The Little Child

*an excerpt from a paper I am writing for school...the topic is the essential needs of the child in the 3 phases of early childhood, with an emphasis on how we as adult caregivers and educators can best meet these needs...

The “little child” (birth-2.5)

      The very young child needs and deserves a warm and gentle welcome. We used this phrase many times this Summer, and I believe this encompasses much of what the small child is needing at this point of development.  Once the child has initiated their descent into this world, we as parents  provide the garden for their experiences. As they are born unprotected into a new environment, the little child continually needs physical warmth and an environment that is almost “womb like”. As caregivers or parents, we strive to continue this protection and foster a growing attachment between mother and child during this time of transition; whether that is 40 days, 20 days, or just one week. A caregiver can create a space with this in mind…soft, filtered light (such as covering the stroller or crib with a mauve colored piece of muslin), a stroller which faces the mother, plenty of uninterrupted time at home; away from the harsh lights and mechanical sounds of busy places. This is a significant task for parents and caregivers!  A parent/child “class” or gathering for infants would ideally offer an inviting, safe and developmentally appropriate space where parents feel comfortable to discuss challenges and questions.  There is a true interest in the caregiver as a human being and the empowerment of the parent could be seen as the goal. This could be a time for parents to find real joy and community in parenting through a tactful facilitator and a “neighborhood” of like minded families.

      Very small children are ideally able to experience free initiated activity and movement.  “Uprightness” is something which they come to in their own time; not by being propped, coached, or placed. Parents should be empowered to trust in the child’s pure capability to imitate and to do “things in his own time” without the use of clever “teaching”. Understanding the large role of imitation during all phases of early childhood proves to be integral in supporting the children we have been called to care for.  During this first phase of development, imitation is the river that bubbles and effervescently flows; guiding the child in all that he does..  We can best support this by offering simple and "unfinished" play materials which allow the child to organically experience weight, depth, and life. These natural sense impressions will further stimulate the inner development of the organs

The most lovely help...

The Summer here at Playgarden in slowly coming to a close. 

We just finished the final touches on our final puppet play for the month...

We typically experience the same story for a month, so this will be last show of the Summer.

It will also be the last puppet play for 3 of our playgarden children who will be attending kindergarten and 1st grade in the Fall.

Here is the eldest child, G, helping me prepare for the puppet play during rest time.

This was the first time I asked for her help and she was so excited to be a part of the show!

Her role was that of a crafter as well as playing the glockenspiel during the play.

We told the story for the first time today, and she did a lovely job.

Her hands are strong enough to create with modeling beeswax!

I will detail the story later this week.

It is entitled "The Green Button" and can be found in the Wynstones Summer book (my favorite collection of the 4 seasons)

 

Thank you for all of W's birthday wishes. It was a lovely celebration with our family this past Tuesday, and of course, candles in his Wednesday honey cornbread at snack during Playgarden. 

I typically do not make such a huge deal over birthdays during playgarden; a simple gift (for Summer birthdays, it has been a seashell necklace wrapped in the correct layers of tissue paper according to the child's age) and candles during snack time.

The verse I use before lighting the candles..

"Peas porridge hot,

Peas porridge cold,

our little (name) is (age) years old!"

It is such a joy to have the children participate in all aspects of caring for the home and all of the activities that come with it. There is something for every child, even the tiniest:)

knock, knock..

Each playschool afternoon, just before we sit down for lunch, I tell a simple story...
I use a piece of silk or other fabric to set the scene; simple props and puppets are used; drawing from the playthings the children enjoy throughout the day.
I retell the same story for an entire month, which I feel is very effective.
Give it a try; do not be worried that the children will be bored (they won't!) or complain...
Retelling a story gives a child the chance to truly experience and digest the content!

This week's story was Knock, Knock by Ruth LeBar
(retell using your own details, etc,)
Once upon a time, in a forrest not far from here, lived a brown bear.
Every morning, he would rise and greet the sun outside of his comfy cave..
"I'm hungry!", Brown Bear thought!
Off he went through the glen to search for food, tramipity, trampity, trampity, tramp...
He stopped; sniffed the air..."what's that I smell?"
"Soup and bread baking?"
"And I hear children laughing! What a lovely time, I must join them!"
Off Brown Bear ran; through the glen, so excited he was!
He came to a small cottage in  a clearing and bounded through the front door..
"I'm here for soup, bread, and merry making!", he said.
The children yelled and hid behind their mother. They had never seen a bear inside their home before!
Mother was a bit cross at Brown Bear.
"Brown Bear!" she said, "You have scared my children by barreling through our door without knocking...please go home."
...Brown Bear left, feeling a bit sad. He returned to his comfy cave in the forrest and went to sleep.

