For years, advent – the four weeks prior to Christmas – in the O’Connell household has been celebrated with the gradual building of an advent nature scene on our kitchen table. I love this tradition, because it blends the Christian tradition of the advent wreath with a deeper appreciation of the natural world. It begins […]
Advent Nature Scene, by Mary O’Connell Read More »
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 Waldorf Kindergarten and LifeWays Center, to prepare for their Advent Spiral in
Setting the Tone for Festivals Read More »
At Rainbow Bridge we always scheduled our “Winter Festival” on the last day before winter break. We would invite all the parents to come from 11:30-12:30 and take their children home with them—no afternoon care that day because it’s so hard for children to have parents come and go without taking them home. Because
A Winter Festival Celebrating Community, by Rahima Dancy Read More »
I remember the day that the lesson really sank in for me: I was sitting on the couch, and the children in my care were playing all around me. There were two brothers playing nearby: Charles (age 2) and Jamie (not quite 4 years old). Jamie had a beanbag and was dropping it on Charles,
Facilitating Children’s Interactions, by Faith Collins Read More »
It is the middle of November and I am in the midst of organizing the house, sorting and simplifying the “things” that have collected, and gathering new and recycled items to create presents for the holidays. My motivation for organizing and simplifying is two-fold right now. In part I do it for I love the
St. Nicholas and the Social Arts, by Mara Spiropoulos Read More »
His voice was slow and deep and practiced. The fire had already burnt down to embers and they lit his prickly face, deepening the wrinkled shadows that covered it. There was the slightest trace of a smile on his lips, which his pipe accentuated. He blew out a puff of smoke and started. We all
Once Upon a Time, by Jane Sustar Read More »
My husband told me something the other day that started to change the way I think and dream. See, I am a dreamer. I have always been one to imagine my life running many different courses, and following only a few. Truth is, I have lots of ideas and secret dreams that will likely never
Encouraging Sharing and Kindness Among Siblings, by Mara Spiropoulos Read More »
I have a little boy in my suite. When he first learned how to talk, he would ask me every day throughout the day, “Where is Mama?” Sometimes he would ask me where Dada was, but mostly he asked me about Mama. I would then ask him, “Where is Mama? Is Mama at work?”
Changes in Rhythm, by Jane Sustar Read More »
A few weeks ago my son, Elliot, won a goldfish. Actually, he got two. Grandma was concerned that his living prize might not make it through the day and so she made sure that he received another. Elliot named his new pets Fred and Jingo, and was very excited about the new additions to our
Dia de los Muertos, by Jaimmie Stugard Read More »
A series of islands lie scattered in an arc across the immensity of the mid-Pacific Ocean, the largest and furthest south of them is Hawaii Island, or as it is often referred to, ‘The Big Island.’ On its rugged and jagged East coast, twenty five miles south of the only city, Hilo, the small town
Warmth in Hawaii, by Pamela Perkins Read More »
