Intentional and holistic rhythms, routines + systems to support your children, your home and yourself.

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Weekly Rhythm Free Printable Cards

"Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday,Mend on Wednesday, Churn on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday, Rest ...

Seasonal Mealtime Planning

The theme last week on my Instagram page was “Nourishing Little Minds and Bodies” and as a part ...

Seasonal Mealtime Blessings

Over the years we have sung and said many blessings at our table. Saying or singing a blessing ...

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🏆 Our Favourite Family Movie Night Films for Mixed Ages 6+

1. My Neighbour Totoro
2. Madagascar
3. Encanto
4. Moana
5. Frozen 1 & 2

🥈 Runner’s Up for Ages 6+
Raya the Last Dragon
Inside Out
Ice Age
Yes Day
Zootopia
Ballerina
Hamilton

🎥 Favourite Documentaries
My Octopus Teacher
A Beautiful Planet
Biggest Little Farm
Wing’s of Life

🕊 And For Extra Sensitive Little Ones and Children Ages 4-6:
The Little Bear Movie
Dancing in the Light
Room on a Broom
Stickman
Ponyo

Drop yours below!!! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

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@commonsenseorg is a non-negotiable part of developing healthy media habits and choices in your family. I cannot recommend their website highly enough. You can look up movies, TV episodes, video games and other media on the site and get comprehensive reviews and ratings from professionals, parents and children.

If your friend recommended Moana but you’re not sure if your highly sensitive five-year-old can handle it, look it up on @commonsenseorg and you will be able to read in detail about each of the “scary” or “questionable” scenes.

We talked about creating setting the time and day in stone earlier this week.

Finally, @commonsenseorg also often has a section at the bottom of a review called “talk to your kids about” where they share discussion points to go with the film. Read through these if you’re not sure where to begin family discussions surrounding the film’s themes.

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This week I’ll be sharing ideas and tips about creating a family movie night ritual. What do you want to know? Ask away in the comments below!

Six Benefits of a Family Movie Night Ritual

🎥 allows practice of delayed gratification
🍿 carves out a scheduled time together on a regular basis
⚡️ sparks family discussions on a wide range of subjects from stereotypes to global warming
📖 provides an opportunity to teach elements of a story (characters, plot, conflict, climax and resolution)
🌎 teaches children (and adults) about experiences outside of their own perspectives
❤️ provides opportunities to share emotional experiences & name feelings
💆‍♀️ provides a change in the regular dinner/bedtime routine and a much needed break for parents

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The long, cold Winter season is the perfect time to establish a family movie night tradition.

This week I’ll share some tips and ideas on how to start a family movie night even if siblings are of different ages and have diverse interests.

Do you have a family movie night tradition? 🍿 🎥

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One of the things I love about #waldorfeducation is its focus and emphasis on movement for a healthy early childhood. Climbing, spinning, swinging, skipping, hopping and crawling have all been shown integrate the right and left brain hemispheres; develop fine and gross motor skills as well as coordination and balance. All of these skills are pre-literacy essentials.

But today, I want to share the resources we use when we have decided our children are ready to explicitly develop their phonetic awareness and reading skills.

My Top Five Tools for Beginner Readers:

📕 All About Reading Pre-Literacy Program @allaboutlearning takes children step by step through activities to help them develop phonetic awareness. This program was recommended by @ginnysheller many years ago & it has been my go-to when each of my children has started their reading journey. It’s fun, multisensory and based on the Orton-Gillingham approach.
📗 Reading Guide Highlighter strips (google this) help children who find it challenging to track & follow the line they are reading. They basically block out the rest of the page so that your child can focus on one line at a time.
📘 Shelley Davidow’s Early Reader Series is a gentle introduction to reading simple words. The books progress in difficulty & are satisfying for even beginner readers to sound out.
📕 Montessori Sandpaper Letters are exactly what they sound like & a way for children to begin practising writing and recognizing the letters of the alphabet. We always start with capitals and then move on to lowercase letters.
📗 Finally, I am a Waldorf early childhood teacher but I am also a parent and this year more than ever has presented an opportunity to try to find balance with all things, including technology. Last year I carved out times in the afternoons to help my older children with homeschool work while my younger children played on a reading app called @readingeggs They loved this novel time and I was surprised with how much they absorbed and gained in terms of reading skills. My youngest (6) still enjoys going through a level some weekends.

Any other reading tips or favourites you have in your family? Share below! 📚

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Fingerplays (rhymes that you act out with your fingers) are not only a great distraction for fussy, defiant or overtired toddlers, they also stimulate a loving and intimate connection between the caregiver and child.

Regular Fingerplay:

👌assists in motor and language development
👏supports body awareness & fine motor skills
🤛 increases rhythmic proficiency
🤞develops muscular coordination
✋supports strong memory development

Fingerplays can also be used as a tool for transition (from one activity to another) or as a redirection (from unfavourable behaviour).

Do you have a favourite fingerplay you want to share with us all in the comments?