...I continue telling the story with the same order of events in mind; Brown Bear always awakes and greets the sun, he always trampity tramps through the glen...
The next time he hears children playing with blocks, singing "happy birthday", etc. Create your own details!
Mother's response remains the same. She gently, but firmly tells bear that he must knock, and bids him home.
On Brown Bear's final trampity tramp through the forrest, he remembers to knock at the last moment. Mother opens the door and warmly welcomes him in for tea and honey. He has remembered to knock.
This is a wonderful story about action and "consequence"; something that is a growing experience for all children. Storytelling is an invaluable tool for teachers of any age group...it provides an effective  and subtle vehicle for teaching life lessons.

                    For the little ones (ages 3-4), I recommend the following Grimm's Fairy Tales...

Sweet Porridge

My Household

Shoemaker and the Elves

Three Billy Goats Gruff

                                             

A Wagon Ride...

I'm feeling so inspired and joyful after another beautiful Monday Morning Garden; my in-home program for children 20-28 months. Our weekly 3 hours together is becoming more and more the highlight of my week. This age is so....angelic.

I don't mean that in the sense of something sentimental, "oh, he is such an angel!"

I do mean it in the way that there is some very real spiritual guidance surrounding these children, and I am in no way referring to myself. They are so "in their own bodies", they are such a part of this world around them. Everything they see becomes a part of them. What they touch, touches them.

Each morning, I attempt to create a scene for them. Sometimes it gets knocked over or totally ignored. But it is there. This morning, it was 2 dollies tucked in and sleeping, and another with a spoon in hand and bowl; waiting to be fed.

Our small fence in our backyard is complete, so the children played outdoors for a bit before taking a ride in the wagon.

My little guy is now in love with smelling flowers...

Sometimes, it looks more like he is trying to eat them:)

With a small amount of guidance and imitation, the children took turns pushing and pulling the wagon.

I'll say it again, sharing and taking turns is such a premature concept for young 2 year olds...

All I can continue to do is model this behavior and keep my expectations in line with their development.

On the way home, their gazes went from excited to quietly concentrated...they were really taking their surroundings in; their heads turning, their eyes everywhere. 

Right before arriving back home, we found our first Fall leaf of the season; a glimpse of what is yet to come in our world:)

'Tis the gift to be simple..

Like so many of you, simplifying and minimizing is always on my mind, especially when it comes to our home and our children.

As of late, I've been downsizing even more and attempting to keep only one focal point on each of our toy shelves.

I was very excited to find this awesome arch of tree bark to create a woodland scene on one of our shelves.

If we can use something as commonplace as a piece of bark...or rocks...or seashells... to create a tiny world for children, I think we have taught them a valuable lesson.

We have inspired them to search for beauty and wonder out in the big, big world around them...

It is so attainable and it can be anything we see....

Playstands are a simple plaything; however expensive to purchase and to ship...

I mentioned a few times in the past how well chairs and pieces of cloth can work just as well!

We were lucky enough to receive a set of handmade playstands from my younger brother for W's birthday,

and they are now all the rage during playschool...

Do you know someone who is a talented woodworker?

All they need is the dimensions of the playstands to create a set for you...

I sent my brother the details from Little Colorado, and he created them in less than a week.

There are a few websites who sell detailed plans, but many a woodworker could figure it out on their own...

And they really are worth it.

You surely don't need expensive large silks to accompany a playstand, either.

A beautiful piece of gauze, cotton, or muslin works well, too.

Sure, a bed comforter will work, as well:)

If you're on the simplifying journey, I wish you many blessings and best of luck:)

And, if you haven't already, please, for goodness sake, check out the book

Simplicity Parenting

by the marvelous Kim John Payne.

To say it is a worthy read would be a real understatement!!

Dyeing cotton and silk for our playstands...

don't worry, no heat was used:)

New Rhythm: Monday Morning Garden

This past Monday, I was excited to begin my new program for children aged 20-30 months.
I am calling it "The Monday Morning Garden"....

This program had many families interested right away. I discovered rather quickly that there are many families who are looking to slowly transition to day cares, other caregivers, or wishing for a few hours of free time. Finding quality and loving care for children this age is challenging and expensive. Have you ever been to the 2-year old room in a day care? It is almost always a place of chaos. There's a lot of yelling and frustration. And with a room *full* of toddlers, there is just never enough loving care and attention from even well meaning caregivers.

