The Artful Parent

Sisters in action: one day

Sisters and 500 posts

Maia, 4.5 years, and Daphne, 5.5 months

I am so, so thankful to have both of these wonderful girls! As they say, the time is flying by. Wasn't Daphne just born?! It seems like yesterday... And now Daphne is laughing at Maia's antics every day. And just this morning Maia was "reading" stories to Daphne while I took a shower. I'm really looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops over time.

Oh, and, according to Typepad, this is my 500th post! Wow. That's a lot of blathering on the subject of children's art and other fun stuff. One of these days I think I'll have Blurb slurp my blog into one of those blog books. I've been blogging for over two years now -- maybe I should get one done for each year. Sort of as a hard copy memento. Have any of you done this? Just curious how it works out.

The winner is...

The random number generator picked #40, so Faith is the winner of Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne.

I loved that interview -- I learned something new and teaching our boys to live simply and creatively has been a recent passion of ours. Look forward to learning more.

Faith, I'll e-mail you directly for inscription details and your mailing address...

A collage afternoon

I love the inspiration that new art materials bring. Or, in this case, a new container for the art materials. Maia worked on a collage for well over an hour yesterday afternoon, which is a record for her.

She started off by drawing a girl onto the matboard with oil pastels.

The matboard is great for collages because it is so thick and doesn't buckle under the glue and other materials applied. I picked up our supply of matboard remnants for free from a frame shop. (note: there are actually two pieces of matboard in these photos, one on top of the other, for no real reason.)

After drawing, Maia added glue in copious amounts.

Then set in googly eyes and some tiny buttons and beads for the eyes and nose (and for two hands).

And a circle of googly eyes around each cotton ball shoe, for good measure.

Feathers for hair.

And then lots of dried beans for the smile and belt, and some tissue paper to decorate the dress.

She said this was for her friend Stella and her parents and wrote their names in the corner. While working on the collage, she kept saying, "Stella is going to LOVE this!"

Collage ready

We have a new collage central!

The container is from the lovely Goodwill near us and is heaps better than the old (similarly sectioned) container we were keeping our collage materials in. This one is very sturdy, made by Tupperwear, and is a full 14 inches across and almost 3 inches deep in the center. It is well able to carefully corral each of our various collage materials until ready for use.

Pictured here, and ready for art:

Feathers, an assortment of dried beans, googly eyes, various buttons, cotton balls, colored tissue paper, and, in the center, ribbons.

What are your favorite collage materials? I feel it may be time for us to branch out a bit...

Dandelion Hill: an interview with two Waldorf preschool teachers

Rae and Joy are two shining lights who started our local Waldorf preschool -- Dandelion Hill. Join me as I ask both teachers about Waldorf early education and the Waldorf approach to art.

***Note: Readers will have a chance to win a copy of the book Simplicity Parenting at the end of this interview.***

JEAN:  First, can you tell us a little about yourselves and why you are drawn to Waldorf education?

RAE:  I am mother to two incredible children, Sienna (6) and Jasper (2), and my partner of nearly nine years, Matt.  I co-teach with Joy at Dandelion Hill in beautiful Asheville, NC.  We have 16 children ages 3-6 in our early childhood classroom. 

In Sienna's first year of life, I met my dear friend Renee. She homeschools her children following the Waldorf model and adheres beautifully to the ideals in all aspects of their lives.  I had read about Waldorf when I was pregnant and fell in love with this beautiful approach to education.  Witnessing the beauty firsthand through Renee's gentle guidance, I was deeply touched and intrigued, but to some extent it felt unattainable for me personally.  When Renee and I were (physically) separated due to both of our families relocating, I continued to study on my own.  The more I learned, the stronger I felt that this was the way I wanted to raise my children and that I wanted to share this model with others so that many more children could have this experience, too.  The idea that academics can be presented through beauty and the Waldorf approach of addressing the whole child, head, heart, and hands, really speaks to me.

JOY:  I am mother to Anna Mae (6) and Caleb (4) and live in Asheville with my husband Corey.  Education is a popular profession in my family, and all of us seem to have a strong interest in the arts and spirituality as well.  When I was in high school, I had an English teacher named Nancy Rosenberger who was a great inspiration to me.  I first learned of Waldorf education from talking to her, as her children attended Kimberton Waldorf School.  I remember her telling me something about how students took notes on one side of a book and did watercolor painting on the other.  I was fascinated by that and felt immediately drawn to this 'elusive' form of education.  Having grown up in a lovely rural spot, I felt very connected to and most comfortable in nature as a child.  Waldorf education seemed to put into educational practice many things that I value deeply- the arts, the human spirit, personal growth, and nature.  It has become a way of life, a passion, and a way that I feel I can affect the future in a positive way.

JEAN:  What defines a Waldorf preschool/kindergarten? What sets it apart from other early childhood education philosophies?

RAE:  A Waldorf early childhood classroom is intended to be an extension of the home.  The first seven years of life the child is still in a dreamy state of mind.  It is our intention to provide a gentle, nurturing place for them to awaken to this earthly plane.  Formal education does not begin until first grade.

