Meagan Rose Wilson Gr

Meagan Rose Wilson Gr

Meagan Rose Wilson Gr

Striving to create a family life that nourishes body, mind and spirit and honours our infinite interconnectedness.

Journal

Caregiver’s Balancing Head, Heart and Hands

In Waldorf Schools you will hear the expression “head, heart and hands” used to explain the faculties of ...

Simple Preparations for Hanukkah

I am passionate about renewing the festivals that are important to us so that we celebrate them in ...

Simple Preparations for Meaningful Gift Giving

In our home we try to keep gifts simple, small, meaningful, purposeful, and quite often handmade, as well ...

Instagram

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Our children’s experience is very, very different from the experience of the children who attended the first Waldorf School in Stuttgard, Germany in 1919.

A big question I hold and offer to you for the weekend is:

How are we renewing, reinventing, co-creating and collaborating to meet the children’s needs based on their experience today (body, soul, spirit, place, culture & time)?

#waldorfinspired #waldorfeducation #waldorfrenewal #waldorfhomeschool

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Trick question!!

(almost) all play is healthy play!!

the biggest exception to the rule being:
play that threatens (intentionally & unintentionally) to physically or emotionally hurt anyone or that is nonconsensual in anyway.

Healthy INDEPENDENT INDOOR PLAY can look like (but is not limited to):
🦹🏽‍♀️ wearing silks & costumes & pretending to be fantasy/fairytale characters
🦮 pretending to be an animal and it’s owner/master
🤱🏻 playing Moms/Dads/babies/family and exploring different positions in a family constellation
🥼 playing chef, baker, airline host, police officer, vet, doctor, herbalist, singer, dancer, farmer and countless other meaningful professions
🎓 playing student and teacher
🧚🏻‍♀️ playing with fairies, small animals, dolls & dollhouses
🚒 playing with trucks, cars, tracks and trains
🧱stacking blocks, building towers, building lego
💁🏻‍♀️ telling stories/narrations with props & toys
⚽️rolling balls
⛺️ making forts/cubbies
👏 playing clapping games
🛁bathing dolls, babies and any other toy they can find
🎨 drawing, painting, crafting, modelling and inventing in all their manifestations

Healthy INDEPENDENT INDOOR PLAY also often looks
💫 very messy!
💫 transient: changing from one play to the next
💫 engaged, fun & active
💫 cooperative in every sense of the word: involving many negotiations along the way
💫 imitative: often playing out something from the child’s recent life experience
💫 surprising!! you just never know what these amazing, curious and intelligent little beings will come up with next!

Healthy INDEPENDENT INDOOR PLAY should ideally
💫 be followed by a good “in breath” activity (like a quiet*ish meal, reading, an adult-led craft, resting or listening to a story)

#healthyplaylookslike #letthechildrenplay

What does healthy independent play in your home look like? Do you find certain activities or habits are a deterrent to healthy play? What turns healthy play into unhealthy play in your home? 👇🏼SHARING BELOW👇🏼

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Did you know about these three principles in #waldorfeducation ?

COMMENT with 3 illuminated moons 🌕🌕🌕 if you already knew about these ideals
OR COMMENT with 3 dark moons 🌑🌑🌑 if this is the first time you’ve really heard about them

For a deeper dive into exploring this concept and the history of these “ideals” or “virtues” I recommend searching online for the following:

💫 “Lecture: Truth, Beauty and Goodness” in the Rudolf Steiner Archive
💫 “The Three Transcendentals” on Wikipedia
💫 Google: “The Good, the True and the Beautiful, Adam and Eve Story”
💫 “Truth, Beauty and Goodness” in the Harvard Gazette, an article on Howard Gardner

What I am learning and exploring is the idea that these are “ideals” to strive for but that it is equally, if not more important to meet the children of today where they are within these times and the culture they find themselves in. For me, these ideals are from a developmental point of view: what a child needs modelled for them by caregivers. They are not to be interpreted as strict, over-protective bubbles within which we should confine our children above all else.

What do you think?
Have you considered these three ideals before as a parent or educator?
Do they sit well with you?
Is there something about them that does not?
How do you interpret them?
If you’re a Waldorf teacher, have you read the original texts where these ideals were first outlined and explored? Do you understand the anthroposophical history of these principles? Do you work out of them based on your own interpretation or out of an interpretation given to you in teacher training?