The Monday Morning Garden runs from 9am-12pm. I am thinking that this is just enough time. We play, blow bubbles, sing constantly, mop, sweep, dust, enjoy snacks together....and by the time I look at the clock, it is nearly time to go!

Of course, there are challenges with this age group, but I am looking at them in light  of child development. In the mindset of a 2-year old, anything they see, or want, or have, is theirs. There is certainly some grabbing and fussing. There are favorite playthings which each child so dearly wants ( rocking horse, pictured above!). I remember the 2-yr. old day care teachers where I was employed always exclaiming, "S-h-a-r-e!!!" in a sort of taunting voice. It's such an overused "command"....
They don't know what it means. And sharing is a difficult concept to learn! It's hard. In fact, I don't even think you can teach it! It should be modeled, as everything for this age group is learned and digested through imitation.
As a care giver, I can share my crayons with you...
I can share my broom....
I can play with some blocks with W, then give them to little H without her even asking.

It was a beautiful morning together, and I still can't believe how smoothly it went. I can only hope this will continue! I will be working on a very loose rhythm for the young children, which will mostly consist of indoor/outdoor play, snack, songs, and diapering/personal care time. What I am really focusing on now, is making sure that all of the playthings and spaces are consistent. I want the children to learn where everything is, and I want them to be secure in the fact that things will be pretty much the same every week. (i.e. potty learning station here, lambskin for diaper changes here, basket of blocks here.) Of course, having minimal supplies and playthinsg really helps in this arena!

For some of them, this is their first experience away from home; away from their mamas. I so understand how this can be difficult for both the children and families. I really try my hardest to convey love and comfort to the children, especially those who are making this transition for the first time. I found that speaking softly, holding them in my lap, kissing heads, and...saying "whoopsee daisy!" has helped tremendously. We had no tears from anyone all day.....

Except for my W, who cries for me when I am giving out attention to others.

I know it is hard for him.

With this program and an extra day added to the playschool rhythm beginning September, our "together time" is going to be crucial.

I cringe when I think of how overstimulated  he sometimes becomes during the day. He is still so young. However, playschool and the Monday morning garden are such fantastic opportunities for me to work from home, remain with my son, and save a lot of money for my waldorf training. I'll be funding my education almost entirely through these programs, and I'm more than grateful. We've got a newly opened bank account for my savings, and I couldn't be more thrilled. $20,000. In the end, that is how much it will be.

We're a family, and we do what is best for each other and our future together.

We'll make it happen.

Creek Week

It's been a week at the creek.....

W's favorite past time this summer is throwing rocks in the water. It could be a puddle..a river..the ocean..a bucket..
I'm not at all exagerrating when I say that the very first thing he usually shouts in the morning is, "Rocks in the Water!!" I wake up to his face, all scrunched up with a smile, talking about his beloved rocks. You can imagine his joy when we spend time by the creek...

..I told you he'd be naked all summer...!

We played with many of our friends by the water this week, but today was our planned day trip to a nearby creek with the playschool children..

...Supplies for water play...

We found the greatest spot (complete with a mud hill...) under a huge bridge; giving us beautiful shade for the morning and afternoon...

MUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

..we made our way to a nearby garden..

We walked to the Historic Main St. in Bethlehem and found a Blacksmith demonstration in one of the historic structures.

I have to stop and say how wonderfully attached I am becoming to these children. In just this short Spring and Summer season, I feel that I have watched them grow into so many new talents, likes, dislikes, comfort zones, and physical abilities. Their creativity and imaginative play inspires and warms me like nothing else. I can only be so lucky to be a bystander; an outsider to this dream world. I don't dare enter. I don't belong. I can provide a (safe) environment, physical care, nutritious food, and carefully selected materials and playthings with a light hand...but I stop there.

I've learned so much about life through children.

I've discovered so much about myself.

Here I am, 4 years ago, at a catalog test.

(bear with me, there's a reason for this..)

Funny how the photos which usually "make it" are those which feature a model looking sullen, tired, or unhappy.

The above is no exception; it was my most popular photo.

But the banal expression of dissatisfaction was very real.

I wasn't unhappy at the time....but I wasn't complete.

Here's a photo of the children and I; in the exact same spot, almost 4 years later from the last photograph.

The photo is full of life an vigor...and I'm smiling. For sure.

It's amazing how the children we love, whether they are biologically ours or not, make us feel so totally whole and happy.

Summer is flying by...let us capture the moments and make them last:)