LifeWays
Before I had children I didn’t even know how to spell “rhythm.” I had gotten used to doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted as a single person: making my own schedule where I could paint 24 hours straight and sleep for 12 hours every other day; loving my footloose and fancy-free life of being …
As a LifeWays-inspired parenting coach and teacher of caregivers, I’ve worked with families and caregivers from many geographic areas and walks of life: mothers, fathers, married and unmarried, grandparents, nannies, caregivers, and teachers, in the U.S., England, Europe, Australia, even the Middle East and Israel. Although their homes and schools look different, all have shared …
People all over the country have been protesting the travel ban that prohibits people from certain countries from traveling to the United States. There has been so much talk of building a wall to separate our nation from the “others” that the school age children in my life are expressing fears and asking questions. The me …
Spring Cleaning with Mothering Arts By Kerry Ingram Spring is coming! Spring fever, spring babies and spring cleaning. This is my favorite time of year to create space for new growth and freshness by clearing clutter and getting the house in order. A Traditional Folk Rhyme invites us to simplify the work that is done …
With an average of ten toddlers from the ages of 18 months to 3 years in an indoor space, there are times during the children’s free play when they need additional quiet rest times, that supplement the traditional afternoon nap. These “rest times” generally do not involve sleep, but allow children who have been hurt, …
It’s a puzzle to me how and why so many of the Waldorf and LifeWays early childhood programs I have visited turn on some kind of mechanical device to make “white noise” when it’s time for nap. These teachers have heard and believe Rudolf Steiner’s indication that “the young child is all sense organ,” and …
Words from an old campfire song (with third verse revised by Cynthia): I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (Where?) Down in my heart (Where?) Down in my heart I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart (Where?) Down in my heart to stay I’ve got the peace …
During the first seven years or so of life the child’s main tasks are to come to terms with physical reality, to develop the organs of his or her physical body, and to learn to relate socially. The main learning paradigm for young children is imitation, so how the adults around them manage conflict is …
Get practical ideas for interacting with children when Faith speaks about 5 Ways to Transform No into Yes at the National LifeWays Conference on May 18th, 2013. She will also offer an afternoon workshop on Allowing Children to Help, looking at fostering competence in children. High Expectations vs. Unrealistic Expectations I was talking with a …
It was back in the summer of 1977 and I was sitting with some awe once again in Marjorie Spock’s kitchen in East Sullivan, Maine. We spoke of numerous things, including a possible relocation to the area to help start a Waldorf school initiative. As always, she was full of robust energy, humor and …