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Newsletter of LifeWays North America
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Winter 2012-13
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Peaceful Holidays
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Making gingerbread cookies with my first class.
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Friends
The holidays can be a time of creating warm memories, or they can be a time of tempers running short and stress running high. Consumerism and the ethos of more-More-MORE run so high in our culture at this time of year; what can we do to make sure that we protect children from the holiday craziness that can so easily overtake us all? Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the Solstice, or nothing at all, this newsletter is filled with ideas of how to approach this time in ways that protect and nurture children through these dark months. If you're fascinated by Advent but don't know how to keep it going for four weeks, look at the ideas that Mary O'Connell gives on an evolving Advent Nature Scene. If you are a caregiver and want to bring your families in but don't know how they'll all fit into your tiny space, look for ideas from Susan Silverio on how to Set the Tone for Festivals in advance.
These ideas, and more, you'll find in this winter newsletter from LifeWays.
Keep Warm,
Faith Collins, Editor
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Dear Friends,
It is inspiring to read of such simple ways to celebrate with young children. Some of the festive descriptions in these articles may be familiar to many of you, new to others. There are similar features in all of them and some unique, distinguishing characteristics as well. Most important, however, is the simplicity they offer.
How I loved this time of year during the years I was at home when my children were little. I sometimes wish I would have maintained that same level of simplicity when I became a kindergarten teacher and, later, a child care director. If we are not careful we can try to be all things to all people when we are teachers or carers of other people's children. A striving for perfection and providing a wow quality can overtake us, and we end up offering too much. Can there be too much beauty, too much wonder, too much delight? I don't know the answer to that question. What I do know is that I have met countless numbers of early childhood educators and parents who exhaust themselves during festive times. Please, as you read these lovely offerings, imagine creating just one or two of the things that most impress you. Clip your joy meter to your belt, and if you start to redline toward overwhelm, pull back. Remember - we are the models for these young souls, and we mostly want to model resiliency and joy. Perhaps the carol that offers us a good motto for this time of year is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - the first and the last lines. "God rest ye merry gentlemen" and "Oh tidings of comfort and joy."
This is my wish for you, that you find rest, comfort and joy during this holy, sacred time of year, however and whatever it is that you celebrate.
With love and peace,
Cynthia
--Founder and Director of LifeWays North America |
Articles on Peaceful Holidays:
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A Winter Festival Celebrating Community
By Rahima Dancy
Rahima describes how they celebrated with families on the last day before the holiday break each year, creating their own tradition. The picture at left shows the Russian tale of "The Snow Maiden."
Rahima Dancy ran the Rainbow Bridge LifeWays Program, for four years. The third edition of her book, You Are Your Child's First Teacher, is now available.
Click here to read Rahima's article
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Setting the Tone for Festivals By Susan Silverio
Have you ever wanted to do something special for a festival and then thought, "No, I could never get all of the parents to keep their voices down/sit still/wear appropriate clothing/sing the same song"? See how Susan Siverio helps the parents at Spindlewood prepare for their Advent Spiral in early December.
Susan Silverio is the Director of Spindlewood, a Waldorf kindergarten and LifeWays program in Maine.
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By Mary O'Connell
This article shares week-by-week photos of how their family's Advent scene grows over the course of the month. |
Home for the Holidays: One Family's Traditions
By Pamela Perkins
A lovely narrative of one grandmother's experiences of holidays with her children and now, with her grandchildren, in Hawaii.
Pamela Perkins is a LifeWays graduate who lives and works in Hawaii.
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Professional and Personal Development for Teachers, Caregivers and Parents
Completing the LifeWaysŪ Early Childhood Certification Program can open new opportunities, professional and personal, in the fields of early childhood, parent education and after-school care. Our one-year, part-time curriculum includes over 200 onsite hours, with independent study and personal mentoring between sessions. It can prepare you to open or transform your own in-home program, classroom or early childhood center. Many parents also enroll for inspiration in the Living Arts.
See our website for information and details on all trainings, and please contact the director of your local training for more information.Some programs accept participants part-way through the training.
LifeWays graduates may attend all or part of another LifeWays training for the cost of food and materials.
ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR MARCH:
ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR MAY:
Next training begins May 2013
See photos and learn more here!
STILL ACCEPTING PARTICIPANTS:
Hawaii LifeWays Training
~ Maui, Oahu and Kauai, HI
Current Training: Four 1-week sessions, Oct 2012 to June 2013
Directors: Kim Raymond and Cyndee Fehring
See photos and learn more here!
Maine LifeWays Training ~ Rockport, ME
Current training: July 2012 to July 2013
~ San Francisco Bay Area
Next Training: August 2013 to June 2014
Group meets one Saturday per month
Director: Marianne Alsop
See photos and learn more here!
STILL ACCEPTING PARTICIPANTS:
Wisconsin LifeWays Training~ Milwaukee, WI
Current training: Four 1-week sessions, October 2012 to August 2013
Director: Mary O'Connell
See photos and learn more here!
STILL ACCEPTNIG PARTICIPANTS:
"While I am still a student of these skills, I would like to give credit to LifeWays for my patience, presence, sense of humor (thanks, Cynthia), and equanimity, as well as my ability to consider the child in front of me as a spiritual peer, even if I hold the human authority."
