How do you incorporate the Waldorf "way" into your home? Your life, your possessions? Do you throw out all your plastic? I'm having problems finding a site that gives ideas on how to incorporate Waldorf into everyday life (aside from kids' stuff).
I have thrown out a lot of the kids plastic, but I can't bear to part with it all. My frugal side won't let me. I'm not going to throw out a plastic Fisher Price parking garage I got at Goodwill for $3 just so I can replace it with a wooden parking garage costing $35. Especially when my kids still write on their toys, LOL.
And I use tupperware. And plastic bathroom accessories.
Basically, I'm looking for ideas, links to websites (except for waldorfresources, I've got that one bookmarked, but it seems geared towards kids issues). Thanks!
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Melanie
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer. 29:13
I would venture a guess that most people that try to incorporate waldorf philosophies into their lifestyle still have some plastic in their home. I generally don't buy plastic toys (I prefer more natural toys for a few different reasons) but we have a few. Ds got a magnadoodle for Christmas (he enjoys writing on things that he shouldn't) and dd received an Ello set....both from the ILs. Aside from the fact that they are plastic I can't see any reason to object so I don't.
edited to add...IMO it isn't an "all or nothing" kind of thing. If some waldorfy things appeal to you then incorporate them. If some seem a bit much to you, ignore them. No one's keeping score as far as I know.
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~Dannielle
Momma to Isabelle (8/95) and Mason (1/01)
I love classic, natural toys and we have many lovely things that have lasted for years. My mother bought my almost 15 yr old the wooden Julianna's Kitchen from the old Hearthsong catalog the Christmas he was 18 mos. All 4 of my children have played with that, and it is prob my 4 yr old's fav toy. So, if you do start adding that kind of thing to your home, they are heirlooms- your money will be well spent. We have a nature table, we have silks, natural art materials etc.
However, I am not sure how to completely eliminate plastic toys as they get older, nor am I sure I would want to. I may not love millions of lego or playmobil everywhere, but they are also classic toys that have stood the test of time. (I won't complain again about the talking neo pets. my two middle children seem to be getting a kick out of, or the bionicles they are playing with right this second lol ). I try to be very respectful of my kids play and play 'tools'.
I particularly like the rhythm & pace of waldorf. I like that play is so important and letters and numbers in the early years are put on hold. Of course I would respect if a child of mine wanted that at an early age. but I like that childhood is seen as time of peace and play.
Im glad you posted this question mama. I too would like to incorporate more of a Waldorf style into our everyday life. I found some great books on Waldorf preschool activities and planned to order them but now can't find where it was. I want to start now while the kids are still young so it becomes "a way of life".
If I find the names of the books I will post again.
Good luck,
Christine
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Wes and Kiley, my irish twins!!
We have a lot of natural toys and plaything, however we have not completely eliminated plastics from our house. We do have a plastic barn that the girls love, and we'll keep that until we can replace it with a wooden one...
We've set up our playroom so we have most of the toys on wooden shelves and in baskets. I also have little baskets filled with acorns and pinecones and balls of yarn to play with.
We try to have a nice rhythm to our day. We do a morning circle with verses and so on. We try to bake and paint regularly.
I agree with Dannielle, in that it is not necessarily an all or nothing day... I doubt we'll ever get to a point where we have only natural material in our house, but we do what we can, when we can...
Tree hugging, vegetarian, breastfeeding, cloth-diapering, home schooling, drum playing Step-Mama to my sweet Nico Sage and Mama to my curly Kaya Jade and wee Luna Blue. Lovin my hottie ~ J. Blogging From the Boonies My Etsy Shop
nak-but i'll try. for us, a lot of it is a simple recognition of nature's bounty and the rhythmic cycle of life. we bake together, take walks together, garden together and always eat breakfast and dinner together. we focus a lot on simple values and responsibilities. we try to teach respect for mother earth above all. but we are neither a quiet nor a serious household. it is all a matter of degree. when the boys were little, we had virtually no tv. but dh and i have always loved computer games. the boys watch some pretty wild tv (more along the lines of the simpson than mindless cartoons, although some of that creeps in, sadly) and we all have evil, goofy senses of humor. we are as likely to play nintendo games together as sit down and read together -- and although part of me doesn't like that, i think it's quality family time when we're all together laughing.
we aren't big on plastic. we use cloth napkins, china at dinner and real glasses. i don't have alot of plastic toys, but i don't mind a few barbies, althouogh i've banned all the barbie "goodies" and ellie knows she can play with the dolls, but all that little junk goes straight into the trash. and the kids clearly prefer stuff like wood blocks, books, playsilks, swinging from the trees, lol, etc to whatever junky stuff makes its way in.
