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Finding your way... Waldorf for Dummies?!?

post #1 of 13
Thread Starter 
I love the idea of Waldorf and really want to create a Waldorf inspired home for my family... I'm just having a hard time figuring out how to do so. I need the Waldorf for Dummies book!

Any tips on the baby steps to get me started would be wonderful. It is just so confusing and intimidating all at once. What was the first thing you did on your Waldorf journey? What helped your family find a rhythm the most? When did Waldorf click for you?
post #2 of 13
you may consider reading one of these books to start off with:
“Beyond the Rainbow Bridge” by Barbara Patterson and Pamela Bradley
“You Are Your Child’s First Teacher” by Rahima Baldwin Dancy
“Heaven On Earth” by Sharifa Oppenheimer
"Simplicity Parenting" by Kim John Payne and Lisa M Ross
post #3 of 13
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much for the suggestions!
post #4 of 13
for me, it starts with the rhythm. if you can create a rhythm, you are most of the way there to having a waldorf home.

so, when i start looking at the rhythm (because it does change and such), i first look at when we need to eat and sleep. it's easiest to look at these first and see what the basic times for that are.

then, i look at what is required around those things. before eating, i need to prepare. after eating, i need to clean up. before going to bed, we need to get cleaned, PJs, toilet, brushing teeth, etc. when we get up, it's toilet, get cleaned up, get dressed. so, that helps flesh out that first part of the rhythm.

after that, i put in what needs to be done: time for chores, time for errands, time for work (in my case); and then what is scheduled (play group on wednesdays); and then finally the time in between is the 'free' or 'open' time for me to do with DS what we want to do.

here are the things that we do with DS in a day: outside time (2 hrs at least); reading (1 hr divided into 2 half hours); and playing with toys/indoor play/independent play (might also include 'art'); indoor play with music/dancing/singing. outside time and singing/dancing is active, playing indoors independently and reading time is passive. So, we flow between active, passive.

my mornings with DS are often like this:

wake, dress, eat, chore, then we play. now, usually, DS is playing independently while i do my chore, so we went from active of getting up for the day, to passive of independent play. then, we move into active play--either inside the house with instruments, dancing, singing, or we go outside to the park, to a play date, to play group, or a bush walk or some such. when we return, we have a snack and then have passive time with reading. this typically leads into lunch time, and then that leads into nap time for DS.

after nap time, my husband is with him, and they typically go from sleep to active play to passive play, then active play, then passive such as reading or coloring. then he makes dinner while i am on the way home, and we have dinner. he cleans up dinner while i get DS down to bed, and then we have adult time (usually working or resting), and then finally, we go to bed around 10/10:30.

our weekly rhythm is usually something like this:

chore rhythm:

M: bathroom
T: dust/vacuum
W: fermenting
R: none
F: Kitchen
Sa: Errands/Groceries
Su: rest

Activities:

M: whatever indoors or out
T: play dates
W: whatever indoors or out
R: play group
F: whatever indoors or out
Sa: park or nature area or party/event
Su: close to home outdoor time or party/event

so that's our general week and how we do our rhythm.
post #5 of 13
Def read "Heaven on Earth" first. The author's purpose is to get you started on creating a Waldorf home & she provides many tips for beginners.
post #6 of 13
it is a good book. we just got it here and really started in on the night time routine as per her description. it's helped my husband most.

i tend to be ok with winging it based on the philosophy itself (having read about rhythm and blah blah blah), but my husband needed a lot more guidance in that regard. by reading the book, he was able to go "oh, i see, ok, yeah, i can do that!"

so we are working on getting them in rhythm.
post #7 of 13
Yes, read Heaven on Earth!!!! That was by far, the most influencial read for me. The two biggies in my family when starting down the Waldorf path was establishing a rhythm (we began with meals and bed times and then filled in) and cutting out the media. Also, I love Carrie's blog The Parenting Passageway! Good Luck!
post #8 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by blumom2boyz View Post
Also, I love Carrie's blog The Parenting Passageway! Good Luck!
Yes, yes it's so wonderful! We love it, too. To learn more about the festivals and celebrations my friend Shelley's blog is great: www.waldorfmama.com
There are lots of great blogs out there but beware... I have noticed a lot of them that say they are Waldorf are really more unschooling with Waldorf crafts thrown in. It can be confusing!!

You are your child's first teacher was (And still is) one of my favorite books.

HTH! btw...Welcome!!!!!!!
post #9 of 13
I forgot to add the why waldorf works site it great, too.
post #10 of 13
Thread Starter 
You all are the best!!!!

I took your advice and started to think about rhythm first... I also went to the library and reserved all of the books you had mentioned.... the ones they had anyway.

I'm currently reading "you are your childs first teacher." So far so good. Last week and this week I am taking notes on our days and am going to work out rhythm from there.
post #11 of 13
The Parenting Passageway is my favorite Waldorf blog. It has a lot of Waldorf theory behind it with lots of practicality. It also is text only, which I find helpful because I get fed up with people spending hundreds of dollars on Waldorf "stuff" and completely neglecting inner work. Also, Heaven on Earth, that has been suggested. Christopherus and A Little Garden Flower (two Waldorf homeschool sites) both have preschool/kindy guides that discuss these types of issues, and are probably very affordable.
post #12 of 13
For me, this is a great description of influences:
http://druidjournal.net/2006/09/07/t...-kindergarten/
post #13 of 13
If you have a Steiner/Waldorf playgroup in your local area that would be a great source of inspiration and you will experience the rhythm of the day first hand. It all happens so effortlessly and feels so natural. Failing that I would endorse the suggestions to read Heaven on Earth - very accessible.

Another suggestion is to write out a calendar for the year including the seasons and festivals you might like to celebrate in your home (or already celebrate). Then think how you might like to do this. There are some books with ideas on this. For each one make a list of a few activities/craft projects you might like to do with your child/ren so you have something to work towards. For example in Autumn we go apple picking and make jam and apple cakes. We also gather Autumn leaves and do leaf rubbings (with crayons). Etc.

Hope that helps.
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