Let’s Hear it for Hats!

Posted by Donna Simmons

It’s getting warmer outside – our subfreezing Wisconsin winter is passing into beautiful Spring days of sunshine and balmy temperatures. Neighbors I haven’t seen for months have emerged from their winter dens. And children are everywhere – on bikes and…

Helping Children When You Move House

Posted by Donna Simmons

Apparently, the average American family moves an average of 6 times over the course of the children’s growing up period. Everyone knows that people are always moving – you just settle in somewhere and your child’s best friend announces he’s…

Passive Learning

Posted by Donna Simmons

A concern that many people express is about children who do not seem to want to engage in play or who prefer to stand aside and to watch. As our society values a “get ahead” and assertive attitude toward life…

“Violent” Play

Posted by Donna Simmons

(the following comes from my stock of old posts I kept from the yahoo group I used to run…)   One thing that needs to be addressed is the issue of media violence. I think normal good guy bad guy…

Is She Ready to Read or Not?

Posted by Donna Simmons

Something that is very important to ponder is the difference between teaching a child who is not ready for something and allowing a strong impulse in a child to unfold. I would hope that no parent who is interested in…

Handwork and Crafts with Older Children

Posted by Donna Simmons

It seems that everywhere one looks there are wonderful on-line stores and home businesses selling all manner of lovely craft items for children – young children. I can’t think why, but there is a distinct lack of craft kits and…

Original or Copied Work?

Posted by Donna Simmons

One of the perennial questions asked to teachers at Waldorf schools is “Why do the children all paint the same pictures? Why don’t you leave them free to draw or paint whatever they want?” Such questions usually arise after a…

Rhythmic Play

Posted by Donna Simmons

In many different places – on this blog, in books and articles I’ve written – I refer to rhythmic play. I often get asked about this. So I will try to explain here what I mean by this term. And…

Advent

Posted by Donna Simmons

  In most Waldorf schools – at least those in North America, Central Europe, and Britain –  a very special early Winter festival takes place for the children. This is the Advent spiral, a beautiful spiral of Light which symbolizes…

Form Drawing

Posted by Donna Simmons

(the following are two posts from our old Yahoo group, Waldorf At Home on the topic of form drawing). by Donna Simmons   Form drawing is like water, it is like the movement of plants as they grow, it is…