Inspiring Blogs

There are so many blogs that inspire me to guide my family toward simple, in-the-moment living that I thought I would share a few.

Syrendell - a lovely blog of a family with a wonderful theme: Love, Abundance, Peace, Health, Happiness (LAPHH)

The Parenting Passageway - resource for peaceful parenting for a hectic world

Rhythm of the Home - an online magazine that encourages family warmth, celebration, play and connection.

The Magic Onion - (as the author writes) "Where the magic of nature and the wonder of childhood collide to make each moment a precious gift." - I couldn't agree more.

Sleepy Caterpillars

During the summer months, we find ourselves outdoors for most of the day. This is a wonderful opportunity to use fingerplays to relate to nature. As we observe the natural world, our little ones, who feel akin to nature and are deeply rooted in their bodies, can fully engage the world around them with nature-based fingerplay. We can make them up on the spot, or memorize a few favorites to have ready during our daily walks or outdoor adventures. Here is a simple one to get you started:

Sleepy Caterpillars

Let’s go to sleep the caterpillars said…

(Wiggle fingers)

As they tuck themselves into their beds.

(Make a fist)

They will awaken by and by,

(Open hand one finger at a time)

And each one will be a lovely butterfly.

(Cross hands, link thumbs & wave fingers like wings)

this moment

 A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama.

A single photo.

A moment in the past week to treasure.

At the Beach - fingerplay

My boys have always enjoyed fingerplays so I thought I would share some of our favorites with you every Sunday. (They are a fun way to develop a child's fine motor skills and imagination at the same time.)

Seeing as it is summer and we all enjoy vacations at the beach,  I will start with At the Beach, found in A Child's Seasonal Treasury

At the Beach

Build a sandcastle to the sky,                  

(Pat air, move hands upward.)

Make a moat so when waves roll by,

(Make a big circle with arms in front of body.)

The castle will stand with its sandy wall

(Hold arms upright with fingertips touching.)

'Til high tide comes and then it will fall.

(Fingers flutter at rooftop, and slowly flutter downward to lap.)

Lovely Children's Books

We recently discovered children's books by Elsa Beskow and love them!  While I had seen her artwork before, I had never actually read one of her books until I began research in the Waldorf theories of education.  One of her most famous books is  The Story of the Root Children, which tells about the little flower "children" waking for another spring and sleeping in the autumn. Our favorite is  Peter In Blueberry Land, in which Peter has adventures while searching for blueberries and cranberries for his mother's birthday.  I think Aidan enjoys it especially because he had so much fun picking blueberries last month. I look forward to reading more of her magical, imaginative books to the boys and loosing ourselves in her artwork.

Shucking corn

On Fridays we tend to go to a nearby fruit/vegetable market where the boys enjoying picking out their favorite foods.  Yesterday, to Aidan's delight, we bought locally grown corn. This afternoon, I put the boys to work shucking.  When he pealed back the husk and silk to reveal the plump yellow corn, Aidan was thrilled to see the corn, in his words, "coming out."

After a few minutes, Shane grew frustrated at his struggle with the husk and began throwing his corn on the floor, but Aidan kept on and was even disappointed when there was no more corn to shuck.  

At dinner, Aidan quickly ate his corn with his hands.  Or as he says, "like a farmer!" (Shane just stared at his.)

Time to buy more corn...

    

Dancing with Wind Wands

One of my favorite books for creative Waldorf toys is Creative Play for Your Toddler.

Today we made Wind Wands. We didn't have cane to wind into a circle so I used 2.5" rings that we had from making ring slings. I pulled out my ribbon tub and the boys picked out the colors they wanted.

After I cut the ribbon at three feet, the boys were anxious to have the wands in hand so I quickly tied on the ribbons and the fun began.

They danced and danced! (to VeggieTales music, of course)