“The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with joy are goodness, beauty, and truth.“ - Albert Einstein

#waldorfinspired #waldorfhomeschool #waldorfhome #waldorf100 #waldorfkindergarten

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“Unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we can’t expect them to help protect and care for it.”
~ David Suzuki

Getting outside also happens to be the most powerful antidote to screentime - something so many of our children are unavoidably getting way too much of.

Below are some ideas to help you ensure everyone in your family spends some time outdoors every day, no matter what the weather is:

❄️ Put it into the schedule- set a consistent time each day where children have time to be outside, make it a part of your rhythm (hopefully children who attend school get this blocked time during the day)
❄️ Play all-weather games outdoors such as “Eagles Nest”, “Owl Pellets” or “Lava”. Google these titles along with “Forest School” and you’ll find the game rules
❄️ Let nature inspire the play - make mudpies, snowmen, a herbal apothecary or have sandy tea parties
❄️ Find meaningful work out there: shovelling the snow from the driveway, raking leaves, planting seeds or weeding, or barn chores if you’re lucky enough to live on a farm like us
❄️ Walk (or ride) to places where you need to run an errand and that are close enough to get to by foot
❄️ Park the car 10 minutes from school and walk the rest of the way
❄️ Older children might enjoy an after-dinner family walk around the neighbourhood or might be tasked to walk the family dog once a day
❄️ Wear the right gear: have all the right warm things to make sure your children can play outside comfortably without getting wet or cold. This usually includes raincoats with hoods & rainpants, rainboots, snowcoats & snowpants, snow boots, a warm hat, a neck warmer, 2 pairs of gloves/mittens and warm socks

📋Community Notice continued in the comments section below please be sure to tag a charity for community care service in your area that provides free all-weather clothes/snowsuits/rainsuits to families if you know of one!

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Some extra tips for a calm and soothing bedtime:

💫 Make it a habit to fill water cups after dinner and bring them to bedrooms in advance
💫 Keep “bedtime snacks” to minimum and/or in the regular rhythm: plain yogurt, kefir or a small glass of milk is all we offer for sudden bouts of hunger. On particularly frenetic evenings an offering of a small cup of chamomile tea can also soothe nerves
💫 If bathing gets to be too onerous consider a bath every other night and washing hands and faces as an alternative
💫 Stick to the same number of books and stories every. single. night so that this detail is not up for negotiation
💫 See next slide for a secular bedtime blessing
💫 Stay focused & warm as the carer in the last hour before bedtime, this is not a time to get distracted by screens- the more present you are at this time, the sooner the children will be in bed and the sooner they will all asleep
💫 Filling hot water bottles and having them waiting in warmed beds encourages the release of tension in the body and assists children in calming down
💫 If a toddler who is over 3 isn’t sleepy and as had a daytime nap consider making the nap earlier in the day or waking them sooner from their nap

Sweet Dreams!

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Get creative with how you see rest time. Rest time does not necessarily = nap time. Rest time in our home is loosely classified as:

💫 a time for stillness
💫 a time for relative quiet
💫 a time for minimal social interaction & maximum time spent independently

What are some creative ways you and your children rest and restore during the day?

Note: in the image above “Reading Cafe” is a tradition inspired in our family by Ralphie’s @simplyonpurpose “Mom Store”. Her concept is slightly different and more about it can be found in her highlights.

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Notes for today’s topic:

🧸 If your children are young I recommend doing the shuffle and purge when they are not at home or in bed sleeping. Watching this transition can be stressful and cause a lot of unneeded arguments
🧸 Do not giveaway any toys that you think might be special (Eg. beloved dolls, stuffies etc)! If you are unsure about a toy, put it away out of sight and notice whether your child asks for it. If they don’t for a month or longer feel free to give it away
🧸 Distinguish between toys, crafts and games. Ideally these three things have distinct and different homes and aren’t all piled into the same space.

Prompt for reflection:

If your child could have only 3 toys what would they choose?

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7 Ways to hold a space for a calm and connected family dinner tradition.

Some notes to consider along with everything in the above image:

🥦 “regular family dinners” does not mean dinner together every single day! Life is busy- older siblings have extracurricular activities, parents work late and many other events make it difficult for a family to be together for a daily meal
🍠 Having a routine or rhythm in place according to your schedules (eg. Mon/Fri/Sat/Sun dinners together) means that these dinner dates will remain consistent and a priority for you and your family
🌮 The definition of “family” is open. Children who share their time between parents or other carers, or who live in intergenerational homes get the same benefits from “family dinners” as do children who live in a nuclear family
🥗 If your children are very young, it’s likely that their dinnertime will be very early and as a result, so will yours
🥑 The benefits of family dinners are varied and diverse. The social benefit of connecting, coming together and spending time with one another is just as nourishing as the actual meal.

