Sweet Pea Parent-Child Program 2008-2009 
This program welcomes young children & their parents into a warm & beautiful environment full of play, song, meaningful work, & community.
Two Sessions -
September 9 through January 16 Fee: $285 per session
January 20 through June 5

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 walkabouts to farms, forests, beaches, and other locations that exemplify the natural beauty of our region. This program runs on the school-year schedule and is offered for a fee of $285 per semester. For more information, call 530-878-8720 or email parentchild@liveoakwaldorf.org. Our daily schedule, program details, and walkabout information follow:

Parent-Child Class Schedule Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with Sarah Dunbar

9:30 Arrival and Settling-in
9:45 Work and Play
10:20 Clean up
10:25 Ring Time
10:35 Snack and Conversation
10:50 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 they imitate everything that we do, feel, and think. The task of parenting is huge and wonderful. In our weekly morning together, we will quietly 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: knitting, candle-making, felting, puppet making, and hand sewing. 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.

Ring 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 them 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; and Self-Renewal. Topics arising out of the group’s specific needs will also 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 from out of the teacher’s story apron. The morning then ends with our good-bye song.

The Second Friday Walkabout
The second Friday of each month, an optional outing for all parent-child program participants will get us out in nature with our kids to experience the seasonal rhythm first-hand. Bring a potluck dish to share, service and water for yourselves, and any appropriate clothing, hats, etc. Directions and details will be available in class each week of a trip. We will meet at the following locations (to be further specified) at 10 AM, weather permitting (carpool if possible):

September 12, 2008: Beach play at Bridgeport
October 10: Apple picking at Farm
November 14: Fallen Leaf Walk
December 12: Bird Walk at Gray Lodge
January 9, 2009: Evergreen Forest Walk
February 13: Snow Play
March 13: TBA
April 10: Wildflower Walk
May 8: Fulcrum Farm – chicks, turkeys, cows
June 12: Cherry picking at Farm