Listado de la etiqueta: waldorf rhythm

Ideas on appropriate behavior rewards

30 de septiembre de 2023

by Carrie Riley

There comes a time in every parent or educator´s day experience and routine where we have a golden opportunity to encourage the right kind of behavior we strive for in our homes or classes. There are many daily examples. Your child eats their meal. They use the bathroom. They clean up their toys. They follow your instructions. And when they decide to insert their own will, wants, and desires it is often the very opposite of what we wanted them to do in the first place. Now what?!

I’ve seen parents reward with cookies, candy, ice cream, donuts, cake, soda pop, fast food, money, toys, and the list goes on. You know. We’ve all been there at one time or another.

Sadly the things our children may respond to the most are sugar rewards. Do you want to know why? It’s not just the obvious answer, sugar is yummy, but more complex. Sugar is addictive. It is so addictive that it is considered more addictive than drugs! And once we lovingly introduce this into their system, it is a hard addiction to break. It seems so innocent. I mean we all grew up with sweet treats and we turned out okay for the most part, right? Here’s the thing. Sugar was not the same 30 years ago as it is now and was not as big of a problem as it is now. It is highly processed in some foods and full of chemicals as well. Not only is there sugar in the treats we give, but hidden sugar is everywhere! Did you know one yogurt has the same amount of sugar as a candy bar? Or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich have as much sugar as a slice of iced chocolate cake? The food you buy at the store has many ways to sneak sugar into your diet and your child’s. Most kids’ cereals are packed with sugar too. “Sugar fuels every cell in the brain. Your brain also sees sugar as a reward, which makes you keep wanting more of it. If you often eat a lot of sugar, you’re reinforcing that reward, which can make it tough to break the habit.” (The truth about sugar addiction, Webmd.com) And that is one reason food companies add sugar to unnecessary products they know how addictive it is! It is comparable to a cocaine addiction.

Rewarding behavior with food is also linked to eating disorders, weight issues, dental decay, and behavior issues. Studies have found that when parents use food as a reward or punishment, kids are more likely to prefer high-fat, high-sugar foods (like the ones often used as rewards). The bottom line is rewarding wanted behaviors with food will most likely backfire in the long run.

So what is a good incentive to get our children to do what we want?

What our goal should be is to get our children to want to do the right thing! We want them to feel a part of our family, classroom, and ultimately a good citizen of the earth. We can do that at any age but starting off with helping our children to develop healthy habits from the beginning is the best way to ensure a child will want to do what is expected of them.

Start off by not over-praising your child. The more you praise, the more they seek approval from outside forces. Not from themselves. Just notice them. Let them know you see them doing something from coloring “ Oh! I see you really like to color green today!” Or “Wow Mary! You really cleaned up your blocks and that makes your room look so nice!”

Make “I” statements when you can “ I see you tried your beans!” or “Mary, I like when you help your brother clean up!” this helps the child know they are seen and will make them feel proud to do the right things. They will know by your tone and the fact you’re not following them around smothering them with praise.

If you must do something as a reward, try these ideas:

Sticker
A new book ( not toys)
New crayons and paper
Extra time with you
An extra book/ story at bedtime
Time outdoors together
Craft project with you
Helping you make a meal

Now all of these ideas work well if you have implemented a family daily schedule ( daily rhythm). Children’s behaviors are greatly improved if they know what to expect and the consistency of their boundaries.

Another aspect of nurturing our children’s good behavior is getting enough sleep. This is huge! Children under age 6 need 12 hours a day.

Good nutrition is also key! Instead of all the sugary sweets we give our children, how about frozen fruits? Sliced bananas with cinnamon on top? Make your own frozen ( unsweetened) yogurt with natural sweeteners like fruit and mix and freeze.

To summarize this article let me highlight the points.

In order to get our children in our care to cooperate we can try the following:

Create and maintain a daily rhythm
Be consistent
Proper sleep
No screen time for children under age 5 or very little
Never allow screen time during meals and snacks!
Healthy eating practices
Try a new food at least once a week

Remember, reinforce the good behavior in a neutral way and consistently.

The unwanted behavior must have a consistent consequence. That can be a favorite toy to be taken away for the day, no books at bedtime, no screen time, No sticker if using a chart. Keep exploring for a way to reach your child. Not all children react the same to these ideas. You have to find what works for your family.