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My inbox just flooded with requests for breakfast ideas other than cereal!!

Here are our top nourishing breakfast ideas for busy mornings.

My aim is that my children get a carb, a protein, a fat and some form of fibre with each meal and breakfast is no exception.

☀️ Feel free to add some of your favourites in the comments.

*cassava crepe recipe from @prepareandnourish 💛

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Let’s take the stress out of wondering “what’s for dinner”!!

Do you meal plan?

🤎 Sometimes I make a very specific meal plan to take any guesswork out
🤎 Other times I simply have a loose seasonal meal idea list on the fridge to reference
🤎 On the days I know are busy—-perhaps I have a virtual meeting that evening or the children have an afternoon activity and we’ll get home late—- I plan for quick and easy meals
🤎 I know ingredient preferences vary vastly but if you happen to generally eat most foods, I highly recommend @jamieoliver ‘s newest 7 Ways cookbook for straightforward, family-friendly meals
🤎 Another very personal preference is how you get your groceries. We generally go to the physical shop only once every 2 weeks. We order grassfed meat and milk from a local farmer and have found a grocery delivery service we love for weekly “top ups” of produce during the Winter when farmer’s markets are not on. Having the groceries delivered saves a lot of time especially because a lot of systems save your premade & curated grocery lists so that you can “add to cart” your usual order.
🤎 Once every couple weeks we order charcoal crust pizza on a Friday to go along with movie night. Three of my children LOVE sushi but one is anaphylactic to fish so when she is not with us for some reason (rare these days) we also enjoy take out sushi

***please share in the comments your MOST LOVED CHILD-FRIENDLY MEAL*** to inspire everyone!

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Before we dive into the three foundations of a healthy daily rhythm for little ones (mealtimes, playtimes & sleeptimes), I wanted to review some essentials:

💫 the different between a rhythm and a routine is that a rhythm allows for a balance between moments of expansion (play, physical activity, socializing) and contraction (listening to a story, drawing, eating & sleeping).

💫 holding a space for this breathing in and out is not only nourishing for the young child, but also their carer

💫 sometimes in breaths and out breaths do not work together for siblings of different ages. Eg. A toddler who is ready for an out breath mid morning may have a sibling who is ready for an in breath (morning nap) at the same time. In these cases, try to come up with creative solutions to meet everyone’s needs. Can the infant sleep in the car or stroller on the way to the park or playground? Can the toddler have an indoor free play while the infant naps? And how might you organize your rhythm so that there is at least one time each day where everyone in the home experiences an ‘in breath’ together?

💫 if your child has a caregiver at home while you work, work with them to create a flowing rhythm

💫 if your child attends school or daycare it is likely most of their day flows like this already and your task will likely be to start the day with the in breath of getting ready (more on this later) and to end the day with an in breath (dinner, bathing, book & bed)

💫 if your child attends a 1/2 day at school you will pick up the rhythm where the school left off

OPTIONAL PROMPTS for REFLECTION IN THE COMMENTS 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 Please ❤️ that comment to keep it at the top of the thread!

Feel free to share any questions you have in the comments too!

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Gentle Reminder. 💫

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As we enter January, named after Janus the God of gateways and new beginnings, an intention I hold is to disrupt my impulse to make sense of things by creating harmful binary narratives.

I will do the work instead to rewire my thinking and to embrace an expansive, interconnected and complex “and, also perspective”. Swipe left for a blank template for you to fill out and share in your stories if you feel inspired to. Happy New Year!💫⭐️🌟

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I’ll be taking one week off to slow down, unwind and unplug.

If you’re new and looking for some inspiration feel free to

💫 read past posts for a range of information on #waldorfparenting and #waldorfeducation
💫 head to my Journal (link in bio) to read more in-depth articles on a range of subjects including family values, seasonal rhythms and early childhood
💫 scroll through my highlights, IGTV or reels for more inspiration

Wishing you all warmth, gentleness and connection over the coming week and into the new year.

Meagan.

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Some TV shows and films can elicit big emotions that aren’t always conducive to winding down before bedtime.

It’s helpful to be with your sensitive child while they watch something so you can help them process in the moment, but the next best thing is sparking a conversation sometime afterwards to help them digest the content.

Below are the gentlest Christmas films we have found for our very young and sensitive children. More thorough summaries, age recommendations and detailed information can be found @commonsenseorg which I highly recommend using when researching any children’s media content.

