Rhythm of Life
We have had a wonderful first few weeks of the new educational year in our beautiful learning garden! We love our home and community!!
In the beginning of the year we are laying the foundation of our learning community as we tune in to our daily rhythm and co-create a culture of kindness.
A nurturing environment that is rhythmic in nature supports a strong foundation that is essential to healthy child development. Predictable rhythms through the day, week and year provide security and a sense of the interrelationships and wholeness of life.
Our daily rhythm alternates periods of concentration and expansion, as if in a breathing rhythm where there is inhaling and exhaling. In the inhaling or breathing-in phase the child directs their attention to an activity that relates them to themselves (drawing, water painting, eating…). In the exhaling or breathing-out period, the child relates to the surrounding world (free play, gross motor movements, guided activities etc.). For each breathing-in period the child needs a breathing-out period and so a pattern and balance is established.
In our weekly rhythm, teachers strive to give a rhythmic structure to individual lessons as well as reflect on a subject we explored the previous days and follow it with the presentation of a new element. Whatever has been taken in one day is remembered and reflected on throughout the week. This builds a growing rhythm and a deeper sense of understanding of each subject.
Children are in deep harmony with nature and our seasonal rhythm connects us more to the natural world. Nature is a world of rhythms - the rising and setting of the sun, the flowering of trees, the change of seasons... when we provide supporting rhythms for children, we harmonize their being, thereby aiding the development of their inner rhythms of sleep, digestion, circulation etc. Monthly themes, block study, seasonal festivals and celebrations reflect and support our connection to the seasonal rhythm.
We highly recommend reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne for inspiration to create more rhythm in your children's life at home!
“Children depend on the rhythmic structure of the day–on its predictability, its regularity, its pulse…. By surrounding a young child with a sense of rhythm and ritual, you can help them order their physical, emotional, and intellectual view of the world. As they come to understand, with regularity, that ‘this is what we do', they feel solid under their feet, a platform for growth. Such a stable foundation can facilitate their mapmaking: the connectedness that they are charting in their brains, in relation to other people, and in their emerging worldview.” (Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne)
We also recommend the blog Rhythms of Play for more inspiration on how to create healthy rhythm and routine in your life at home.
In the beginning of the year we are laying the foundation of our learning community as we tune in to our daily rhythm and co-create a culture of kindness.
A nurturing environment that is rhythmic in nature supports a strong foundation that is essential to healthy child development. Predictable rhythms through the day, week and year provide security and a sense of the interrelationships and wholeness of life.
Our daily rhythm alternates periods of concentration and expansion, as if in a breathing rhythm where there is inhaling and exhaling. In the inhaling or breathing-in phase the child directs their attention to an activity that relates them to themselves (drawing, water painting, eating…). In the exhaling or breathing-out period, the child relates to the surrounding world (free play, gross motor movements, guided activities etc.). For each breathing-in period the child needs a breathing-out period and so a pattern and balance is established.
In our weekly rhythm, teachers strive to give a rhythmic structure to individual lessons as well as reflect on a subject we explored the previous days and follow it with the presentation of a new element. Whatever has been taken in one day is remembered and reflected on throughout the week. This builds a growing rhythm and a deeper sense of understanding of each subject.
Children are in deep harmony with nature and our seasonal rhythm connects us more to the natural world. Nature is a world of rhythms - the rising and setting of the sun, the flowering of trees, the change of seasons... when we provide supporting rhythms for children, we harmonize their being, thereby aiding the development of their inner rhythms of sleep, digestion, circulation etc. Monthly themes, block study, seasonal festivals and celebrations reflect and support our connection to the seasonal rhythm.
We highly recommend reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne for inspiration to create more rhythm in your children's life at home!
