Hedgie does so many things to keep that Tomten from getting Henny's eggs... they try mushrooms... strawberries... it can be a fun week of trying new foods. Don't forget to try eggs too! Any chance you can go play with some hens? or even a hedgehog? At our little zoo has both and Sam LOVES to visit them in the afternoon in the summer.
Blessings!
Here's a couple more:
These two books are so much fun! They are great near the holidays but we also love them through the year. It gives us a great excuse to make gingerbread! We love to bake. Gingerbread cookies... (there is a great recipe right in the book!) pancakes...so many options. We also love to model with beeswax... a great use of brown!
Blessings!
This book is another favorite:
This is such a fun one... we enjoyed making freezer jam and fresh bread. We took the opportunity to make butter too.. so easy - we put cream in a jar with a marble (or a flat math jewel works too) and shake, shake, shake... such a fun morning! Sam delights each subsequent morning as he gets the jar of jam and butter out to spread on his toast... and he LOVES delivering jam to our neighbors.
Blessings!
I am often asked "what do I do with my 4yo????" This can be a really tough age, especially if you have older children. At this point they see their siblings working on school and they start to want *something* to do. The biggest mistake a Waldorf mom can make is to get stressed and start planning a school day for this child. Remember that they need to play now more than ever. Just a year or so ago they were just getting the hang of talking, going potty on their own... now they are in full little kid mode... let them stay there! You have three years before you really need to think about formal school. Of course you can do kindy activities, but remember that it shouldn't be stressful for you and it certainly shouldn't be much for them... do not get anxious, you have YEARS of real planning ahead of you... save this time.
So what can you do to take that school edge off? We've been doing something for a while that I have really enjoyed and Sam is over the moon about. I find that when I take a bit of time with just him at the beginning of the school day then he is happy as a clam to draw, play with play dough, draw with chalk... you name it.
Start with some fun books... we've collected a bunch through the years but they all came home from the library first. I generally let the little ones pick as I have found they pick the best ones... I also love to spend a good date with Erik sitting in the kids section at Barnes & Noble.
After you've got a good book... then think about what you can do with it. Take this one for instance... Sam LOVES blueberries. I might start the week with banana blueberry bread for breakfast - letting him help of course!
1/4 c. veg oil
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 c mashed bananas (about 3)
1/2 c. choc chips OR BLUEBERRIES!
nuts if you want
Preheat oven at 350. Grease and flour a loaf pan. Sift the dry together, add the wet. Pour into pan and bake about 70 to 80 minutes.
We might enjoy another morning just eating blueberries for breakfast.
Maybe another morning blueberry pancakes? Muffins? So many possibilities! Each morning he looks forward to reading his story AGAIN... he doesn't get tired of it, he loves it and this special morning time then gives him the security he needs to just enjoy the rest of the morning while I work with his siblings.
Blessings!