do you waldorf school? it's fun to get ideas from other families and incorporate them however it works best in your lives. i generally bake our bread and cook completely from scratch, but, ssshhhhh! i also make lots of sweets which is definitely not waldorfy.
this is how i've lived pretty much my whole life except for a couple of post law school years when i was dreadfully materialistic. it's not purist, and would probably offend some people who followed anthroscopy strictly, but the way i look at it, it is a matter of what works for my family and makes us happy. and although i would happily chuck everything and live on a farm, and grow my own food and make all of our clothes, dh has a foot in the world and likes his computer games and that really doesn't bother me at all.
this would be a fun ongoing discussion, of things we incorporate into our lives that help us feel more in sync with the rhythm of nature around us. since we've spent the morning planting trees (dh's christmas present to me!) and doing some artwork together (i left that out, but painting and crafting together is a big deal in our house) i am feeling very in touch with my inner goddess right now, lol.
Originally posted by elliebelly i generally bake our bread and cook completely from scratch, but, ssshhhhh! i also make lots of sweets which is definitely not waldorfy.
Actually, Steiner felt that most kids should have sugar - puts some fat on them, gives them some energy and enlivens them up a bit. I'd look for the passage right now, but, we have a house full of relatives right now.
I found that having a Waldorfy house was a gradual process. We discovered Waldorf about 9 yrs ago. The more we incorporated Waldorf into our lifestyle, the more our house changed. And, it is important to remember that there is not one, correct, "Waldorf-y" way to decorate a house or raise your kids. As long as you are guided in your heart and mind by the Waldorf/Anthroposophical ideas of how your children grow and develop you will develop your own Waldorf-y ways for your home and family. (I hope that made sense.....)
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Kathy
Mama to Zachariah (12) & Isaiah (4)
Originally posted by )O(Meeshi)O( We have a lot of natural toys and plaything, however we have not completely eliminated plastics from our house. We do have a plastic barn that the girls love, and we'll keep that until we can replace it with a wooden one...
We've set up our playroom so we have most of the toys on wooden shelves and in baskets. I also have little baskets filled with acorns and pinecones and balls of yarn to play with.
We try to have a nice rhythm to our day. We do a morning circle with verses and so on. We try to bake and paint regularly.
I agree with Dannielle, in that it is not necessarily an all or nothing day... I doubt we'll ever get to a point where we have only natural material in our house, but we do what we can, when we can...
Can you share more on your morning circle with verses? I'm curious for more iinfo on that!
I agree about doing what you can when you can. We finally have more natural and open-ended toys than non-natural and restricted ones, but it has taken a number of years to get there, KWIM? And we still have the plastic little tykes kitchen....waiting until we can replace it with one that my dh can build. (hopefully this summer)
But, I have need for a LOT of improvement in many ways and areas, just taking it step by step.
Anyway, Meeshi, can you share more about your daily circle and verse time? I am hoping it is tied into your spiritual path. I'm having a difficult time finding daily ritual ideas with children now that I am not longer in a organized religion, KWIM?
You can PM me if you want so I don't de-rail this thread, I do really want to get your suggestions.
Michelle
__________________ "If it (salvation) is based solely on following rules, then it isn't grace via faith in Jesus Christ"
We do a morning circle with finger plays, songs, and verses as well as verses for bedtime, clean up, meals, etc. We also sing the same "good morning" song as each person wakes up. I pull together verses for circles, etc and we repeat the same ones for a few weeks or even a couple months. Some of the verses I choose are seasonal. Some are just cute/fun. Some relate to our Christian faith.
I'd like to hear more about the daily routine, too, as well as verses.
Quote:
Originally posted by Momof6 Meeshi,
Can you share more on your morning circle with verses? I'm curious for more iinfo on that!
I agree about doing what you can when you can. We finally have more natural and open-ended toys than non-natural and restricted ones, but it has taken a number of years to get there, KWIM? And we still have the plastic little tykes kitchen....waiting until we can replace it with one that my dh can build. (hopefully this summer)
But, I have need for a LOT of improvement in many ways and areas, just taking it step by step.
Anyway, Meeshi, can you share more about your daily circle and verse time? I am hoping it is tied into your spiritual path. I'm having a difficult time finding daily ritual ideas with children now that I am not longer in a organized religion, KWIM?
You can PM me if you want so I don't de-rail this thread, I do really want to get your suggestions.
Michelle
__________________ Missy
Live in such a way that if anyone should speak badly of you, no one would believe it.