“Children depend on the rhythmic structure of the day–on its predictability, its regularity, its pulse…. By surrounding a young child with a sense of rhythm and ritual, you can help them order their physical, emotional, and intellectual view of the world. As they come to understand, with regularity, that ‘this is what we do', they feel solid under their feet, a platform for growth. Such a stable foundation can facilitate their mapmaking: the connectedness that they are charting in their brains, in relation to other people, and in their emerging worldview.” (Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne)
We also recommend the blog Rhythms of Play for more inspiration on how to create healthy rhythm and routine in your life at home.
Here's a look at how we learn through rhythm at the Children's Garden:
Daily Rhythm
Our daily rhythm is a gentle guide to the flow of our day. We do not adhere to a rigid time structure for the day but we do follow the same order so there is a natural predictability of what comes next. This natural predictability helps promote positive energy from the children - if they know what is coming next they feel more secure and are more at ease with the flow of the day:
Art Projects and Morning Play
Circle
Snack
Outside Free Play and Guided Activity
Dance Party!
Lunch (Morning Group)
Special Classes: Yoga/Mindfulness, Music, Cooperative Games, or Spanish
Story Time and Closing Circle
Pick Up
With all the new children this year we have been focusing a lot on our rhythm, creating a culture of kindness, and exploring the different learning areas we offer to create a solid platform for growth.
Art Projects and Morning Play
Circle
Snack
Outside Free Play and Guided Activity
Dance Party!
Lunch (Morning Group)
Special Classes: Yoga/Mindfulness, Music, Cooperative Games, or Spanish
Story Time and Closing Circle
Pick Up
With all the new children this year we have been focusing a lot on our rhythm, creating a culture of kindness, and exploring the different learning areas we offer to create a solid platform for growth.
Art as a Process
As children arrive we have invitations to engage in art laid out for them. The first few weeks of school we have been getting the children familiar with the different art mediums we will have available throughout the year and learning how to treat our materials properly. Children have been practicing with proper scissor use, gentle hands with our paint brushes, colored pencils, and crayons. As children are learning about their new school spaces and what is available, projects have been simple and set as an introduction. Process art is great for children's development and expression. Additionally, all art helps build hand-eye coordination and fine and gross motor skills.
Painting art rocks!
Nature Mandalas
Making nature paint with green and purple basil!
We LOVE multi-age learning!
Circle Time
In our opening circle we unite as one group, connect with each other through singing and various greeting activities and move our bodies in brain smart ways that enhance our ability to learn.
During circle time we take the time to say hello to each individual child and to hear something each child wants to share with their friends. They are not required to participate if they are not feeling up for it, but it offers a sweet way for the kids to start their day and get into the flow of connecting to one another.
During morning circles we do a little bit of yoga to wake our bodies up and get in tune with bodies for the day. We do breathing exercises and learn how to slow down and take big, deep breaths that bring us back into our bodies and awaken our senses. Additionally, the children are beginning to learn the basics of meditating and sitting in silence (for about a min or so) during our morning circles.
During circle time we take the time to say hello to each individual child and to hear something each child wants to share with their friends. They are not required to participate if they are not feeling up for it, but it offers a sweet way for the kids to start their day and get into the flow of connecting to one another.
During morning circles we do a little bit of yoga to wake our bodies up and get in tune with bodies for the day. We do breathing exercises and learn how to slow down and take big, deep breaths that bring us back into our bodies and awaken our senses. Additionally, the children are beginning to learn the basics of meditating and sitting in silence (for about a min or so) during our morning circles.
Harvesting Tulsi (Holi Basil) from our magic fairy herb garden
Drinking Tulsi Tea!
Learning to do deep breathing!
Outdoor Free Play
In outdoor free play the children play freely with one another and explore their natural environment. This gives them the space to form friendships and bonds in a deeper way with each other. They are given the opportunity to explore and invite in their imagination and develop skills in gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, independence and so much more!
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Woodworking in the Tinkering Shed
We are beyond excited to introduce the new tinkering shed into our preschool space. Thank you to all the parents who dedicated their time and energy to making this sweet vision a reality.