There is a strong focus on imaginative play.  Our play things are made of natural materials and are, for the most part, open ended so the child may use them in many different ways.  Their wooden kitchen is stocked with dry beans, acorn caps, wooden coins, and many other treasures that get used in many creative ways all over the classroom.  Generally, their play is unstructured and they are free to use the materials in whatever way their imagination is leading them, as long as it remains safe.

Rhythm is of the utmost importance for young children.  We have a clear and predictable flow to our days and our weeks.  We follow the cycle of the seasons through nature crafts, circle songs, and celebrating festivals throughout the year.  We spend much of our time outdoors playing on stumps, dancing in the trees, and digging in the garden.  We venture outdoors in all weather, enjoying snowfalls and splashing in puddles as well as soaking up the sun when the weather is fair.  A favorite mantra is "We'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!" 

Circle time movement is integral as well.  The foundations that are built through singing, dancing, and fingerplays prepare the child for academics at a later date.  Stories are presented orally, from heart, and the same story is told for two to three weeks.  During this time we may have a puppet show and/or the children get a chance to act it out.  We also make our own wholesome snacks in class and sit down family style to enjoy them together.

JEAN:  I loved watching the children engage in such a beautiful and peaceful form of making art when I came to visit the other day! Can you describe the Waldorf painting method for my readers?

RAE:  Wet-on-wet watercolor painting in the Waldorf classroom is very much about process, not product.  It is an opportunity for the children to experience the properties of the color with all of their being.  We paint once a week, on the same day each week.  We use only the primary colors and they are introduced one at a time.  After the children have spent quite a few sessions with each color individually, we begin to introduce two colors at a time.  By the end of the year, the children are working with all 3 colors and it is amazing to see what they can do!  Watercolor painting is continued through all the grades in a Waldorf setting, being built upon each year.

 
JEAN:  What other arts or crafts activities do you do in your classroom?

RAE:  As mentioned before, nature crafts are a focus, using materials we find outside in creative ways.  We made corn husk dolls in the fall.  We introduce sewing to the children, beginning very simply and elaborating as the individual child shows more interest.  Felt squares (think felted sweaters) are great for the kids.  Most recently we made simple gnomes.  The kids love this project as it is fairly quick and they have a new plaything to show for their efforts.  Finger knitting is great for children this age, too.

Beeswax modeling and drawing with beeswax block crayons are also favorite activities.  Wet felting has been a huge hit with the kids!  Making a *mess* with lots of water and soap and using their strength to agitate the wool is so much fun.  They wet felted little balls and we glued them into acorn caps that they had used a hand drill to make holes in for threading a piece of yarn.  These made lovely ornaments.  At Christmastime we also made felt candles as described in Living Crafts magazine.

JEAN:  What art materials do you use and recommend?

JOY:  We try to offer the best materials possible to our students, as we want their artistic process to be satisfying and appealing to their senses.  We use Stockmar's 'circle paints'- they come in the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue.  Our paper is soaked in a tray of water before painting, so it needs to hold up well.  We use 200g Fabriano Watercolor Paper and our paintbrushes are horsehair brushes.  We use little glass paint dishes to hold each color of paint and rinsing jars.  Small cotton-knit cloths are given to the children for drying brushes during the painting process.  Our painting boards are cut from masonite sheets and made waterproof with mod podge.  The children wear smocks- all sewn by mother- thanks Mom!

With that said, one needn't spend a fortune on these items.  Watercolor paper and liquid watercolor paints can be purchased at a craft stores.  You can always grow into better materials (as we have done in my own home).  Quality materials are important, but should not be a deterrent for those wishing to have this experience at home.

We encourage the children to use their paintbrush to communicate rather than being talkative.  The painting process is a dreamy one and we aim to create an environment in which they can experience this childhood dreaminess in a sacred and lovely way.

JEAN:  Can you talk about the importance of imagination and play in the Waldorf kindergarten?

JOY:  Imaginative play is at the heart of our work.  As Rae mentioned, we supply the children with open-ended materials so that the inspiration for play comes from within.  Time to play also gives children space to work through information they are processing subconsciously in their lives.  Building imaginative capacity is incredibly important- without imagination one cannot see beyond the material life into new possibilities.  Creativity and problem-solving are intricately tied and these are capabilities our children will need coming of age in this complex modern age.  I have really become passionate about the protection of childhood and allowing children to be able to fully experience its wonder as long as possible.

 

Nancy Renee, the class baby, named after the two people who introduced Joy and Rae to Waldorf education

JEAN:  The Waldorf ideals of natural materials, daily rhythms, and lack of media sometimes seem pretty far removed from modern life with its media overload, plastic toys, and earlier and earlier academic pressures.  Do you have any tips for parents who are interested in incorporating Waldorf ideas into their home life yet reluctant to purge all vestiges of modern society?

JOY:  Go easy on yourself and be patient.  It takes time to incorporate these ideals.  Experiment with elements that seem doable and inspiring to you.  I have been through the TV weaning experience and it seemed impossible at first, but slowly we worked it out of our lives.  Out of sight, out of mind is the best advice I can offer on that one.  Also, it is pleasant for the whole family to have less 'stuff' around the house.  You know how you are more inspired to cook in a clean kitchen?  It works the same way with children and toys- the cleaner the slate the better. 

