What do you do at parent/toddler classes?

782 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Hannahsmummy, Jun 23, 2007

fluttermama

Discussion Starter · Jun 13, 2007

I am curious...I'm running one at my dd's co-op school, not particularly Waldorf, but with some Waldorf ideas, and I would love to get some new ideas from the mama's here on how things were run, what you did, what your children did, etc. The class will be for ages 2 & 3. Thanks!

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Maggieinnh

· #2 · Jun 13, 2007

I do not know if I am giving you any new ideas here, but here are a couple of things we did and saw at some classes:
We played music toghether, dancing, story time, puppet play, water color painting, palydough and variouse other crafts (also while the children were playing by themselves the parents were making toys or other small crafts), snack preparation, outdoor walks or outdoor play. Maybe a field trip to a nature park or picknick.

Hope this helped somewhat, curiouse myself what other suggestions people will come up with!

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Attached Mama

· #3 · Jun 14, 2007

I was disappointed with the ones we attended. The children played while we parents sat quietly to observe. Then we had circle time, then more free play and/or craft. The crafts were mostly really basic. I was hoping we would knit and make homemade toys like my friend did at her Waldorf group in another state, but nothing like that. Then we picked up toys, had a snack, more circle time and then play outside - at which point most parents would just go home unless the weather was totally perfect.

My friend in another state, they would bake bread or make soup or fruit salad every time, kids played in the garden and there were also goats to visit. The crafts were making simple felt, wood or knit toys for the children. Sounded much more fun than the one we went to.

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fluttermama

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 15, 2007

Quote:

My friend in another state, they would bake bread or make soup or fruit salad every time, kids played in the garden and there were also goats to visit. The crafts were making simple felt, wood or knit toys for the children. Sounded much more fun than the one we went to.

Yes, this is how I am picturing doing it...I'm just not sure exactly what the parent/child dynamics will be like. Do I ask some mothers to work on cutting on the fruit while others work on a wool craft near the playing children? What about when we go outside...how much of the children's play at that age should have some parent direction and how much should just be free? Any thoughts on those things would be very appreciated, particularly since not all of the mothers will have a Waldorf background, but are into nature/unschooling.

Thanks!

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Attached Mama

· #5 · Jun 15, 2007

the one i went to and I think the one my friend did - were divided into segments of prob 15-30 min. So basically everyone was doing pretty much the same thing at the same time. The exception would be play times when some moms and dads would stay with the children, and some would help prepare the snack. Then during craft time, kids could participate or play depending upon age and interest. Outside, all the kids played on their own unless they were little and needed help with the slide or something.

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medeanj

· #6 · Jun 17, 2007

Our class varied from week to week, but the freeplay/circle time/snack/puppet show remained the same. What I mean is that at the beginning of freeplay, one week we would make bread rolls, another week we would work on a simple craft based on the seasons. It was not necessary to finish the project, rather to show meaningful work. Another week it was simply folding the napkins or ironing. She children participated in the work, others did not.

Also most weeks we as parents had a reading assignment to read a chapter from a book and would discuss it. I must admit some parents (including myself) did not keep up with the reading... If the reading is too much, I would say do not bother with it.

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Melaniee

· #7 · Jun 23, 2007

The children play freely while parents 'observe' while trying not to look like we are (LOL, that's my take on it). There will be crafts available to make toys or decor that the parents are encouraged to do (handwork). Then there is a circle time and a snack, some more playtime and a goodbye circle. Occasionally there is bread-making which usually consisted of the teacher making the bread ahead of time and having some extra dough for the children to play with at the table if they desired. Free time also includes some outdoor playtime for those who wish.

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Hannahsmummy

· #8 · Jun 23, 2007

At our group the kids free play at the begining while everyone is arriving. Then once everyone is there the craft table is set up and the parents do a craft, with the kids help if they desire. If not, they play. Ocassionally there will be a different activity like painting for the kids or soup making.
We then have clean up and time out in the garden. A couple of parents of the older kids stay in to set up the snack table.
Then it's hand washing, waiting in the cozy corner for everyone to be ready and then all going to the table at once for snack.
After snack we have circle time which is songs and stories. We always end with the same song.
A few people usually stay a bit later for the kids to play some more.

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