Upcoming Courses

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!

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...

The Gift of Color

A Lively Autumn Workshop with Lynn Turner and Leslie Wetzonis Woolverton
Three Sessions: October 14, 21, 28 6- 8pm CT

Together we will explore the gift of color through our Waldorf early childhood paper arts and crafts curriculum. We will play with color through the seasons and share crafts and activities to bring and inspire wonder, beauty, joy and diversity to the children in your care from birth to seven.read more...

Circle of Hands Foundations

A Foundational Handwork Course with Mindy Upton of Blue Sky Craft Studio
Once-monthly, September 2024 through May 2025

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...

Discipline with Loving Awareness

Online course on discipline with Cynthia Aldinger and Acacia Moore!
We're offering this very popular course again, starting September 11, 2024

Cynthia’s L.O.V.E. Approach to Disciplinehas been joyfully appreciated ever since she first offered it as a workshop at a large early childhood conference twenty years ago. Since the creation of this online course in 2019, it has since been one of our most in-demand courses every year! read more...

Creating Thriving Community with Families

A 4-Part Workshop Series with Lynn Turner & Leslie Wetzonis Woolverton
Wednesdays, Sept. 18th, Oct. 2nd, Nov. 6th, Dec. 4th 6-8 pm CT

Developing a strong class and family community is essential to your successful school year. Please join us to learn how to begin and deepen this ongoing work of collaboration and trust with parents, families and caregivers. read more...

The Birth Order Effect

A Workshop for Teachers, Parents, and Students of Self Development Presented by Judith Frizlen
September 19 and 26, 6:00- 7:30 p.m. CT

In this workshop we will focus on three primary topics together: Family Systems – There are many ways to create a nuclear family and extend it with a circle of support. Each variation has its own unique benefits and challenges. As a teacher, understanding the child’s family system can inform decisions about their care. read more...

Circle of Hands Experienced

An In-Depth Handwork Experience with Mindy Upton of Blue Sky Craft Studio
Once-monthly, September 2024 through May 2025

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...

Inspired Homemaking with Rahima Baldwin Dancy

An Online Course with Rahima Baldwin Dancy
Starting October 2 for three weeks

Imagine a home life that is nourishing for every member of the family, including yourself!

Join Rahima Baldwin Dancy online for this three-week class in which you will build up a picture of your home life. Explore what is working for you and what isn’t on the physical, rhythmical, emotional, and spiritual levels of your home read more...

Family Storytelling Today

A Three-Session Workshop with Nancy Mellon
Sundays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th 1- 3pm CT

How do we nurture healthy closeness with children in our increasingly mechanized, fragmented world? Join us as we tap into story wisdom that warms and strengthens a hearty caring sense of family. read more...

Learning in Nature 2: The Mystery and Wonder of Exploring Nature with Children

Online, starting November 6, 2024

Those of us who regularly take children into nature – whether our own children or those in our care – feel the calling to guide the children in a way that develops reverence for the natural world. Cultural historian and ecotheologian, Thomas Berry, called this the development of an “I-Thou” rather than an “I-It” relationship with the natural world. During this two-week course, we will explore together the inner work of the adult read more...

Singing Games: Seasonal Joy

Five Seasonal Workshops With Anna Rainville
Next workshop November 7, 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...

Holiday Craft Making Workshops with Christine Culbert

Tuesday, November 12, Creating a Season of Light Spiral — Walking a Peaceful Pathway Through Your Holiday Season

And Tuesday, November 19, Joyful Jingle Gnomes — Making Gnome Magic and Merriment for Your Little Ones

The Season of Light Spiral can be a lovely companion to your Advent or Solstice celebrations. In the often busy days of the holiday time, it can be so helpful to create a little time each day to come into the warmth, light and peace of the spiral. read more...

These little gnomes will make magical stocking stuffers and holiday gifts! They can become dear friends to your children and help to inspire imaginative play. 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...

Creating Your Family Culture -- An Elemental Approach

Ongoing - enroll any time!

We don't always pay much attention to culture, but it's always there. It holds us, sustains us, and informs the way we act, feel and think about the world. Wouldn't you love to create the conditions in your home that help each family member live your shared values in a positive way with life-affirming practices?

How do we intentionally craft a family culture that reflects our values? How do we practice those values every day with our children? And how do we continue to hold true to these values as our family grows and our individual needs change? read more...

Healthy Home Rhythms

Ongoing - enroll any time!

This popular online course, developed by Kerry Ingram at Mothering Arts, supports you to create a balanced home rhythm rooted in presence and joy. In this self-paced course, you will work with four water-colored seasonal rhythm wheels (printer required), a meal planner wheel and LOTS of practical resources to develop a rhythm wheel that is unique for your own family.  Create a more connected home life with the help of this inspiring, step-by-step, course that you can do any time and access again and again as the seasons—and your family—change. read more...

Living Arts Through the Seasons ~ Archived

Deepening the Development of Your Family Culture - Archived Seasons

Join our thriving community of parents, creating unique family cultures through connection in everyday home life. Get clear on who you want to be as a parent and how you want to spend your time in simple meaningful ways. read more about our archived seasons...