First off, I've filed all your Waldorf questions away in my inbox and am slowly going through them. I think I can answer the majority in a series of posts. Today I will focus on a "Waldorf friendly home", tomorrow will be daily and weekly rhythms (with tips for bedtime), Wednesday will focus on the parenting aspect and resources that will be helpful. And if, just if, I haven't answered a question by doing this, please don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail directly. Between working, parenting, and running a business, I may not get back to everyone in a timely manner, but I will get back to you!! There's probably going to be a lot of information (straight from my head... all in "Erin Language") so I apologize for the lengthy posts!
Let me start out with a little background ::
I would like to clarify that I am no expert when it comes to Waldorf education. I hadn't even heard the word Waldorf until I was pregnant with the little one. I stumbled across something about Waldorf on Mothering.com and have been hooked ever since. It seemed like such a natural way of parenting/educating to me. Since the little one was born, I've learned that there are many things about Steiner's philosophy and the Waldorf parenting way that don't click with the little one. She's her own little being and seemed to be born knowing what she wanted. She molded and shaped my parenting into something that worked for her, but didn't necessarily work for me. I was still stuck in this "Waldorf" mindset, while she seemed to be on a different page. The more I pushed, the more she pushed. Finally, after coming to a middle ground (and a lot of it had to do with her maturing) we are finding a nice balance. I can mother the way that works best for me, and she responds so well to it.
We are attending a parent/child class at a local Waldorf school and that has helped her get a sense of how things run. It's also allowed me to carry a lot of what we do there into our own home, which I always tried to do before, but somehow having that structure in her class has made it easier for her to settle into it at home. And, I've done a ton of preparation each night to make sure the next day goes smoothly. It seemed like a lot of work at first, but really...the day goes so smoothly that it seems effortless.
Many of you had asked about our home and toys and how to keep everything so neat and accessible. So that's what I will focus on today. I am a strong believer that toys made out of natural materials are a must. I've tried to hold this principle since the little one was born. There's an entirely different sensory experience when a child feels sanded wood that's been polished with beeswax, than something made out of plastic. The best toys are the simplest; they inspire imagination, can be used for a variety of things, and the child can learn the very roots of the toy (where it came from and how it was made). They are connected to the natural world when they play with tree blocks and wool felted items. Toys that are pleasing to both the eyes and hands are so important for the younger child. As an adult, I get easily overwhelmed when I am in a room full of plastic, noisy, colorful toys, so I can't imagine what a young child would feel. Creating a calm, peaceful environment reflective of the natural world seems to make so much sense!
For young children, not many toys are needed. From the time the little one was crawling, I had set up a corner for her doll house/barn, another for her kitchen and baby dolls, and an art corner. She has a basket full of blocks and stacking objects, and a book corner as well. Everything has a purpose, a place, a theme, and is easily accessible. I think this is very important for young children. Toys need to be limited and always have a place where they belong. By separating the little one's toys into corners, she can easily pick up and help put away whatever she gets out at the end of the day. Children get easily overwhelmed, so the less, the better! Above is the little one's "house-play" corner. We have an ironing board, washing machine, laundry basket full of play silks, wooden kitchen, and her doll high chair. There is also a wooden doll carriage and her Waldorf doll. These toys inspire imitative play. Are they expensive? They can be! The kitchen was purchased new, but everything else I found at thrift stores. The play silks I got from here and dyed with Kool-Aid, saving loads of money. If you are creative and love to look for a deal, you can create a very inspiring play space with little money. Etsy is also a wonderful resource and searching under "Waldorf" brings up all type of goodies. I will add a list of websites I love at the end of this post for more toys.
The art corner was all thrifted as well. I didn't buy a single thing new except for our paper holder, paper, paint, and crayons. The little one uses this corner very often. Her desk is filled with paper, stickers (she loves stickers), and extra art supplies. She often uses the table for snacks and other projects. I find that child-sized everything is so important for little ones. Elisabeth is way more apt to sit at a table her size, than at our large dinner table. Smaller paint brushes, pieces of paper, and crayons are so much more inviting and she often does not ask for my help when things are her size.
Her doll house corner is filled with wooden people and animals, a barn, and her beloved doll house. The wooden boxes also hold our nature basket filled with acorns and pine cones we have recently collected. I always decorate with a seasonal approach, so the top is covered with a red play silk and decorated with fall-inspired objects. I label all our baskets for easy clean up (so Sasa and I know where everything goes) and it will help the little one recognize letters in the future.
I have found that for my little one, having things her size and at her level are very essential to her interest in them. For example, brushing her teeth and hair proved to be a very stressful activity that resulted in a battle most days. But when I placed all her things on a tray within easy reach, everything shifted. We sing our tooth brushing song and have a hair brushing song as well. We always have a "teeth brushing race" and all three of us will be in the bathroom brushing our teeth at full speed. It's quite a scene! Encouraging her to do these tasks by herself by putting things within easy reach has helped tremendously.
I try to have the rest of our house follow the same approach :: calming, natural, and everything has its own spot. The little one sees me cleaning up throughout the day and often helps. She loves to sweep and wash place mats/napkins. Singing while performing any task really helps as well. Our "cleaning song" is this ::
I met a little dusty gnome
He says it's time to clean our home
Round and round
Swish swish swish
Clean our home
The most important thing for me is to maintain a play space with toys that inspire imagination. Play silks can be used for anything from making a house to wearing a cape. Acorns can become hats for little people, money, or food served in her kitchen. Blocks can make roads, buildings, a forest, and houses. It's just endless! And it's so fun to see where their imagination with lead them. Giving them the proper tools to inspire creativity is the best gift you could give your child!
Here are some website I love for natural toys that inspire imagination ::
Three Sister's ToysI hope that helps! If you have any more questions on Waldorf play spaces, please contact me via e-mail!
I LOVE these dolls! They are adorable and seem so well crafted! Thanks for the giveaway!