~ Carrie McGregor,
LifeWays Graduate
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Reach families who are looking for LifeWays programs and show your affiliation with a national organization. All programs are listed with links to your email and website, if you have one, and many people have told us that they receive inquiries regularly from people who found them on our website. We will also keep you up-to-date with LifeWays happenings by sending you our quarterly e-newsletter, and staff at Representative Programs as well as LifeWays grads are invited to participate in our monthly conference calls.
Representative Programs enjoy the highest level of recognition by LifeWays North America and are listed first within each state. Click here to learn more about the criteria and benefits of standing in the world as a LifeWays Representative Program .
LifeWays Graduates can list their programs and will be invited to the monthly conference call with Cynthia and other colleagues to share questions and experience. These calls are a wonderful way to connect with other colleagues, ask questions, and get new ideas. Information about the calls will be emailed to you. Click here to list your program ($85/year).
LifeWays Students can list their programs prior to graduation for the discounted rate of $50/year. Click here to list your program and pay online.
Aligned Programs include providers who haven't taken the training but feel at home with the LifeWays principles and organization. Click here to send us your information and pay online ($100/year).
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~ Reclaim and protect childhood ~ Deepen family life ~ Change childcare in North America Support this work by making a contribution of any amount. We will keep you up to date and inspired through our newsletter, published four times each year. Your annual contribution helps with tuition reduction for students and supports our public outreach through workshops and web presence. You can read Cynthia's letter about LifeWays' activities and their importance, and you should have recently received our first annual fundraising brochure in the mail. Please remember us as you make your end-of-year donations! As a federally tax-exempt organization, all donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support! Donate online, or mail your check to the address below.
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These workshops are open to registration by the public, and may be taken by LifeWays grads for the cost of food and supplies.
Me, Myself and I: Adult Developmentwith Cynthia Aldinger Milwaukee, WIFebruary 12-13, 2013Contact Mary O'Connell, for information and registration"Back to the Drawing Board" Children's Drawing Workshop with Bente Goldstein Milwaukee, WI February 14, 2013 Contact Mary O'Connell, for information and registration Heavy Baby Waldorf Doll Making Workshop with Dawn ImesMilwaukee, WIFebruary 15, 2013Contact Mary O'Connell, for information and registrationNurturing and Nourishing with Dr. Mark KamslerMilwaukee, WI February 16, 2013 Contact Mary O'Connell, for information and registration
Nurturing and Nourishing: Care of the Child and Caregiver with Elizabeth Sustick, RN
Rockport, ME
April 12-15th, 2013
Nursery Rhymes, Puppetry, Storytelling and Language Development with Suzanne Down
Buffalo, NY
Oct. 30 - Nov. 4th, 2013
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SAVE THE DATE!
The dates have been set for the first
LifeWays Conference
May 17-19, 2013
at Marin Waldorf in San Rafael, CA
More information will follow in a separate message.
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Seasonal Activities
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LifeWays Grad Jennifer McCall Shares:
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"In addition to an indoor tree, we decorate a "tree for the animals" outdoors, putting peanut butter on the bark (where later we see squirrel foot prints), hanging popcorn and cranberries, along with pine cone bird feeders. And we scatter acorns and chestnuts we've gathered for the squirrels. This is the first time during the year that we also fill our bird feeders and bird bath, continuing this weekly job until Spring returns."
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Other Resources:
Joyful Days with Toddlers and Preschoolers
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This multi-media Tele-Class uses conference calls, video footage from Faith's LifeWays program, readings and online discussion, providing practical ideas and inspiration to increase your enjoyment of the children in your life.
Next Class Starts Jan 27th
"This class was great. I really do feel like a different parent; much more of the parent I've always wanted to be. More creative, more effective, and generally just happier." -S.B.
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Have You Seen the LifeWays Blog Lately?
Check out this timely post for the holidays by our own
Mara Spiropoulos:
Giving and Giving,
and Giving
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Get Continuing Education Credits with this LifeWays video and workbook!
Settling Into Sleep
This packet contains articles, a workbook, and a 15-minute video of a peaceful and nurturing naptime routine and LifeWays.
Buy this video or others from the LifeWays Store online.
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Hanukkah Crafts
for Kids
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Move beyond cotton balls and glitter and check out the links to Hanukkah crafts from many different websites on The Crafty Crow. Most are actually adult-level crafts to do with children, and most are lovely. |
Call for Action
A Message from Michelle Reid in North Attlboro, MA:
Greetings,
I am wondering if there is anyone interested in helping to start a Waldorf/Lifeways initiative working with children at risk in the foster care system? I am a foster/adoptive mom, and helped cofound the Waldorf School of Cape Cod MA. These children in foster care truly need to have this type of care and schooling. Please contact me if you would like to be a part of this, so all children can have magic in their lives, not just some.
My email is michellereid1313@yahoo.com.
Blessings, Michelle Reid
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Conference Calls for Representative Programs and LifeWays Grads
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The next monthly conference call is Tuesday, Dec. 11 for staff at Representative Programs and LifeWays graduates who list their programs on our Program Directory. See the article at left for how to list your program.
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Winter Festival Resources:
Little Acorn Learning has a new Winter Festivals E-Book for sale, with 144 pages of crafts, verses, songs, book recommendations, and more. |
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LifeWays North America
403 Piney Oak Drive, Norman, OK 73073.
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