The children have been hard at work with learning new skills in sawing, drilling, safety, clamping, etc. We are excited to begin working on projects in the shed that will be brought back into the classroom setting and the children get to enjoy the fruits of their very own labor. This month we began with introducing the children to the new skills and working on the safety of the space.
We have come up with some safety precautions such as:
(1) always wear your safety glasses in the tinkering shed
(2) shoes are required to enter the woodworking station
(3) take turns patiently
(4) limiting the number of kids in the shed at any given moment
(5) give your friends space when they are working with tools and stand 4 feet back from where they are working
This month we began a project that the children will get to enjoy in their classroom play. They have been sawing small branch pieces that we will write letters on for them to learn their letter recognition and begin to put together some words.
The children have been hard at work with learning new skills in sawing, drilling, safety, clamping, etc. We are excited to begin working on projects in the shed that will be brought back into the classroom setting and the children get to enjoy the fruits of their very own labor. This month we began with introducing the children to the new skills and working on the safety of the space.
We have come up with some safety precautions such as:
(1) always wear your safety glasses in the tinkering shed
(2) shoes are required to enter the woodworking station
(3) take turns patiently
(4) limiting the number of kids in the shed at any given moment
(5) give your friends space when they are working with tools and stand 4 feet back from where they are working
This month we began a project that the children will get to enjoy in their classroom play. They have been sawing small branch pieces that we will write letters on for them to learn their letter recognition and begin to put together some words.
Child: "Can I drill a hole in my wood cookie and make it into necklace?"
Teacher: "Yes you may, let's use our hand crank wood drill!!"
Teacher: "Yes you may, let's use our hand crank wood drill!!"
Gardening and Cooking
We absolutely love when the children help harvest vegetables and herbs from the garden for lunch. They love it to! Before lunch is made we have a small group of children collect vegetables and herbs from the garden and then we head to the kitchen to make lunch together!
We have been enjoying so many delicious cherry tomatoes, green beans, and basil from our garden! The children even help feed our bunnies with greens grown right here on the land. They have also been picking lots of apples and pears right off the tree for "dessert" after lunch. We are so excited to source as much as we can for our lunches from our land here at Children's Garden. It has been fun to talk to the children about growing your own food and giving them the opportunity to be a part of the harvesting and prepping process.
This month in kitchen the children have helped make and bake up some delicious and healthy muffins to share with their friends, chop up veggies for lunches, and make some quesadillas!
We have been enjoying so many delicious cherry tomatoes, green beans, and basil from our garden! The children even help feed our bunnies with greens grown right here on the land. They have also been picking lots of apples and pears right off the tree for "dessert" after lunch. We are so excited to source as much as we can for our lunches from our land here at Children's Garden. It has been fun to talk to the children about growing your own food and giving them the opportunity to be a part of the harvesting and prepping process.
This month in kitchen the children have helped make and bake up some delicious and healthy muffins to share with their friends, chop up veggies for lunches, and make some quesadillas!
Planting sorrel and winter spinach seeds with Ben
Special Classes
After lunch we have special days that we offer special classes. Some of these specials are music classes from Tia Wryn and Spanish classes from Briana Banana. We love these classes, and so do the children!
They get to sing and dance in both English and Spanish. The children get the opportunity to play instruments and dive into the realm of music with song, vibration, and happy moving dance feet. Additionally, they are learning words and counting in Spanish and hopefully you will hear some of these teachings come home with them! The early years are a perfect time to introduce the rhythm of music and new languages to their developing brains.
They get to sing and dance in both English and Spanish. The children get the opportunity to play instruments and dive into the realm of music with song, vibration, and happy moving dance feet. Additionally, they are learning words and counting in Spanish and hopefully you will hear some of these teachings come home with them! The early years are a perfect time to introduce the rhythm of music and new languages to their developing brains.
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Nurturing a Culture of Kindness
The Kindness Jar is a practice that helps us to spread kindness in our community. Any time we see someone else doing something kind or helpful we put a pompom in the jar. What you focus on grows and a momentum of kindness, generosity, and helpfulness is growing fast. Once the jar is full of pompoms we are throwing a kindness party to celebrate growing kindness in the world!
