Songs and fingerplays

Make mask-wearing easier: a special song and verse

Mask-wearing for little ones (over 2) is something pretty new for most of us. Some children enjoy it, others don’t. But it’s necessary in some places for now and the foreseeable future.

Making mask-wearing easier for little ones

In Waldorf-world, we love to use songs and verses to help our children make transitions. Songs and verses also help us not have to give instructions to children all the time.

Of course, if we do what we want the children to do, so they can imitate us, that’s even better. Oh, my! I just realized I haven’t written about imitation as the main form of learning for the young child–that will be coming soon! In the meantime, you can read this article from Gateways, the journal of the Waldorf Early Childhood Assn. of North America on practical work and imitation.

Doing what we want the children to do, so they have the opportunity to imitate is a wonderful thing. But best of all is doing it ourselves and having a fun little song or rhyme to help us along.

But keep in mind that the child may or may not imitate you in the moment. Remember, approval and acceptance are not the same. We can accept the child for where they’re at, while still insisting they do what’s necessary–like wearing a mask where it’s required.

We have (or make up) little songs or verses for all sorts of things–from putting away toys to washing hands to getting dressed to go outside. But I have never heard a mask-putting-on verse. I don’t think we really needed one before.

One of my beloved colleagues asked me to write a mask-wearing verse for little ones. It took a while for an idea to rise up to the surface, but it finally did.

My dear friend, Colby, wrote a mask verse, too, which I’m delighted to share with you, as well.

Mask-wearing verse and song–the movie

The audio

I recorded the audio just for the song, in case you want to hear it all by itself

The words

I wrote the words to the song using music from “Brother, dear, come dance with me,” from Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. I’ve used a version of this song to dance to during circle time for many years.

Words for the song:

Come, my friend, put your mask on,
While I sing this little song.
Pull your ears, pinch your nose,
Then bend down and touch your toes.
Susan B.

Note: You can put in your child’s name instead of “friend” or make it “friends” if you want.

The verse:

Cover your nose,
Cover your chin,
We put on our masks
Before we go in.
Colby Beutel

OR–

Cover our noses,
Cover our chins,
We put on our masks
Before we go in.
also by Colby

Well, that’s all for today. Let me know if you’d like me to share some Waldorf hand-washing verses–or if there’s some other activities you’d like a song or verse for.

In the meantime–thanks so much for stopping by!

xoxo

A Sweet Milkweed Verse to Nurture Your Little Ones

Marvelous Milkweed

Here’s a little Milkweed Verse to share with your kiddos.

Milkweed is such an amazing plant all year round. I love the sweet flowers, but the pods are the most amazing of all!

I hope that you are lucky enough to have milkweed around you. When I lived in Chicago, I didn’t see it growing wild, but many of us grew it in our gardens–to welcome the monarch butterflies. But here in Northern Colorado, I see it growing along most of the paths I walk on.

I picked up one pod that had fallen off the plant when it was still soft, wondering if it would open. I got my answer!

How to use this verse

This milkweed verse for little ones can be used for circle time or snuggle time–or when it’s time for your little one to fly away and play.

Or say it when you release milkweed seeds to the wind–as I did. If you bring them home, beware! The seeds tend to go everywhere. I’m amazed at how many seeds are inside one little pod.

This verse is part of November circle time in my DIY parent-child class. And we’re making milkweed pod babies, too, for one of our crafts.

If you’d like my free fall sampler, use this link: https://classes.soulblossomkids.com/d…

The milkweed verse–and the movie

I had fun with this little movie–I hope you enjoy it!

Here are the words for the sweet little milkweed verse:

In a milkweed cradle, all snug and warm

Tiny seeds are hiding, safe from harm

Open up your wings now and hold them high

Come Mr. Wind and help them fly.

And here’s the other poem I share:

Milkweed Seed

by Wilhelmina Siegmiller

As white as milk,

As soft as silk,

And hundreds close together;

They sail away

On an autumn day

When windy is the weather.

If you’re looking for Halloween verses–and Happy Halloween!–check out this post for Halloween and also this fun Halloween story.

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

Halloween verses to share with your little ones

Here are 2 Halloween verses to share with your little ones. Halloween, always one of my favorite celebrations, will be different this year. So I’m sharing a little pumpkin verse and a song about 3 little wishes–for you to share with your child or pod. And if you haven’t already, check out my Halloween story, Willow the Witch gets her wish.

Play with these Halloween verses

In the video, I show you a couple of different ways to move with these verses. You know your child (and yourself) better than anyone. So choose what seems right for you–or do some experimenting. Do the same thing that I do or use it as a jumping off point.

You can add some full-body movement to these or just do them sitting down.

Halloween verses: 1. The pumpkin

Halloween verses--pumpkin — pumpkins in the field

I am a pumpkin big and round.

Once upon a time, I sat on the ground.

Now I have two eyes, a mouth and a nose–

What are they for, do you suppose?

With a candle inside me shining bright

I’ll be a Jack-o-lantern on Halloween night.

Halloween Verses: 2. Three little witches

One little, two little, three little witches

Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches,

Slide down moonbeams without any hitches,

Three little Halloween witches.

A few more thoughts on celebrating Halloween

My family used to love going to the pumpkin patch. We’d pick pumpkins, eat some junky food, go through the corn maze, maybe go for a ride on the hay wagon.

We lived in Chicago, and it took an hour or so to get to a pumpkin farm, but it was so worth it! If you can find one nearby, give it a try!