Also, rhythm is a great place to start- consider incorporating regular patterns of rest and play, diet, and structured activities.  A predictable rhythm is very comforting to children- and adults too!  Having friends who are also working with the same ideals is extremely helpful as well.  I would recommend reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne.  It is an excellent book for those seeking to try to slow down the sometimes frenzied feel of modern family life. 

JEAN:  Is there anything else you would like to add?

JOY:  Our community has many opportunities for being involved in seasonal festivals.  This is a great way to experience the cycles of the year in a community setting and helps bring meaning and celebration to the seasons.  Most of the festivals celebrated have roots in European spiritual/ agricultural celebrations and connect us to age-old joyful traditions, such as May Faire, Advent Spiral, and Michaelmas.

We are excited to be part of the growing Waldorf movement in Asheville and are actively working toward the formation of further Waldorf school options for our children in the future.  More information can be found on our website: www.dandelionhill.org.

JEAN:  Thank you, Rae and Joy! What a wonderful school you have created!

For those of you in the Asheville area, Dandelion Hill is having an open house this Saturday, February 27th, from 10am to 12pm. 

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Readers who leave a comment by Friday, February 26th at 8am EST will be entered into a random drawing for a copy of Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne.

Artful ideas around the web

I can't wait to try this! It's a colored ice experiment using salt, food coloring, and ice at 5 Orange Potatoes (found via One Pretty Thing).

I'd love to make some pinch pots with Maia soon. And these beaded ones, at Laugh, Paint, Create, look like extra fun!

Check out these lace prints at Color, Color, Color. I bet Maia would love these, especially since it involves using a spray bottle for the paint!

And, this isn't art but just a fun and clever idea -- a treasure hunt for pre-readers at Little Family Fun.

Mama improvement project

This parenting business is crazy hard! At least for me right now. The parent I am and the parent I want to be are so far apart. Yes, I'm good at encouraging art and creativity. But there's so much more to parenting than that! And when I find myself saying the same thing over and over again to Maia (generally some variation of "calm down" or "be gentle with Daphne") with no discernible result, I know that I need to improve my parenting skills.

I've been reading a few of the books that you recommended after I posted about my challenges with Maia earlier, including:

Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

and

Taming the Spirited Child: Strategies for Parenting Challenging Children Without Breaking Their Spirits by Michael H. Popkin

I think the best thing I got out of Raising Your Spirited Child was a greater understanding of the needs of introverts vs extroverts and how much this affects Maia and me. As an extrovert, Maia recharges by interacting with people (usually me, by default). As an introvert, I recharge when I am alone.

Taming the Spirited Child really clicked for me. It both perfectly describes what we are going through, yet is full of concrete parenting skills to apply. I think these skills would work for any parent, not just parents with CAPPS kids (Curious, Adventurous, Powerful, Persistent, and Sensitive). The book is full of acronyms! I'm on my second time through this book now and Harry is reading it as well.

And (a big AND), I just read How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. Wow! Why have I not read this before?! It's been around forever. Why didn't everyone tell me to read this the second I conceived? Why was this not handed out at the birth center (first kid) or the hospital (second kid). SUCH. A. GOOD. BOOK! So have you all read this already? Several of you recommended it to me when I was asking for parenting book ideas. I'm going out and buying my own copy of this one. I need it on my bookshelf!

Okay, here's my dilemma now. I'm in information overload. I feel like I just read three amazing books, filled with excellent, concrete ideas that I could use everyday and I'm already applying some of them, but there's SO MUCH that I don't remember and so much that I will probably have to practice over and over before it comes naturally.

So how do I do this? Reread the books and take notes and post them all over the house? Any ideas?

And the winner is...

The random number generator picked #88, so Lola is the winner of Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars: Grandma's Bag of Tricks by Sharon Lovejoy.

Thank you for introducing me to Sharon's books. They all look so beautiful and inspiring, I would love to win!!

Lola, I'll e-mail you directly for inscription details and your mailing address...

Storytelling through art

 

Maia's been drawing up a storm the last few days. She goes through phases, both of drawing (or not drawing) in general and of drawing realistic vs abstract images. She's still an enthusiastic scribbler! But at the moment she's drawing detailed pictures and telling elaborate stories to go with them.

In the photo above, she's telling me, "This is a mama monster scrubbing her baby monster in the tub with a yellow sponge." She went on and on and I got the gist of the rest but was too busy taking photos and writing down the first part to get it all. She said these monsters have claws and hurt the bad guys in the night but are really friendly to nice people.

And this is a picture of two volcanoes with hot lava spurting out. In between are a bunch of colored balloons rising because of the hot air.

In both instances she drew things that she's somewhat afraid of (volcanoes and monsters and nighttime) and created an interesting story to go with them. Perhaps this helps her think about and deal with her fears?

I wish I knew what her thought process was while creating these. Did the story come first or after she stepped back and examined what she had drawn? She often changes her story as she's telling it, so I'm assuming after, at least to a degree. But I don't know.