This newsletter theme is one of my favorites. I am just finishing three months of living with my eldest son and daughter-in-law to help with the care of my granddaughter while her mommy went back to work part-time. It has been such a healthy reminder to me of how differently daily life unfolds when living with small children. It reminded me how simplicity in living is a gift to everyone, not just the child, but the adults as well.  

It has also brought back memories of myself as a young mother and how, in the midst of what could be chaos at times, it was the care and tending of the home that provided an anchor and sense of well-being. Even back then I had a daily/weekly task list that gently held my hand and reminded me of what came next when I was too tired to think. Somehow having that list helped to make room for spontaneity and emotional reality.  Both joy and sadness were given space in my mind because my "list" held the practical necessities of life for me. Whether in turmoil or in glee, it would quietly remind me, "Do this now and life will continue to function."

As you will read in the articles below, the beauty of it all is that in doing our meaningful work we are surrounding the children in our care with a rich content out of which to play themselves into their growing bodies. Perhaps it is the one clear life situation where doing what needs to be done in one arena also serves the purpose of doing what needs to be done in a completely different arena.  

Cleaning, caring, tending and offering loving focused attention to our life tasks provides the marvelous side effect of providing our growing children with what they need as well, a life worthy of playful imitation.  

Perhaps we need to do a fund raiser where we could buy multiple billboards (artistic ones, of course) in every city stating "Life itself is the enrichment program for your children!" Imagine what it would be like if, instead of investing multiple hundreds of dollars every year in enrichment classes for little ones, we purchased really good household tools that lifted daily tasks into joyfully anticipated experiences! How well I remember the first time I sliced vegetables with a truly sharp knife! Or perhaps you remember when you purchased a vacuum cleaner that really got the job done!  When the tools of the task support the task doer, life is good! When our children see us doing our work with delight, their lives are truly enriched.

May you be inspired by the newsletter stories.  Many thanks to all who contributed.

Blessings on your work and play,

The first time I taught my Tele-Class, Joyful Days with Toddlers and Pre- schoolers, I spent the first call talking about all of the benefits of involving children in household tasks, inspired by my own experiences working with children in my LifeWays program.  I fired up everyone with enthusiasm, and sent them off with the assignment to invite their children to participate.   

The next week they all called in again, and I asked everyone how it had gone.  There was a long silence, and then one mom bravely shared, "Faith, I loved the idea, but when I tried to sweep with my toddler he spent the whole time sweeping apart the piles that I made.  It didn't work at all."  Another woman chimed in, "Yeah, I tried to wash dishes with my three-year-old, but while we were doing it the baby woke up.  I got her as quickly as I could, but when I came back there was water and soap everywhere."  One by one, they shared how their efforts had gone awry, from children throwing laundry wildly around the living room, to not being interested in helping at all (the woman with the wild laundry throwers declared her experience a success, because at least her kids weren't fighting while they did it). Read more.

"Life as the Curriculum for Young Children"

CD or Download of a Workshop by Cynthia Aldinger

 

This book is free as a download in Spanish, made available to LifeWays from the Research Institute for Waldorf Education and the Online Waldorf Library.  Click to  learn more.  

Una Segunda Casa (Spanish Edition of Home Away from Home By Cynthia Aldinger and Mary O'Connell) 

Una Segunda Casa (Edición en español de LifeWays:  Un Hogar Fuera de Casa. LifeWays Cuidado de Niños y Familias)

Un enfoque innovador, pero refrescantemente simple y sano para cuidado infantil basado en Steiner, escrito por dos especialistas en el campo. El enfoque LifeWays se centra en cálido y cariñosa relaciones entre niños y los adultos que cuidan de ellos... algo tan esencial pero gravemente en riesgo en la guardería moderna. Este libro es recomendable para todo aquel que vive y trabaja con niños pequeños, especialmente proveedores de cuidado infantil o aquellos considerando abrir su propio negocio de cuidado de niños.

Este libro es gratis gracias a una donación generosa para la traducción hecha a LifeWays por el Research Institute for Waldorf Education y el Online Waldorf Library.  Haga clic para DESCARGAR. 

• Are you interested in a natural, holistic approach to child care?  
• Are you looking for innovative, groundbreaking ideas on how to care for children-your own or others? 
• Do you want to create your own home-based preschool or a parent education program? 
• Are you seeking personal growth through artistic expression, music, handcrafting and meaningful practical skills? 

• A comprehensive understanding of the developing human being
• A deepening experience of personal growth
• Guidance in establishing a successful program
• A sense of being grounded in practical, artistic, and nurturing skills

Kimberton, PA,
March 2015 - April 2016

Chinyelu Kunz, Student Services Director

610-933-3635 X109

ChinyeluK@LifeWaysNorthAmerica.org

Learn more or request an information packet!

Boulder, CO,
May 2015 - May 2016

Faith Collins, Student Services Director

720-256-8843

FaithC@LifeWaysNorthAmerica.org

Learn more or request an information packet!

Anchorage, AK

May 2015 - June 2016

Lori Berrigan, Student Services Director
Email Lori or call her at 907-315-4030.

 Learn more or request an information packet!

Oceanside, CA,

July 2015-July 2016
Bianca Lara, Student Services Director. Email Bianca or call her at 760-525-8569.

Learn more  or request an information packet!




   

Sierra Foothills, CA (Applegate, near Sacto)
July 2015-July 2016

Marianne Alsop, Director
Email Marianne or call her at
415-453-9122.
Learn more  or request an
information packet!

Portland, OR 

July 2015-June 2016

Anne Kollender, Student Services
Director.  Email Anne at
akollender@yahoo.com.

Learn more or request an information packet! 

Milwaukee, WI 

Oct 2015-Aug 2016 

Mary O'Connell, Director
Email Mary or call her at

(414) 218-8558

 Learn more or request an
information packet!

Austin, TX 

October 2015-Oct 2016 

Kelli Hoisington, Student Services Director
Email Kelli or call her at

512-971-2223

Learn more or request an

information packet!

From Graduates:

 _______________________________________________

"Mumbuto and the White Bird," 

a puppet play written by Kerry Brokaw,   is a transformative tale for young children recently performed by her at the LifeWays Training in Maine.  In this article, Kerry has shared the write-up of her project, including the script of this delightful puppet play. Thank you, Kerry!!

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Fall Activities at "Lively Children" Child Care Center, by Molly Cannon  

Molly is a LifeWays graduate and founder/director of Lively Children in Louisville, KY

Read More

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Job Opportunities:

Prairie Hill Waldorf School, Pewaukee WI

Now Hiring: Afternoon Kindergarten Assistant 

For more information: Visit our website

Greetings from sunny Northeast Florida, home to Seaside Playgarden, a LifeWays Representative Site, and the first in Florida. The Seaside Playgarden, located just two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, is a perfect place for children to explore, grow and create. We focus on the whole child: head, heart and hands and offer 2-, 3-, and 5-day programs for children ages 2-1/2 to 6 years of age, weekly Parent/Child Classes and Playgroup twice a month.

Our programs encompass the nurturing arts, domestic arts, the development of deep relationships, social and emotional development, imagination and creativity, and a life-affirming connection with nature...all through Warmth, Rhythm, and Respect.We are very excited to begin our new Forest Kindergarten program, the first in the Southeast USA!

From: Kerry Ingram at The Little Red Schoolhouse