We had another favorite Halloween tradition–for many years, we had a few families come over for a special Halloween dinner. (After trick-or-treating, which my girls didn’t want to give up and why would they?)

I have this wonderful cookbook called Creepy Cuisine: Revolting Recipes that Look Disgusting but Taste Divine by Lucy Monroe. I admit that I have kind of a dark sense of humor. And what better time to let it show than at Halloween?

Halloween cooking — My copy is much more beat up than this image from Amazon

We always served Dead Man’s Meatloaf–regular meatloaf shaped like a person. And Strained Eyeballs were a perennial favorite–hard-boiled eggs halved, with yolks removed and replaced with cream cheese. Then add a pimento stuffed olive half and draw lines with red food coloring and a toothpick.

If this tickle your fancy, go for it! And if not–just ignore it.

I hope you have fun with these Halloween verses–and Halloween ideas.

Have a wonderful week!

And thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

Waldorf Autumn Circle Time

The days are growing shorter–it’s really Autumn

Well, Autumn is officially here. And even though the days here in Colorado are still warm, the nights are getting cooler–and the days are definitely getting shorter!

Right now feels like a difficult time in many ways. You can read my post on Soul Blossom Living to get an idea of how I’m feeling. It’s titled What rhymes with AAAARGH?, which might give you a clue.

Our children need to know that the world is good–even if we aren’t so sure.

But I always remind myself that our children’s worlds are small. For them, the world consists of their parents, caregivers, friends, family, and maybe school. Rudolf Steiner tells us that the young child needs to know that the world is good.

It can be hard for us grown-ups to hold that for them, especially in troubling times. That’s when we need to look at our children. Really look–and let ourselves feel their innocence, their love, their trust in us. And of course their joy.

These simple, seasonal songs and activities can help

For this little bit of time when they are very young, we can protect them from what is going on in the bigger world. This is why I offer these resources. We all need inspiration. These simple songs and verses can lighten our own mood and give us a joyful way to connect with our children.

I already shared The Gnomes Day. Of course, this story isn’t limited to the fall, but it is a nice story/song for this time of year.

My newest YouTube videos for Autumn

And these songs will hopefully inspire you to celebrate this part of the turning of the year. The words are all in the descriptions below the videos on YouTube.

A squirrel song and verse for when you’re feeling squirrely

And a counting song for all those leaves that are falling down

And, finally, an old favorite

And if you’d like more fall songs, verses, and activities–check out my Fall Sampler from my new DIY Parent-Child class

I’ve been dreaming of offering an online “parent-child class” for almost 2 years. And it’s finally here–and officially starting in October. It will have new songs, finger plays, stories, crafts, and recipes coming out on the first of every month. We also will have a private facebook group and live monthly meetings. I’m also putting together a parent resource library.

I would love it if you would join me. And please let me know if you have any questions.

In the meantime, you can sign up below to get a free sample from the class–and more fun resources to share with the kiddos.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

Finding home–finding the star in the apple

Finding home–the poem

I wrote “Finding home” many years ago–although it didn’t have a title back then. I wrote it after I left my job as an attorney and was looking for my new path. After many years of resisting and trying to be who I thought I should be, I was creating art and writing again. I shared this poem before, in another post about finding home, but it’s been on my mind this week.

Probably because I’m going through another major life change. Leaving my teaching job (again–but for different reasons this time) has me feeling off balance. Needing to re-center myself.

Finding home

I built myself a little box

to live away my life in,

but when I tried to step inside,

I found I didn’t fit in.

So I took a little hammer,

and I pounded on my head

to see if I could cubify

to fit my little bed.

I pounded and I pounded,

but still I didn’t fit.

I needed a place to live in,

but I knew this wasn’t it.

So I put away the hammer,

and the box melted away.

Then I built a house for all of me,

and that’s where I live today.

I’m still not sure if I’ve found the right last line. I’ve tried many over the years and I like this one the best so far.

Finding the star in the apple

I also recorded this little video this week about finding the star in the apple. Did you know that there’s a star inside every apple?

Oh, and I’ve been listening to Martha Beck’s book, Finding Your Own North Star–which I checked out of the library. So I’ve been thinking about my North Star–or my authentic self.

So somehow, all of this fits together. When I first learned about the star inside the apple, I was really excited. I still think it’s amazing and beautiful, too. But, as always, if you look, you can find deeper meaning–or symbolism, perhaps. Finding your star inside yourself–guiding yourself through life. Knowing that the star that guides us is inside ourselves even if we can’t see. Allowing ourselves to be opened (figuratively!) can help us to find our star.

I also recently read Finding Your North Star by Martha Beck–it’s a lovely and inspiring book that’s helping me find my way.

I’m still fitting it all together, but poetry always helps me–as does working with my hands.

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

The gnome’s day–a Waldorf early childhood song

Gnomes and Waldorf–a love story

What do gnomes do all day–watch “The gnome’s day” and find out! They have a lot of fun.

If you’ve ever hung out with a Waldorf EC teacher — or kids who go to pre-school there, you may know that we love gnomes.

I used to sing this Waldorf song, “The gnomes day” in my parent-child classes–after we made little felted gnome finger puppets.

Make your own finger puppet gnomes

You can check out my tutorial if you want to make your own

–or you can act these out or use whatever stuffies or figures you have around. And here’s another gnome pattern–this one is sewn.

Have fun with this silly little song, adapted from “Clump a Dump and Snickle Snack” (that’s a book!).

I worried that the song was too long for the little ones, but they loved it so much that we did this for many weeks (most of the families only came once a week).

The gnome’s day–the song

Here are the words: