For Julie: Waldorf education and toys

[LadyShea]

I was gonna PM you, but thought someone else might enjoy the discussion as well maybe so am posting it.

You mentioned in another thread about play silks-squares of dyed silk used as toys. I couldn't figure out what the hell a kid would do with a bunch of silk squares, so looked it up and found it was part of the Waldorf (Steiner) educational philosophy.

So my question is two-fold. 1. Just what the hell do toddlers do with the silks? Would picking up some scarves at the second hand store accomplish similar (the play silks are expensive!), do they need to be different sizes (I have some silk pants that are shredded in the butt, I could cut them up into squares).

And 2., what else have you found from Waldorf, or other philosophies, that have been fun, beneficial and interesting? From what I can tell my kid is not just bright, but possibly really smart and I want to keep him challenged without pushing him at all.

At 20 months, Kiddo can count to 10 by rote, and can count objects up to 5. He knows 10 colors (the average 3 year old knows 2 colors), recognizes the letters O, P, X, and W by sight, can point out and name triangles, hearts, stars, crescents (moons), ovals and rectangles (we're working on square and circle) and only speaks in words...he doesn't babble at all anymore. See my signature for how well he puts his known words together to convey information.

As I said, I don't want to push him, like having boring lessons or flash card quizzes or anything, but want to support his natural curiosity and desire to learn...which is how he got to this point.

[Julie]

The question is more what can't a kid do with a square of silk.

They are seriously the best freaking things ever. And yup lots of people have used scarves from the thrift store. I found that silk at the thrift store was just as expensive as making the scarves myself tho Habotai Scarves 8mm (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1741-AA.shtml?lnav=scarves_silk.html)
And go with the real silk, it has a feel to it. Its a tactile thing as well as a looks thing for the kids.

I really like the 35x35 size, its the ones the kids have had the most use out of. We also have a set of Playstands (http://www.dandelionsummers.com/html/playstand_with_canopy.html)

Which have been things like the grocery store (Which was a great math lesson!) to a covered wagon, to buzz lightyear's space ship and a million things in between.

And of course I can't say enough good things about the Waldorf dolls. I really really love them, but to buy one you're looking at $70+ kits are much cheaper, and really are easy to make I like these ones (http://www.joyswaldorfdolls.com/doll_kits_and_patterns/index.htm) myself. But I started out making much simpler and easier Knotty doll (http://www.tomaatnet.nl/~vrijeopvoeding/butterflydoll.htm)

A lot of the Waldorf philosophy is about letting the children explore the world at their own pace, so for example when the kids were playing grocery store, I sat at the cashiers and as part of the "checkout" we did simple math (Oh Ma'am I see you have 2 apples, did you know that today if you buy 5 apples you get a special price?....it makes them do the math without really doing the math) and it also led to a discussion on where apples come from, and a trip to an orchard to pick apples..which was a great opportunity for more math.

Its all about following their flow and encouraging them to learn as they explore.

Now we dont follow the waldorf thing strictly, but I have incorporated a lot of their teaching.

I also sit my kids down and make them do work sheets...my Daughter learns best by rote, so flashcards and work sheets are what help her learn best. But still thats going with her flow...

Mostly at the age your little guy is at, follow his lead. If he shows interest in something, show him more. Mine liked bugs at that age, so we learned that bugs have 6 legs and 3 parts to their bodies, that spiders are not bugs, that kind of thing.

Cook with him, it is the best thing you can ever do with him. Not only will he learn to feed himself, but you get to learn where the food came from, how its grown, about different parts of the country and the world. Plus more math.

[LadyShea]

I am not a sewer, but it looks like there are Waldorf dolls on eBay for less than the 80.00 I had been finding. I have been meaning to get him a "baby" as he nurtures his plush animals so well.

Hubby does woodworking as a hobby, I'll bet he can make a hinged box of some kind that would work as a puppet theater, checkout stand, ticket booth, etc.

Still don't get what they do with the scarves, exactly, but I'll get him some and see what's what.

[Julie]

LOL They just use them. Give him some and watch.

And ya doll from ebay...sometimes you can find good ones, seems the ones listed are all tiny little 7" ones..as far as I can find. Usually you want something big enough to cuddle, 16-18 inches in size. That and there is only girl dolls. One of the reasons for the dolls is it warms when held so you want something good sized to hold on to.

If my hands get better with this new meds I should be able to start making dolls again(please oh please!) If I do I'll send ya one :) I hate for people to buy horrible made dolls. Plus I make absolutely adorable dolls.

Oh and the play stands we have? ya I made them myself.... they are stupid easy to make.

[LadyShea]

I would love a handmade doll...I am so sorry about your hands...I hope the new meds kick the pains ass for ya!