Being a parent is a challenge. So is being a brand new human on this earth! Let’s help guide our children into courteous, helpful, and happy children. They want us to be happy with them. But here’s the thing. It is up to the adults in your child’s life to make sure they learn how to do this. Giving into your child’s every want is setting up your child and your family up for disappointment and frustration. They crave rhythm, love, consistency, positive attention and our time. Let’s set our children up for success!

Here is a visual example of a chart to track healthy new foods they try:

Photo in Parents.com by Sally Kuzemchak

Try these tips and you will see the change in your children.

Nurturing Your Child

24 de octubre de 2020

By Carrie Riley

I would like to share information on Waldorf philosophy and ways we can reinforce the rhythms at home.

Rhythm

Rhythm- is structure, it is what brings order out of chaos and we all know how chaotic life can be with young children.

When we provide a rhythmical day for the little ones it brings them a sense of security in the knowing, a sense of well-being, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment.

There is a yearly rhythm that is reflected in the seasons and a time to experience a feeling of community as we come together to enjoy the different feelings that nature provides throughout the year. There is a monthly rhythm with the waxing and waning of the moon. Women get to experience a monthly rhythm for more than half their lives. There is a weekly rhythm and daily rhythm that provides structure to our work life, family life, and social life. It is the daily rhythm that affects the children most.

In Waldorf education when we look to create a rhythm for the children we look to format it in terms of an in and out breath. The in-breath is a more formal or contained part of the rhythm whereas the out-breath is the moment you can let it all go. This is happening because our lives have changed and we have two working parents trying to get out the door by a certain time the morning is a big IN breath for the children, so by the time they come to school they need an OUT breath which can happen during free play with active play, then for circle, IN breath, then OUT breath with the HUG shop, then snack IN breath etc.

Breathing is rhythmical and it is the basis of life. If we move through the day this way we are teaching the children at the very core of their being how to live life in a healthy and balanced way. Plus it makes your life much easier. When they know the rules and what to expect they are much more likely to cooperate.

Think of rhythm as the structure of the home, walls, ceiling, floors, windows, and the fluctuations of the day are all the decorations inside. You get to redecorate your home every day; I know it leaves us all in constant amazement at how different one day can be from the other. Here are some ideas of how you can provide rhythm in your home.

Sleeping– try to put your child to bed at the same time every night. Have a simple routine that is just for those moments before bed. It helps them to know what is coming and what is expected of them. Lights in the bedroom come on when it is time for you to get up, if not on, it’s not time, go back to sleep.

Meals – try to have meals be at a similar time and place each night. Again have some type of ritual, lighting a candle, a song, a verse. Be clear with your expectations with your child. Do they need to sit until everyone is finished etc. Think about those things and stick to them. Your life will be easier when they become teenagers. Snacks when and how.

Playtime, etc.

Clothing– Where are their shoes kept, jackets, what can they do by themselves? Create a rhythm of expectations before leaving the house. Do they need to keep their hat on?

Cleaning – toys and pick up, when they need to be picked up?

Much of it has to do with how your family’s day looks and how you can make certain moments in the day predictable and the same.

Tools for supporting your child’s behaviors

(i.e. do not give too many choices)

Rhythm is supported by firm boundaries with the young child. Again creating form and structure for them makes them feel safe. A young child does not want to be in charge. They don’t want to be the ones making decisions. When a child is asked if they want to eat now or would you like to put on a jacket it creates a lot of anxiety for the child. They want and need authority. Of course, we want to approach this in a loving way. First, we say “You may put on your shoes now.” or “It’s time for me to put on your shoes now.” Adding a bit of imagination works wonders. “ come to the shoe shop” if a child is not wanting to put on their shoes, as this is common for most at some point, we can approach this with, “I will put on your shoes or you may do it”.

Table

You may sit until we are all finished with dinner. Repeat until the child understands, it may take time and that is okay. By providing children freedom within the container you create they will feel safer and can trust the world more. Don’t worry there will be plenty of time for them to be the decision maker.

Nutrition

Nutrition has a huge impact on behavior. Everything from cooperation to sleep, to mood, and most importantly health. This time of year we are all very interested in keeping our children healthy and free from as many colds and flu and we can make it possible. Nutrition is key in the prevention of sickness.

