Do You Currently Offer Waldorf Inspired??

[Josiegirl]

I started doing a bit more reading on this approach and absolutely LOVE it!
If you offer this style of care, I'd love to hear more!! What your environment or day looks like? How the kiddos do with it? Your job as the provider?

[CityGarden]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

CityGarden, I don't want to hijack this topic but am searching for ways to implement Waldorf lines of thinking into my CC(plus I'm doing a 2 page paper on Waldorf) . Would you recommend those book links or do you have other sources as well? You can PM if you'd like. I just sent for a book called Simplicity Parenting that I hope will help streamline the environment.

I had hoped others with more experience with Waldorf in their program would chime in... but I will jump in first.

In terms of books these are my favorite Waldorf based books:

You Are Your Child's First Teacher
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-F...+first+teacher

Beyond the Rainbow Bridge
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Rainbo...4A64SPR19G8X7R

Heaven on Earth
https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Earth-...D6E8DGRAGJ66G2

Seven Times the Sun
https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Times-S...JWGKSVJW2356K2

The Creative Family
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Fami...sap_bc?ie=UTF8

Other Resources

150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities
https://www.amazon.com/150-Screen-Fr...6KYDSATMJGT6FN
This is not Waldorf but when you go screen free it's nice to know what to do when you run out of inspiration.

The Artful Parent Blog
http://artfulparent.com/
Again not Waldorf but helpful.

Mother.com Forums has a Waldorf section that is AMAZING!

Little Acorn Learning has a Kindergarten Waldorf Curriculum since academics are not heavy in Kinder I would assume you could adjust this for preschool age
http://littleacornlearning.com/

This is a nice home based child care inspired by Waldorf:
http://www.achildsgardenofthyme.com/

A Child's Garden of Thyme uses LifeWays as her curric. which you can find here: http://lifewaysnorthamerica.org/

If you visit here: http://www.waldorfearlychildhood.org/directory.php you will find a number of programs many home based.

[Josiegirl]

Oooh Thank you!! A couple of those sites and books I have happened upon in my search but I am now off to check out the others!
Thanks again!

[Josiegirl]

Absolutely LOVE achildsgardenofthyme! The more I read, the more I feel like a Hippie Mother Earth chick and thinking back to my late teens/early 20's, that's what I was and did. Then real life came and got in the way. I definitely need to change my lifestyle AND that of what I offer the children in my care. And as with everything else, we can take away what works and leave what doesn't, right? If I was starting this life all over again, I would have gone to college and training for this.

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

Oooh Thank you!! A couple of those sites and books I have happened upon in my search but I am now off to check out the others!
Thanks again!

I own a couple of these books including Seven times the sun... BTW, Investing in a ton of play silks has been a life saver; mine are 7 years old & I still have all but 2 of them ( I wash them every night lol because they get used daily)

[Josiegirl]

Originally Posted by LysesKids

I own a couple of these books including Seven times the sun... BTW, Investing in a ton of play silks has been a life saver; mine are 7 years old & I still have all but 2 of them ( I wash them every night lol because they get used daily)

All size silks? I saw the big ones that I'd probably have to sell a kidney for. Last summer at yard sales, I came across a whole basket of women's scarves, ya know that type of silky material? I just took them back out of hiding; they went in because nobody ever picked them up. But they were constantly used in dress-up.

Is Seven Times The Sun a book to buy?
I'm just looking to revamp most of the materials I have and completely get away from plastic crap.

[CityGarden]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

If I was starting this life all over again, I would have gone to college and training for this.

It's never too late. I personally feel the best Waldorf teachers have lived life a bit!

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

All size silks? I saw the big ones that I'd probably have to sell a kidney for. Last summer at yard sales, I came across a whole basket of women's scarves, ya know that type of silky material? I just took them back out of hiding; they went in because nobody ever picked them up. But they were constantly used in dress-up.

Is Seven Times The Sun a book to buy?
I'm just looking to revamp most of the materials I have and completely get away from plastic crap.

I found a lady that was making them for a little less than what Sara's silks cost plus she dyed littler ones ( I don't think she does the tiny ones anymore). She closed for awhile, but she's back up & I was planning on buying more. She runs the site A Toy Garden

Her colors had not quite what you typically find - more muted and based off of seasons. And yes, 7 times the Sun is a book I got off of Amazon - has poems, plans on how to start the day, songs etc. Some of my DCP have looked thru it as well. I started out more Waldorf, but then added some Montessori inspired Infant toys

[Annalee]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

Absolutely LOVE achildsgardenofthyme! The more I read, the more I feel like a Hippie Mother Earth chick and thinking back to my late teens/early 20's, that's what I was and did. Then real life came and got in the way. I definitely need to change my lifestyle AND that of what I offer the children in my care. And as with everything else, we can take away what works and leave what doesn't, right? If I was starting this life all over again, I would have gone to college and training for this.

I was 40 when I got my CDA and 46 when I got my Associate's...did most of it online and it took a while cause my own kids were small at the time. This job, though, takes alot of HEART as well and you have alot of HEART. I find that I use my experiences and heart the most in this profession. My degrees, I feel, just solidify what I do and give me a plaque for the wall for the WORLD to see. Some take notice, some don't but I have brought attention to my wall of accolades for those who are looking for "bobbie jo babysitter" I put in some long hours for those degrees so I hope the clients that I do enroll, whether they like me or not, appreciate and respect my dedication to this profession??? I can dream that there are still parents out there that do CARE!

[hwichlaz]

As a former waldor parent I want to say ...

while there are things that are appealing about this method, if you follow it to the letter it's very racist. It's why we chose the public charger waldorf school over the private waldorf school.