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Play-based early childhood education programs are becoming more and more common as the research continues to point to the huge foundation that must be built before formal reading and writing instruction is introduced. In a play-based preschool and kindergarten program, children are given the time and space to play; move their bodies in a variety of ways; experience rich oral storytelling and rhyming and provided opportunity to engage in meaningful work that helps to develop fine and gross motor skills.

Below are a few more links and resources for you if you want to learn more:

Move to Learn Webinars for Caregivers and Children run by @sesamestreetincommunities
https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/training/move-learn-together-movement-literacy/

Teaching Literacy in Waldorf Schools from @mountainphoenixcommunityschool
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TJlCUlGwggE

Literacy Lessons in Waldorf Early Childhood by @storyseedlingsliteracy Rebecca Hipps
https://meaganrosewilson.com/2019/11/literacy-lessons-in-waldorf-early-childhood/

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Very young children learn through imitation. If reading time, storytelling and audiobooks are are a part of their daily and weekly routines, rhythms and family culture they will be more likely to prioritize this time and interest as they grow older.

Another way to foster a love for books which isn’t so accessible at this time depending on where you live, is visiting a library. Most libraries are offering online borrowing and pick-up so this could be a temporary alternative.

What are some of the ways you nurture a love of reading in your home?

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This week I’ll share some of the ways preliteracy skills are practised and developed in early childhood.

We all want to raise children who love to read and have a passion for learning. The early childhood foundations we build this lifelong skill on are simple and surprising.

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Wise words to start your weekend.

Go gently friends. Nothing is simple or easy right now. Wherever you can take care, slow down and be kind.

❤️

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Developing a regular journaling practice has been shown to

📓 Boost mood
📓 Reduce symptoms of anxiety and mild depression
📓 Reduce intrusive and avoidant thoughts related to PTSD
📓 Improve working memory
📓 Increase creativity
📓 Enhance self-awareness and mindfulness

If you want to try journalling but you’re not sure where or how to start, one technique you can remember from the Center of Journal Therapy is the acronym WRITE:
What is the subject of your entry?
Review/Reflect on the subject
Investigate your feelings further
Time yourself (10-15 min/day)
Exit smart with questions that promote further introspection and self-analysis

Do you journal? Has your practice changed over time?
See the comments to read more about my personal journey with journaling.

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Self-Care is whatever you make of it.

Self-Care is what makes you feel good, what grounds you in the present moment and refills your energetic cup.

Self-Care is connected with your values, your passions and your identity.

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Self-Care does not have to mean massages, manicures and spa days.
Most Self-Care Practises are FREE and are as simple as:

☕️ A cup of calming tea in silence
🛁 A hot bath or a long shower and body oils
📺 Winding down with a favourite TV show
❤️ 1:1 connecting with a parenting partner (could be a grandparent, aunt or friend!)
🚽 Going to the bathroom when you need to!
📱 A phone call with a trusted friend or family member
🧘🏽‍♂️A walk outside, a sit spot or some inner work practice
🙅🏻‍♀️ Holding boundaries with children
🏋🏻‍♀️ Lifting weighs, yoga, cycling, running or other physical exercise
🎨 Artistic expression- music, art, dance
💌 Group messaging with close friends
🛌 Getting regular sleep & resting when you need to
🐕 Time with a beloved pet
🧑🏽‍⚕️Staying up to date with dentist and doctor’s appointments for yourself
🍶 Drinking enough water throughout the day
☀️ Getting some sunshine

Can you name some other simple self-care practices that don’t cost a dime and help to fill your cup?

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Happy New Year! And what better way to kick the new year off than a weekly theme on self-care.

Where we live in-person learning has been put on hold (again) and parents, teachers, caregivers and children are struggling as a result. The past two years have been painfully difficult and here we are, still parenting as best we can through it.

It’s a privilege to have the resources and time to focus on your own needs and it is also essential.

I hope what I share this week acts as a warm and gentle reminder that even taking a moment to get a drink of water and taking three intentional slow breaths can be acts of self-care. It’s the little things we do that add up.

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Happy weekending!

Don’t forget to use the amazing discount code MeaganRose21 from @warmthandweather for 15% off their entire shop until December 30th!

🔥

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Whether your children are out of school right now or you’re still packing lunches…

Nothing beats a warm lunch on a cold day. ❤️

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Getting outside when it’s cold takes a little planning, some will power and a whole lot of layers!

Start layering with the help of @warmthandweather who are generously offering 15% off their products storewide between December 14 to December 30th

Use discount code MeaganRose21 for 15% off at www.warmthandweather.ca #sponsored

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Do you try to create a feeling of warmth in your home beyond cranking up the heater?

What comes to mind for you when you think of a warm and cosy home?

Two things that come to mind for me that are not pictured here are wool socks and slippers! I wear them all Winter long!

Reference my post from yesterday for a generous discount code from @warmthandweather if you’re looking for a cosy pair of winter socks. 🧦 #sponsored

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To support your family’s outer warmth @warmthandweather is generously offering 15% off their products storewide between December 14 to December 30th

Use discount code MeaganRose21 for 15% off at www.warmthandweather.ca #sponsored