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.
Follow Mothering