Providing nutrient-dense foods that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Non-processed, whole, and if possible organic foods. One of the most important foods to avoid is sugar. When researching what amount of sugar is okay for young children, it was very difficult to find a recommended amount. Then I found out why when I came across a site that said no amount of sugar is okay for a young child. So no one wants to commit to an okay amount because there is no amount that is okay. With that in mind…and the reality that we live in a world full of sugar. Grandparents give it, aunties and uncles give it and sometimes we even use it to bribe our children. However, we can do our best to reduce the amount as much as we can. So begin to find the hidden sugars in your child’s life. For example: 1 t is 4.7 gms of sugar so when a child eats one of those healthy organic fruit yogurts that has 18 grams of sugar you are giving them just under 4 teaspoons of sugar. Then we put a half-sliced apple in there which is about 11 grams of sugar so just over 2 teaspoons of sugar. Then a peanut butter and jelly sandwich anywhere from 11 to 18 grams so another 2-4 teaspoons. What happens to a child when they eat sugar? It spikes their blood sugar for a time. Then they crash, it activates their endorphins and adrenals, which over-stimulates the child. When there is a lot of sugar in the blood, which in layman’s terms, is digested by the white blood cells and reduces the white blood cells’ ability to absorb any viruses or foreign agents in the body by 75% for 4-6 hours. If sugar is a must always couple it with protein to help reduce the blood sugar spike. Books say sugar is the cause of obesity not fat. Also, sugar keeps the immune system at risk. Give lots of good fat (nuts, avocado, olive oil, animal fats) to your kids for brain and organ development. And keep them warm, less sugar and more warmth with lots of sleep will help keep sickness at bay.

Warmth

Speaking of warmth, it is very important to keep your children warm. We speak of warmth in the Waldorf world on several levels: physical warmth, environmental, and emotional warmth. It is an absolute necessity for a growing, thriving child. This time of year in colder climates, however, physical warmth is at the forefront. Keep your babies warm. Even though a child’s temperature can often run higher than adults, children don’t have a developed enough system yet to maintain that heat, so they chill much faster than we do. They also don’t have the body awareness to understand when they are feeling cold, even up to 7 years old they may not understand that they are cold. When they get cold the body is using up its energy that should be going to maintain the immune system, developing organs, building the body and the brain for keeping the child warm so they survive. We don’t want our children to be in survival mode. Those need to be taken care of by us so they can be free to grow and develop. There are two rules of thumb used to gauge your child’s warmth.

Are their hands and feet cold? If so there is not enough warmth in the body’s core to heat the extremities. Put on more clothes. But if they are warm, it does not necessarily mean they are warm enough.
If you need two layers your child needs three. Always an extra layer than what you find you need. Do not make the mistake of asking your child if they are warm enough. They do not have the capacity of body knowledge yet to determine this adult body awareness. Remember to touch their hands and feet.

It’s important to use natural materials like silk, wool, or cotton. Organic cotton clothes are important for your baby because you really want to limit their irritants and exposure to chemicals when they’re developing. This will not only keep them healthier and help them develop more naturally, but it will also keep them a lot more comfortable due to limiting the irritants around them.

Thank you for taking the time to understand a little bit more about Waldorf education, rhythm, and warmth.

How to Establish a Daily Rhythm

16 de junio de 2020

We know the importance of having a daily rhythm, especially in this circumstance that we need to stay at home. Today is the day you will get your daily rhythm created and mapped out! We are going to help you. We are sharing with you this article where you will find great ideas and tips on how to create your daily rhythm.

Excerpt from Save your Homeschooling Day document written by Jean from Waldorf Homeschool Simplify.

Waldorf –Inspired Learning.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 2 simple steps to help you. Plus, I’ll share some great visuals with you for creating your own rhythm chart! The answer is to start with the basics of rhythm and build from there. And in this guide, I’m going to show you how that’s done so you can start small and grow as you go.

“Have fun with rhythm because rhythm is your friend”, Jean

What is Rhythm? Rhythm is simply your daily routine of what you do first, and then next, and then next. I’m going to help you discover your own rhythm to provide a structure for your days so that your children can feel secure in knowing what to expect. This actually makes daily life with children easier for everyone – you and your children!

