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~Developed by a Waldorf-Inspired Childcare Provider and Mother of Four Daughters

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Loving Our Children in February...
In This Issue
Festivals and Holidays
Homemade Red Play Dough
Shadow Fingerplay
Story for Candlemas Time
Winter Childcare Menu
warmth for children
Winter, the days are crisp and the nights are long. Our children come in with red cheeks and rumbling tummies ...Click for More Details
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 Contact Us for Inexpensive and Effective Advertising in Our Monthly Newsletters!
 
 Festivals and Holidays This Month
 
St. Brigid's Feast Day - February 1st
Imbolc - February 2nd
Candlemas - February 2nd
Groundhog Day - February 2nd
Full Snow Moon - February 9th
Lincoln's Birthday - February 12th
Valentine's Day - February 14th
National Flag Day (Canada) - February 15th
Presidents' Day - February 16th
Washington's Birthday - February 22nd
Shrove Tuesday - February 24th
Ash Wednesday/Lent Begins - February 25th

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Homemade Red Play Dough
 
Supplies Needed:
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
4 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar (can get at grocery store)
2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil
1 Cup Salt
Few Drops of Red or Pink Food Coloring
2 Cups Boiling Water
 
Put all ingredients into large bowl except for boiling water.  Pour boiling water over the mixture and stir it up with a large spoon.  Sprinkle your surface with flour and lift warm dough out of your bowl and knead until texture is right.  Play dough can be stored in an air tight container.
Enjoy!  
Shadow Fingerplay

 

If I walk, my shadow walks.
(use two fingers, in walking motion)


If I run, my shadow runs
(same fingers in running motion)


And when I stand still, as you can see
(same fingers, standing still)


My shadow stands beside me.
(use first two fingers on other hand and stand beside the first two fingers)


When I hop, my shadow hops,
(first two fingers, hopping)


When I jump, my shadow jumps
(same fingers, jump)


And when I sit still, as you can see,
(same fingers, bend at knuckles to sit.)


My shadow sits beside of me,
(Use as before, both sets of fingers sitting beside each other.)
 

The Land of The Fire Fairies
Adapted from Anne Elizabeth Allen
 
This is a very old fairy story that children enjoy so very much.  Again we can use our beautiful playsilks to dramatize this tale.  A red silk bunched up can be placed on the floor ahead of time to symbolize the flames of the fire Ted falls asleep next to.  If you have a small figure dressed in red to hide under the silk, this can be the fairy that comes out to tell Ted that the King has sent for him.  Now take your red silk and lay it long and narrow for the 'road' that they travel.  You can just tell the tale as you move your fairy down the road (or you can really take the time to set up beforehand and have small figures on each side for the other fairies working on logs, houses, etc.).  Use a large figure for the King of the Fire Fairies and speak in a deep tone as you tell his part. 
 
The east wind was blowing the falling snow into drifts against the house, fences, and trees. Colder and colder it grew, and little Ted, who had been out playing snowball, suddenly burst into his grandmother's room, crying:  "Oh, I'm so cold"
 
He took off his coat, hat, muffler, and overshoes, stamped his feet and shook off the snow. A bright fire was roaring in the grate, and Ted lay down before it to warm himself. He began to watch the flames dancing up the chimney and disappearing into the darkness above. Picking up a stick, he lighted it and held it up the chimney, trying to see whether he could tell where the flame on the end of it went; and he was enjoying himself very much, when his grandmother called to him to put down the stick.  "Why," said Ted, "I am just playing, and want to see what becomes of the flames when they go up the chimney."

"Yes," said Grandmother, "perhaps you do; but the fire king does not allow people to play with his fairies. They are meant to do work, not to play."  "The fire king!" said Ted, as he dropped the stick into the fire; "who is he, Grandmother?"  "I've never seen him," she answered; "but he lives in the land of the fairies."

With his toes turned toward the fire, lying on his back on the warm hearth, Ted soon dropped off to dreamland, the home of the pixies and fairies.  No sooner had he reached that queer land than straight out of the roaring fire jumped a tiny little fairy clothed all in red, who said to Ted:
"The king of the fire fairies has sent for you. Will you come with me?"
Ted was up in a moment, and jumping into the fire, followed close behind the tiny little leader. The bright red road along which they traveled was very interesting. On either side was a fringe of gray moss-like ashes, and as they hurried along Ted saw the fire fairies at work by the hundreds. In one place they had a large log they were working with, which was sending up great flames and much smoke. All around the log were the blackened remains of the grass they had spoiled. In another place a beautiful house was being torn down and burned up by these little mischief-loving fellows. Again, he came to a large stove in which were many of them were helping a cook get dinner ready, and warming the cold fingers and toes of a little boy and girl.

The fairy who was leading Ted went so fast that he did not have a good look at any of these things, and very soon the fairy shouted at the top of his little voice, "Look!"  Ted did look, and straight before him was a larger palace than he had ever supposed could be built.  Flames were bursting out of doors and windows, and the roar made Ted hold his ears, it was so loud.

On either side of the great front door stood a large giant whom the little fairy said were the giants Heat and Light.  Putting Ted safely on the top of a high wall, the fairy disappeared into the palace. And just at that moment a giant greater than either of the others came to the door. In a voice that sounded like thunder and shook everything around, the giant called:
"Where is the little boy I sent for?"
Ted knew then that this was the great fire king, and was frightened, but answered quickly, "Here I am!"  Then the giant said: "I have sent for you to tell you that my fire fairies are not to be played with. They never hurt any one unless they are played with and taken away from their work; then they are sure to hurt the person who disturbs them."

How frightened little Ted was as he promised faithfully never again to play with fire! He was glad when the giant, satisfied with his promise, shut the great door and disappeared, and his little guide in the bright red suit came skipping toward him, and offered to take him back home.

On the way back he found things changed. The stove was black and cold, and the people who had been warming themselves around it and getting dinner had gone away. The house was burned to the ground, and only a few sleepy fairies were showing their red coats in the gray rubbish. Where the log had been only an ash-heap remained, which the wind was carrying away. The road was no longer red, but dusty, and Ted found that he could walk much more slowly.

How tired he was! His face felt so warm, his body so stiff-and what was that noise? How much like the dinner-bell it sounded! Was that the fairy who was slinking him? A long stretch and a yawn, and his eyes flew open. There was his dear grandmother trying to get him awake.
"Did you see him, Grandmother," asked Ted.
"See whom?" she answered.
"The fire fairy," said Ted; and then began to laugh when he saw his grandmother's eyes twinkle.
"Oh! Grandmother," said he, "I have really been to see the giant king of the fire fairies, and have seen his palace and the two giants Light and Heat that guard his door."
February 2009 Monthly Natural Childcare Guide
 
Feb 2009 
 
Week One, February
Flames & Shadows, Cleansing
 
Week Two, February
Hearts, Spreading Love

Week Three, February
Presidents & Flags, Freedom

Week Four, February
Seeds, Self-Reflection
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