This year we also began a practice of the kindness chain. When friends see their friends engaging in acts of kindness they can take a moment to acknowledge the kind act, it gets written on a strip of paper, and it gets added to the kindness chain, which is strung across our classroom. This helps children have a visual on how kindness spreads kindness and grows, as well as encouraging them to notice the kindness already around us.
This year we also began a practice of the kindness chain. When friends see their friends engaging in acts of kindness they can take a moment to acknowledge the kind act, it gets written on a strip of paper, and it gets added to the kindness chain, which is strung across our classroom. This helps children have a visual on how kindness spreads kindness and grows, as well as encouraging them to notice the kindness already around us.
We learned about the Appeal of the Nobel Laureates where Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, and other Nobel Prize Winners created the Better World Pledge with this Kindness Kids Adventure.
As we listened to the story we created paintings of acts of kindness and talked about a kid-friendly version of the pledge:
1. Be Kind - I pledge to respect people that are different, and treat people and animals with kindness and fairness.
2. Be Peaceful - I pledge to find peaceful ways to work out my problems.
3. Share with others - I pledge to share my time to help out in my community to make life better for others.
4. Listen to understand. I pledge to allow others to express their point of view; to find win-win solutions to problems so that both sides can win; and 'agree to disagree' if we can't come to an agreement.
5. Preserve the planet - I pledge to practice good environmental habits like recycling and helping to protect the earth and its habitats.
1. Be Kind - I pledge to respect people that are different, and treat people and animals with kindness and fairness.
2. Be Peaceful - I pledge to find peaceful ways to work out my problems.
3. Share with others - I pledge to share my time to help out in my community to make life better for others.
4. Listen to understand. I pledge to allow others to express their point of view; to find win-win solutions to problems so that both sides can win; and 'agree to disagree' if we can't come to an agreement.
5. Preserve the planet - I pledge to practice good environmental habits like recycling and helping to protect the earth and its habitats.
Our Community Agreements
We have had many conversations with all the groups of how can we create a healthy, fun, and safe learning community for all here at the Children's Garden. What are the agreements we can create that will help us grow from a "me" to a "we" community?
Well, the kids had ALOT of ideas in response to this. Some of the ideas that were offered from the children were: no hitting, be nice, listen to the teacher, take turns, take care of the toys, listen to each other, no running inside, no yelling inside, don't grab toys from each other, tell a teacher if you are hurt or scared, use your big voice, gentle hands, be generous, keep the classroom tidy so kids don't trip...
From all our conversations we were able to consolidate all of our thoughts into 3 simple positive agreements:
Be Safe
Be Kind
Listening Ears
To put all of our love and energy into our agreements we created a collaborative art piece with all the groups which we then turned into a community reminder. Do we forget our agreements sometimes? Of course we do! We are humans :) We can gently remind one another and learn to adjust from a "me" to a "we".
We have had many conversations with all the groups of how can we create a healthy, fun, and safe learning community for all here at the Children's Garden. What are the agreements we can create that will help us grow from a "me" to a "we" community?
Well, the kids had ALOT of ideas in response to this. Some of the ideas that were offered from the children were: no hitting, be nice, listen to the teacher, take turns, take care of the toys, listen to each other, no running inside, no yelling inside, don't grab toys from each other, tell a teacher if you are hurt or scared, use your big voice, gentle hands, be generous, keep the classroom tidy so kids don't trip...
From all our conversations we were able to consolidate all of our thoughts into 3 simple positive agreements:
Be Safe
Be Kind
Listening Ears
To put all of our love and energy into our agreements we created a collaborative art piece with all the groups which we then turned into a community reminder. Do we forget our agreements sometimes? Of course we do! We are humans :) We can gently remind one another and learn to adjust from a "me" to a "we".
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Sweet friends
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