@commonsenseorg provides trailers; detailed plot summaries; age recommendations and reviews from parents; a list of “talking points” to go along with films and categorical ratings scaling the amount of “violence & scariness”, “sexy stuff”, “positive role models”, “positive messages”, “language”, “drinking, drugs and smoking” and “consumerism” for each film.

OUR TOP FIVE GENTLE CHRISTMAS MOVIES for SENSITIVE CHILDREN:

🔔 Jingle and Bell’s Christmas Star (30 min) - friends and family as the holidays most important gifts, ages 3+

🔔 The Snowman (26 min) - slow, simple film based on the classic picture book by Raymond Briggs, ages 3+

🔔 If you Give a Mouse a Cookie (30 min)- inspired by the book series by Laura Numeroff, themes of friendship & the value of seeing things through, ages 4+

🔔 The Snowy Day (59 min) - based on the classic picture book by Ezra Jack Keats, simple & slow story that highlights gratitude for family and friends, ages 4+

🔔 The Star - (86 min) Sweet nativity story told from the animals perspective, music can be emotive and there is a very scary armed man with two attack dogs which can be frightening for younger viewer, ages 5+

HONOURABLE MENTIONS for OLDER CHILDREN:
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Polar Express
Elf

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Who loves a present that just keeps on giving?
🙋🏼‍♀️

Over the years our children have personally enjoyed content from the following print magazines/subscriptions. All of them feature beautiful drawings and photos, balanced historical, geographic and scientific perspectives and are a joy to read for a variety of ages and interests. #notanad #triedandtested

@letters.from.afar Monthly letters sent to your home from an explorer detailing her adventures as she travels the globe

@dittokidsmagazine A magazine empowering grown-ups to guide children ages 3.5-12 on the journey of anti-racism

@honesthistory A quarterly adventure magazine for young historians ages 6-12

@cricketmediainc A range of children’s magazine subscriptions featuring seasonally inspired short stories, poems and activities. Our 12 year-old loves Cricket, our 10 year-old reads Spider and our 5 & 7 year-olds enjoy Ladybug

@bravery_mag A quarterly magazine for kids 5-12 featuring strong female role models. (Disclosure: have not tried this one yet but looks beautiful)

Children’s Magazines provide
⭐️ increased interest in the wider world
⭐️ stimulating & engaging alternative to books
⭐️ exposure to a variety of interactive writing styles- poetry, essays, non-fiction
⭐️ appreciation for snailmail!
⭐️ critical thinking and writing skills via letters to the editor, interactive articles & worksheets
⭐️ positive association with reading as an enjoyable hobby/pastime (not a chore)

Enjoy your reading adventures together!

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hyg·ge /ˈh(y)o͞oɡə,ˈho͝oɡə/ noun
a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. from the Danish culture. @dictionarycom

10 Simple Ways to Foster a Sense of Hygge in your Home

☕️ make a special tea blend or premix hot cocoa to use throughout the day
🕯 dim the lights at dinner time and have a lit candle on the table
🔥 light the fireplace if you have one or consider visiting a local park that allows for pit-fires, dress warmly and roast marshmallows there or use an app that projects a fireplace onto your TV screen
🌬 diffuse warming essential oils such as frankincense, cloves, cinnamon or orange or make a #simmerpot with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg & orange peels
🛏 use flannel sheets or extra blankets on the beds or prepare hot water bottles for each person at bedtime
🛋 drape soft, warm throw blankets on couches and armchairs to cosy up with when reading a book or watching a film
📚 make a reading nook somewhere in the house (for adults and children) with pillows, a reading light, blankets and anything else inviting
🍪 when you bake cookies or muffins make a double or triple batch to keep in the freezer & defrost when you’re craving a sweet & comforting treat.
🛁 if you have a bathtub keep a jar of scented epsom salts close by or use #showerbombs to add a warming scent to your shower
🧦 have thick wool socks and/or slippers for everyone in a basket at the front door to change into when removing shoes and coming into the house

Wishing those in the Northern Hemipshere a magical Winter Solstice! ❄️

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Yesterday’s post elicited a real rainbow of emotions and reactions, and I welcome those critical and nuanced conversations. They bring depth to any given post and highlight the diverse experiences and reactions we have as parents (and humans!) on this earth and living in this moment in time.

I’m sharing this quote today because it gets to the heart of parenting and the root of so much of what I share.

Let our focus be less on what we need to eliminate from our children’s lives and more on the authentic CONNECTION we nurture.

Comments on this post and yesterday’s are turned off to allow some personal space for me going into the weekend. Wishing you the same. 💫

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