs. They usually include a story or puppet play, songs and special food. With each one we celebrate the turning of the year. Not all the children will be present for all of the little festivals throughout the year but all the children will experience at least one of our festivals. 

At the end of August, we gathered here at LifeWays to celebrate the children leaving us by having them cross over into kindergarten with our Rainbow Bridge Ceremony. We wove crowns of flowers and sang together and listened to a puppet play. Then we feasted on cake and lemonade. Ceremony and celebration woven together to mark a transition for our very special children.

At LifeWays, we will mark the end of summer with a little celebration of Courage. Songs will be sung about having courage. Then at the end of September we will hear the story of Sabra and the Dragon, feast on dragon bread, slathered in butter and blackberry jam. 

October always brings talk of costumes and trick or treat, although we do not celebrate Halloween at LifeWays, it is certainly present in the children’s discussions at the table! 

In November we will all come together to demonstrate how one little light can brighten the darkest of nights and how if one little light is carried by many individuals, we can light a path through the dark forest. Then we can take that memory home with us to keep a light inside of us through the dark days of winter…I carry my little lantern, my lantern it goes with me.

After winter break the children will wonder if Old Befena will come looking for that child of light and leave us some sweet treat.  Old Befena always leaves her baked goods at LifeWays because she finds that light shining in the eyes of all of our children. 

At the end of January special decorations will go up and we will celebrate the Chinese New Year with dumplings and a story.  And in February we watch to see what will happen when the grumpy ground hog peeks out of his bed.

In March, the Leprechaun might show his face and then again, he might not! But he usually leaves us something golden to eat rather than share his pot of gold.

In April, the Spring Hare will come to announce the coming of spring and to hide the eggs we’ve dyed and to fill the spring baskets that we have made with a little treat.  

In June we will come together and like Mrs. Thaw, work hard to clean and make beautiful our play yard just in time for summer. We mark the end of a day of hard work with songs and food. 

And then we are back to August and the next group of children will be ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge. A whole year marked by ceremony and celebration, story and song, food and feasting. Simple affairs, yet rich and satisfying. 

From the Kitchen by Tamara Treviranus

 

From the Kitchen 

by Miss Tammy

Happy Fall! As this is the time of year for many new families to join us, I thought I would share a little information about your children’s dining experience at Lifeways.  For those of you who would like to know the meals and snacks that your child is offered each day, or if you need to know for any special dietary requirements, you can find the menu for each week posted in the kitchen.  If there are any questions about ingredients used, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Our weekly lunch rhythm is as follows: Monday-Sandwich Day, Tuesday-Pasta Day, Wednesday-Beans and Rice Day, Thursday- Soup and Bread Day, Friday- Pizza Day or “Breakfast for Lunch” Day. There are always abundant, fresh veggies and fruits, including some from our own patch in the community garden.  The harvest has now turned to fall crops and we have a cornucopia of squashes, peppers and tomatoes.  Children will be enjoying butternut squash soup and muffins and spiced pumpkin cake.

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We follow a weekly Rhythm in order to give the children a sense of security to know what is coming.  This also provides them with the framework for a sequence of events.  Offering similar foods multiple times over the span of several months helps the children become acclimated to new foods and eventually sometimes even the pickiest eaters will look forward to their weekly snacks and lunches.  Each meal and snack begins with a blessing and ends with a song of gratitude, calling to mind all in our sphere that contribute to the well-being of our community.

Grandma's Garden by Jaimmie Stugard

 

Grandma’s Garden

By Miss Jaimmie

 

            When I was young, I would spend weeks at a time visiting my grandma in her small town. Having one-on-one time away from the city and the siblings was always a special treat. I fondly recall listening to Young and the Restless on the radio in the mornings while we prepared for a day of rummaging, visiting the library and gardening. Grandma’s house was small and cozy, but her garden was immense and flourishing.  Filled with herbs, flowers, fairy homes, veggies, berries and treasures, grandma’s garden was a peaceful, wonderland.  I especially loved when she sent me out to gather raspberries (my favorite food to this day).  She had to laugh when, after spending a good deal of time harvesting the fruits, I would come back with few berries, a full belly and pink fingers. 