I have two dinner time 'prayers' that we say when we light a candle
We gather 'round this table
Our bodies are renewed
Our hearts appease their hunger
For we feast on more than food
May faith in the spirit of life
And hope in the community of earth
And love of the sacred in ourselves and each other
Be ours this day and in all the days to come
(This one is also good at bedtime or in the morning- this is our affirmation at our UU church that we 'borrowed")
I also say (more like chant) this one to whoever will listen in the morning. (which I changed and ripped off of a spring pentatonic song)
Wake up , wake up
all you little children
Sun light sky bright
Morning time has come
I work at a Waldorf school. I am the Parent & Infant teacher, and I run the After-Care Program, and sub in all of the grades and kindergartens. My daughter also goes to the school I work at. I love my job! I've been in many Waldorf homes and I can tell you that most are similar to a lot of my other friends homes. Many have t.v.s and plastics in them. The Waldorf homes usually have a nature table and more wooden or hand-made toys. I know that one thing that is stressed is that the child or children have one or two high quality, hand-made toys versus many toys that mass produced (plastics). This is for several reasons- first many of the plastic toys over stimulate children with all the lights and noise- imo these talking, flashing toys somewhat contribute to the higher rates of inability to concentrate in children- ADHD/ADD-like symptoms. I think it's just too much for them, but I know other people have other opinions on this, it's just mine. Another reason to limit the toys is that children with less toys tend to use their imaginations more and are involved in more creative play with natural objects they find outside. I can't tell you how amazed I still get when I see little fairy dolls made from leaves and sticks!
Plastic toys emit gasses, although you can buy some now without the chemicals, I know in my program we really advocate toys as close to nature as possible and plastics aren't that way.
Waldorf toys are expensive, but they are also very easy to make. Playsilks are super easy to make and you can get supplies from www.DharmaTrading.com or www.thaisilks.com . Plus it's a great activity for you to do with your children.
I just learned how to make Waldorf dolls and I think they are fairly easy to make, especially if you have someone show you how to do it. You can order kits from www.joysdolls.com or from www.magiccabin.com ( I think that is the site url- its Magic Cabin).
Bean bags are very easy to make and babies and kids love them!
I personally don't have much plastic in my home, but it has more to do with being a potter than it does with being into Waldorf philosophy. You were asking about incorporating more "Waldorf ways " into your house without spending a lot of money? You could try Goodwill and The Salvation Army. I always see pottery dishes there, nice baskets, ect. there and it doesn't cost a whole lot. You could go slow- buy a ceramic mug and get rid of a plastic cup as you can. Another way to add more of a Waldorf element to your home is to paint it! Steiner said that children need to have certain colors surrounding them- for instance younger children need warm colors- yellows and oranges. These colors help to relax children- I know it seems opposite but it has to do with the complimentary color effect. Older children should be in blue or green rooms. I love the lazure paiting style. It's so gorgeous. I want to do my bathroom and my studio in this style!. Here are a few links:
http://www.lazurebylogsdon.com/ -- this site tells you about the effects this kind of painting can have on your home and health.
You don't have to necessarily use lazure paint to get the effect at your house. I think at our school they mixed clear glaze with acrylic paints and sponged it on. If I have time when I go back to school, I will take a pic of my room. These are sooo beautiful.
Here are my favorite sites for general waldorf info:
Another decorating idea is to drape cotton guaze on your ceilings, or as a border around the ceiling and wall line, or as drapery for windows. We use guaze in every room, but especially in the early childhood rooms.
Oh and here is an EXCELLENT resourse for stories and poems for circle time. It's has Waldorf books online for free, typed out by volunteers. I'm working on one right now for the site, if you can type fast I highly encourage you to volunteer, it's such a great resourse! It's called the Baldwin Project:
When we do our morning circle, I light a candle and we stand in a circle (or triangle, becuase there's three of us) and do our morning verses. There's are *so* many different verses, I couldn't possibly type out all of them.
One we do every morning, though is a little salute to the sun. There are actions that we do along with it as well.
I am the Mother Sun
I carry the Earth through all the night, and through the morning's birth.
I hold her safely and upon her do shine.
So all that is living can grow up fine.
Human and animal, flower and stone,
All share the light from me alone.
Open your heart like a little cup.
With my bright light I shall fill it up.
Open your heart, child so dear,
that we may become one light here.
Kaya's favorite verse is:
Chickadee, chickadee
Flitting through the snowy tree.
With you cap and scarf of black,
sweater grey upon your back.
You're warm and happy in the snow,
and when I hear your call I know,
My little friend has come to say that
Wintertime is fine for play!
I know that the www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com site has a bunch of verses.
Waldorf mamas? Q's about home life
my two middle children seem to be getting a kick out of, or the bionicles they are playing with right this second lol ). I try to be very respectful of my kids play and play 'tools'. 
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