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, […]
Using Touch Relaxation by Kate Castellani Read More »
“In our modern civilization, where all eyes concentrate on outer, material things, no attention is given to the state of sleep, although man devotes to it one third of his daily life. Never should it be thought that man is inactive while he sleeps. He is inactive only in so far as the outer external
Thoughts on Sleep by Miss Jaimmie (Stugard) Read More »
For young children, it is good to have very clear routines and rituals around sleep. It helps to think about what you are doing for the two hours before sleep, what you will do to prepare them for sleep, and what you will do when they first wake up. I call this “framing” sleep. The
Framing Naptime in LifeWays Programs by Cynthia Aldinger Read More »
As we respect the importance of rhythm in the life of the young child, creating a rhythm and space for rest time in our busy day at the Seaside Playgarden is critical to good health and well being. I want to share with you what we have done to create a quiet space for this
Rest Time in the Hummingbird Garden by Lynn Coalson Read More »
Much too often sleep is an under-rated process in child care circles. It is readily accepted that children don’t like to sleep, and are allowed not to sleep. Chronically sleep-deprived children are in abundance these days! I believe that sleep is just as important as healthy food. One would never even consider not feeding a
Naptime at Simone’s Infant Care by Simone Demarzi Read More »
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
White Noise and Cognitive Dissonance by Rahima Baldwin Dancy Read More »
Rahima writes: In 1984 another Waldorf teacher and I dropped out of the school to be home more and opened one of the early home-based Waldorf programs in the country. As lead teacher, I essentially re-created a Waldorf kindergarten for three- and four-year-olds in a dedicated room in her home that opened out into the
How LifeWays Transformed my In-home Program, by Rahima Baldwin Dancy Read More »
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
Joy in My Heart by Cynthia Aldinger Read More »
Kerry writes: I grew up on the East Coast, lived for eleven years in a tiny ski town in Colorado and five years ago moved to the North Bay area of California. My westward migration opened my mind more and more, the closer I got to the Pacific. We settled in a small progressive town
A New Mom Balancing Fundamentalism with the Fundamentals of LifeWays, by Kerry Madrid Read More »
Faith writes: When I first started working with toddlers, I also happened to read Nokken by Helle Heckmann, who tells about how she spends hours outside each day with the children in her play program, regardless of the weather. I was completely inspired! I wanted to spend hours outside each day with the children, too!
An Outdoor Summer, by Faith Collins Read More »