With a sense of rhythm, you can move throughout your day with alternating activities of inward focus and outward focus, much like the rhythm of breathing, inhaling, and exhaling. So a pattern is established. And then repeated.

Rhythm is more about sequencing and grouping activities than it is about a schedule with time slots.

Why Daily Rhythm?

It is important to build patterns and routines, before planning, customizing, and implementing the activities.

Rhythm is natural, Do you struggle with rhythm? Or have a resistance to it? Here is a great place to begin – with an image of how the naturally occurring rhythms within us connect with the naturally occurring rhythms all around us.

Picture a warm, glowing heart in your mind. It represents love but it also represents the rhythm of your heartbeat.

Rhythm is “a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.” A steady rhythm can be a steady beat, a recurring sound, or a repetitive activity. We can think of not only our heartbeat but also our breath, in and out. These are the natural rhythms that live inside our bodies. We can also observe external rhythms. There is the rhythm of day and night, the rhythm of the days of the week, the rhythm of the months, and the rhythm of the seasons.

All of these rhythms are part of our lives. Their repetition brings us comfort because they are regular and expected. Rhythm provides an anchor and especially helps children, who have little control over their environments, to feel secure.

Steiner even said, “Rhythm can take the place of strength and will.” Rhythm is the reason why Rudolf Steiner suggested warming up at the start of our lessons with verse recitation, speech exercises, or singing. He even began each of his lectures to the very first Waldorf teachers-in-training with speech exercises and verse recitation to help regulate everyone’s breathing, their natural in-breath and out-breath their internal, natural rhythm. He reasoned that this practice teaches us flexibility and helps to ground us in the present moment. That’s what a strong rhythm can do.

AS YOU EXPLORE RHYTHM…

A word to the wise as you develop your own rhythm: Be yourself. Be authentic. Waldorf Rhythm is not about doing what you’re supposed to do, doing what I suggest you do, doing what other mamas are doing on Instagram…

This process of laying the foundation for your daily and weekly rhythm is about you and your family. Stay connected to your own unique life and do what is best for you, and no one else. Courage comes from being willing to be who you are! Don’t wait until you’re confident to show up. You have everything you need right now and can show up just as you are. Now let’s dive in!

2 Steps to Create Your Daily Rhythm

Step One: Design a Daily Rhythm that Works for You

Now it’s time to create your daily rhythm! Start by thinking of the rhythm of the week, where each weekday has a different flavor and often different activities. Like pizza on Saturday nights, or errands and grocery shopping on Thursday afternoons after lunch. These are activities that we do regularly and repeatedly. They are not necessarily assigned a particular time, but more of a general time slot or relationship to another activity. While some activities might vary from day to day, there are other activities that you repeat daily.

Think about what you do each and every day. Start by making a list of your daily activities from the time you wake up until you go to sleep at night. Include chores, mealtimes, rest times, and bedtime – plus lessons and activities.

Be gentle with yourself and breathe into your daily rhythm. No need to include the exact time unless you want to. Just start with Wake Up and end with Bedtime. Add in Meal Times, Lesson Time, and Rest Time, and you have your basic structure. These provide anchor points or pillars in your day that form the basis of your rhythm. On the next page are a few time chunks in your day to reflect on as you craft your daily rhythm.

YOU TIME

What do you need to do before your children get up and ready for the day? Even just 15 minutes to yourself to listen to a meditation, recite a verse by heart, light a candle, or sit quietly can nourish you before the day begins.

MORNINGS

Make a list of what you and your children will do together. On this list, you can include breakfast, chore time, circle time, lesson time, and outdoor time…you can even include the specific steps of lesson time if you have children in the grades.

MEAL TIME

Regular mealtimes help to provide anchor points in your day. And when you sing or recite a blessing before eating, you’re adding a ritual that can make this daily activity even more special.

REST TIME

Keep rest or nap time going as long as possible as your children grow older! Even pre-teens can benefit from quiet alone time each day. And so can we! In my family, this was a good time to encourage my boys to separate for a while each afternoon.

TIME IN NATURE

Time in nature helps to ground us in beauty while giving us and our children extra space. Try making time for unstructured play outdoors each day after breakfast or lunch.

