Resources for Teachers and Caregivers

Welcome to LifeWays!

To introduce you to our innovative approach to care for young children, we invite you to jump into our FREE online course. "Welcome to LifeWays" includes videos and resources to help you deepen your home life and transform your work with children! Enjoy it on your own time, and at your own pace!

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Circle of Hands

A Foundational Handwork Course with Mindy Upton of Blue Sky Craft Studio
Once-monthly, September 2023 through May 2024

Grab a cup of tea, your handwork basket, and gather online for this relaxing, once-monthly handwork circle. Nourish your soul while learning the foundational skills such as sewing, embroidery, needle felting and more through inspiring projects in a circle of camaraderie. Become more practiced at these simple skills while creating projects and learning new songs, verses, and stories that can be put to use in your program immediately! read more...

Circle of Hands Year 2

An In-Depth Handwork Experience with Mindy Upton of Blue Sky Craft Studio
Once-monthly, September 2023 through May 2024

Join us for a “closed” Circle experience with colleagues from Year One; this second year circle will build upon established handwork skills. Mindy is providing a unique and wonderful opportunity for participants, bringing together handwork, music and story for a complete experience that can be used in your early childhood program immediately after completion! The year’s curriculum will include creating puppets, seasonal crafts and nature garden creatures that will enliven your growing repertoire. read more...

Singing Games: Seasonal Joy

Five Seasonal Workshops With Anna Rainville
Next workshop May 30, 7-8:30 pm Central

Come join hands to circle through the year with traditional and new singing games that celebrate the seasons, develop sensory integration, build community, and bring joy to the dancers in the forest, in the classroom, in the home, or even on zoom. . read more...

Becoming Champions of Play with Judith Frizlen

A course for care providers, early childhood teachers and families!
Three weeks beginning June 12, 2024
“Get to Know You” Zoom session June 12th 6:30- 7:30pm Central

In this three-week course, we will explore play which is nature's way to support child development. Understanding the important role of play in child development helps us become champions of play!

Play is innate; the young child does not need to learn to play but rather be allowed to play by having time, space and a confident adult presence. Instead of worrying about what children are or are not learning, let's build our trust in the child to practice what they need to learn! Let's bring our own playful attitudes to learn all about play. read more...

Curative Education in Early Childhood

**BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND**
A Three Day Online Workshop with Robyn Brown of The Mulberry Center for Curative Education
June 21st- 23rd, 10:00am- 1:30pm Central with a 30 minute break

All over the country today, we are receiving into our homes, programs, and classrooms a constant stream of children at younger and younger ages who are needing more than what many current models of care and education offer. They are coming with obstacles and challenges to their incarnation and growth that require a more specialized lens for seeing them and how to guide them in. Rudolf Steiner’s curative education lectures hold for us a beacon of light in our search for how to meet them.

Join us for a workshop with Robyn Brown to explore what it truly means to observe and why those observations are useful. read more...

Kinship with Nature is a Family Affair

With Sharifa Oppenheimer

Your Child’s Healthy, Heartfelt Kinship with Nature Begins with You! Classes will be LIVE Wednesdays beginning July 3, 6:30-8pm Central

Research shows intimate connections with nature improve our health, mood and sense of purpose. Science affirms that the child’s love of nature, and its many health benefits, depends upon their adult’s depth of connection with the natural world. Are you not quite sure how to deepen and express your own love of nature? Would you love to know how to “pass the torch” of nature connection to the children in your care? read more...

Using "Home" as the Model in your Program with Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Starting Wednesday, July 10, 2024
A three-week online course for early childhood teachers and childcare providers in any location - schools, centers and homes

Whether you’re seasoned in the LifeWays approach or new to incorporating these elements into your program, this course is for you!

• Rahima will guide you in looking at your program on four different levels - the physical, rhythmical, relational/emotional and spiritual/values levels.
• Be inspired by hundreds of ways other providers have made their programs more home-like.
• Create a plan to bring one or more new elements into your own program.

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Little Sunblossom Seasons Table Puppet

Two Live Zoom Sessions July 13 & 14, 2024 1-3pm Central

Little Sunblossom would love to come to your summer seasons table bringing her warmth, light and colorful blooms. She is a sturdy table puppet made from natural wool felt and stands about six inches high. In two 2-hour zoom sessions we will each learn to make a Little Sunblossom puppet. She can live on your seasons table or might even inspire a summer story or puppet play! This workshop is intended for beginners as well as for more experienced stitchers. read more...

LifeWays Early Childhood Fundamentals Course

Inspiration and Support for Working with Young Children
Starting August, 2024 in several locations!

Caregiving, parenting and teaching has become an increasingly challenging endeavor. Providing the right environment and nourishment for children to thrive requires strong intention and a wellspring of support. In the LifeWays Fundamentals course we offer a balance of intellectual content, hands-on work, spiritual nourishment and community support to get you started in your caregiving or educator’s journey. read more...

Celebrando: Entendiendo, Creando y Viviendo las fiestas con intención

Creando un ritmo anual basado en las celebraciones
Inscripciones abiertas todo el año. Registrate y aprende a tu ritmo ¡Ya!

Desde la antigüedad, la humanidad ha observado los cambios estacionales, cada cultura, desde sus creencias y perspectiva ha marcado pautas que marcan el pasar del tiempo y se manifiestan con celebraciones y festivales. Se ha creado así un ritmo anual de fiestas y conmemoraciones que vive en nuestras raíces. Cuando vivimos estas fiestas con consciencia nos nutren a niveles profundos, avivando y alimentando nuestra vitalidad, nuestro sentido de vida y ayudándonos a conectar con todo y todos los que nos rodean. leer más...

Creating Home Away from Home: A Course for Home Childcare Providers

Ongoing - enroll any time!

This on-demand, at-your-own-pace, online course will help you open your own early childhood program at home providing relationship-based care steeped in LifeWays Principles. read more...