Years ago, when we bought our home, we went back to work in grandma’s garden, dividing flowers and herbs and bringing them home to grow in our little city garden. Nearly 17 years later, grandma’s heirloom echinacea, columbine, lemon balm, thyme and countless other plants thrive in our yard, year after year. Nowadays, grandma doesn’t get around as well anymore. So, grandpa tends the garden. There are fewer flowers and more rutabagas and potatoes.  On pleasant mornings, grandma sits in her gazebo overlooking the garden, enjoying the birds, blooms and the butterflies in the sunshine. 

        While I can’t claim to have inherited my grandparents’ green thumb, I still enjoy spending time in the garden. And, when I see the children harvesting raspberries in LifeWays’ garden, I am reminded of those wholesome (and delicious!) memories of my childhood in grandma’s garden.

The 3-R's & KinderHouse by Jaimmie Stugard

  The 3-R’s & KinderHouse  

By Miss Jaimmie

            You may have heard of the the 3-R’s of schooling– reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmatic.  At LifeWays, we honor the the 3-R’s of early childhood- rhythm, repetition and reverence.  In KinderHouse, the mornings are framed with songs, rituals and verses that bring form and reverence to our daily routines. Over the course of the school year, the children in KinderHouse are gradually introduced to higher expectations for manners, self care, listening and participation.  At mealtimes, the children learn to say, “May I please…” rather than “More food!” They peel their own clementines and spread their own cream cheese on bagel days. At outdoor time, the children learn to bundle up in their outdoor gear indepentantly, to stay where they can see me and to answer promptly when they are called. 

        In September, circle and story tend to be a bit shorter and simple as the children build their capacity for listening and following along with group activities.  We repeat the same songs and verses for weeks, sometimes months based on the needs of the group.  I always keep a few old favorites in rotation as new songs are introduced.  At story time, I tell the same seasonal tale, word for word over the course of several weeks. This repetiiton creates a foundation for pre-literacy skills and continued speech development. By May, our puppet plays have become more elaborate and our circle songs and games are more intricate and lengthly.  And, yet, the children remember every word and I am told that they often bring these stories and songs home to share with their families. 

The Fall Festivals by Jane Danner

 The Fall Festivals

By Miss Jane

 

Back in my former life as a kindergarten teacher when we were meeting parents for the first time, it was my job to talk about the three R’s of early childhood education in a Waldorf Kindergarten; repetition, rhythm and ritual. These ideas are the bedrock of all we do at LifeWays each day. But lately I have been thinking about how they are also the breeze that carries me along through the year.

Slowly I take down the flower fairies that have hovered over the room all summer long. Soon they will be replaced with our autumn leaves. We are no longer, “flying to the moon” when we sit down for snack. Now grey squirrel swishes his bushy tail. Our little Michaelmas Festival at the end of September marked an end to summer. The children have already started talking about their costumes. I have dusted off my little pumpkin and ghost finger puppets and soon we will be singing about five little pumpkins or five little ghosts. Halloween will be upon us soon enough. The passage of time is marked by the rhythm of the festivals we celebrate. It is important that this is so for the children because it helps to carry them into the future. After Halloween they will be looking forward to their Thanksgiving trips and soon we will be singing “over the river and through the woods…” and baking our turkey cookies.

Most of the festivals we celebrate at LifeWays are marked by a story or puppet play and a special morning snack. They are celebrated within the framework of those three R’s; repetition: doing something pretty similarly to what we have done before, rhythm: placing the celebration within the framework of the day and holding the celebration within a simple ritual, for instance we always turn out the lights before we sing the birthday song:

 

Today is your birthday

Happy birthday to you!

Today is your birthday

And we’re happy too!

 

Slowly and solemnly the cake is placed before the birthday child. And the whole room holds our breath as we wait for the birthday child to blow out the candles. Whoosh! And the room erupts in applause!

 

I have already started to plan for our lantern festival, which we will celebrate as a community. Once my five little pumpkins have rolled out of site it will be time for decorating our lanterns and singing our lantern songs. The cold North Wind of November shall not dampen our spirits as we sing:

 

I carry my little lantern

My lantern it goes with me

In heaven the stars are shining

On earth shines my lantern for me!

And then it is time to prepare for St. Nick to visit. Round and round the year turns and we at LifeWays will mark that passage with songs and stories and special snacks.