AFTERNOONS

Don’t forget about the afternoons. Aside from daily quiet time or time to play outside, consider doing handwork, reading aloud, painting, cooking, or baking in the afternoons. This can also be a good time for errands or other outside-of-the-house activities.

EVENINGS

Evenings are a great time to consider a family activity such as reading aloud, a game, or making music together that can include everyone. Here is an example of a simple daily rhythm:

Wake Up Morning Chores Breakfast Morning Activity or Main Lesson Lunch Play Outside Read Chapter Book Rest Prepare Dinner & Eat Playtime Get Ready for Bed. The Waldorf approach is really very simple.

Not always easy (especially in today’s world where so much swirling all around us is a-rhythmic, meaning you can access just about anything any time of day or season you want)…but simple. And we can give ourselves permission to let it be easy!

I invite you to embrace the simplicity. And to allow yourself to experiment and get comfortable not knowing everything before you begin. So truthfully, gosh darn it, rhythm is always the answer when things go awry or seem utterly chaotic. The beauty of rhythm is that it’s comforting. It helps us all know what to expect and frees up our brain space and our will so we can do good work. Make rhythm your friend!

Step Two: Create a Visual Reminder

And finally, I encourage you to make some kind of visual chart of this daily rhythm. No need to get too elaborate, but it really helps to create something clear and colorful to hang up for everyone in the family to see. You could create a chart to hang on the wall. Or you might simply write your daily rhythm on a chalkboard. Or write your activities on cards that can be moved around.

This visual reminder will help you remember your plan and stay committed to it. It’s also nice to have a basic rhythm to go back to when things get off track instead of inventing one as you go! Now for some examples. I want to show you a few different ways some of the parents in the Waldorf community have created a visual for themselves.

On the next page is an example of starting with the activities written on cards. You could hang these on a long ribbon, or add magnets to the backs of the cards and arrange them daily or weekly.

Here’s what this mom said about her rhythm chart: “I have the rhythm that I created with your Plan It Out course inside my kitchen cabinet. I don’t follow it every day. But it is WONDERFUL to have right there on days that I am tired or confused. The answer to what to do next is ALWAYS waiting for me. It is such a comfort.”

Here are some other great examples of rhythm charts to inspire you to create your own!

And one more from a parent of three children.

Another example.

See how different each of these rhythm charts is?

You really can experiment with rhythm and make it your own.

Now it’s your turn to use your imagination and create a daily rhythm chart that’s just right for you and your family.

LET RHYTHM BE A COMFORT!

Sometimes we get stuck on how to keep the rhythm going. Either life gets busier or something comes up to throw our rhythm off. Or we might even get bored with it!

Don’t stress. Let go of some things. Be mindful. Choose intentionally.

Establish a family rhythm and revisit it from time to time to tweak and adjust as needed. Be kind to yourself.

It’s important to know what to do when you start to feel like your rhythm needs tweaking or even a complete overhaul. It’s OK to change your daily rhythm as a new season arrives or your circumstances change. And it’s also OK to mix it up some days.

The daily rhythm you create is not meant to hem you in, but to offer you a sense of freedom – knowing what comes next but also knowing that there’s flexibility.

When your rhythm goes off the rails (and it will from time to time), how do you get back on track?

Scale back until your rhythm is working again, and build from there.

Start with three anchor points: morning chores, mealtimes, and bedtime. When these feel solid, add more activities and lessons back in.

Less is more, I promise!

Remember… make rhythm your friend so you can relax and enjoy.

Listado de la etiqueta: waldorf rhythm

by Carrie Riley

Photo in Parents.com by Sally Kuzemchak

Suggested blogs

By Carrie Riley

Rhythm

Tools for supporting your child’s behaviors

Table

Nutrition

Warmth

Suggested blogs

Excerpt from Save your Homeschooling Day document written by Jean from Waldorf Homeschool Simplify.

Waldorf –Inspired Learning.

Why Daily Rhythm?

2 Steps to Create Your Daily Rhythm

Step One: Design a Daily Rhythm that Works for You

YOU TIME

MORNINGS

MEAL TIME

REST TIME

TIME IN NATURE

AFTERNOONS

EVENINGS

Step Two: Create a Visual Reminder

LET RHYTHM BE A COMFORT!

Suggested blogs

A unique Waldorf Education in Guatemala.