Parent Child & Infant Classes

Live Oak Waldorf School
Sweet Pea Parent-Child Program 2009-2010

Welcoming young children and their parents into a warm and beautiful environment full of play, song, meaningful work, and community

This program is designed for adults with infants and children through four years of age.  Each family attends once per week and is also invited to come on our monthly field trips to farms, forests, beaches, and other locations that exemplify the natural beauty of our region.  This program runs September through May and is offered for a fee of $285 per semester.  For more information, call 530-878-8720.  Our daily schedule, program details, and field trip information follow.

Sweet Pea Class Schedule
Monday with Jerre Whittlesey
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with Sarah Dunbar
Fall Semester: September 14 – December 17, 2009
Spring Semester: January 25 – May 13, 2010

 
9:30 Arrival and Settling-in
9:40 Work and Play
10:30 Clean up
10:35 Circle Time
10:45 Snack and Conversation
11:00 Outdoor Free Play and Parent Social Time
11:25 Puppet Story
11:30 Good-bye
 

Work and Play   The young child watches the adults in her life for cues on how to be peaceful, how to work, play, communicate, love, handle difficulties… in short she imitates everything that we do, feel, and think.  The task of parenting is huge and wonderful.  In our weekly morning together, we will take up an enjoyable, guided artistic project, so that the children have a rich environment in which to imitate and play.  Over the course of the full school-year, adult crafts will include: sewing a child-stamped handwork bag, sewing a child’s apron, knitting and felting slippers, knitting or crocheting a hat with ties, advent wreaths and candle making, doll making, embroidered valentine pouches, and involvement with the children in their crafts as needed.  No previous handcrafting experience is necessary. Observation of the children in lieu of work, especially for those with infants, is also enjoyable and welcomed and can add much to the following conversation.  There are seasonal crafts, gardening, artistic, or baking activities that the children may participate in each week as their age and interest allow.   

Circle Time   After our work and play time, we all gather in a circle and sing seasonal songs, lullabies, and nursery rhymes accompanied by simple movement games to enjoy one another’s company, develop listening and motor skills, and experience some really sweet moments of interactive connection with our children.  We sing the same songs for about eight weeks, so everyone has plenty of time to learn them.  You do not need to be a great singer to do this, as your child will delight in hearing you sing a song just for him even if it is not perfectly pitched or timed.

Conversation   As parents we also need a supportive and enriching community.  In our weekly conversations, we will have the opportunity to explore child development topics that we are in the midst of in our lives with children.  A sampling of topics are The Importance of Warmth; Nutrition; The Development and Care of the Senses; Daily, Weekly, and Seasonal Rhythms  – fostering strength and confidence in our children; Toddlers and Boundaries; Siblings; and Self-Renewal.  Topics arising out of the group’s specific needs will be addressed.     Reading material will be available each week to deepen our conversations. 

Outside Free Play and Parent Social Time   In the rhythm of our morning, an expansive breath of fresh air is vital for all.  The children get to explore the elements of nature, drinking them in through their senses to form the firm foundations of their bodies while moving freely and establishing crucial neural pathways for learning.  Parents have the opportunity to further connect with one another while watching our children discover and play.

Puppet Story   Gathering once more on the circle carpet, everyone surrounds the teacher for a short, simple nature story or nursery rhyme enacted by puppets to provide a rich storytelling experience.  The morning then ends with our good-bye song.

Monthly Field Trips
A few times each season, an optional outing for all parent-child program participants will get us out in farms and nature with our kids to experience the yearly rhythm first-hand.  Bring lunch, water, and any appropriate clothing, hats, etc.  Directions and details will be available in class each week of a trip through our monthly newsletter.  We will meet at the following locations (to be further specified) at 10:30 AM, weather permitting (carpool if possible):

August 21, 2009: Lake Tahoe @ King’s Beach
September 18: Nashi & Plums @ Pine Hill Orchards
October 16: Cows, Turkeys, Run Through Corn Stalks @ Fulcrum Farm
November 20: Mandarins @ Side Hill Citrus
February 12, 2010: Lemons @ Janet Kellman’s Orchard
March 12: Kiwi
May 7: Lavender @ Lavender Farm