What is special about Waldorf toys?
When I was first invited into the world of Waldorf, I noticed something was different, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I felt an immediate sense of ease and comfort.
Children must feel safe to thrive. Just as too much adult attention can send a child hiding behind their caregiver, too much detail in a toy can override a toy’s usefulness to the imagination. Waldorf toys are gentle on the senses. They are made of natural materials, have soft features, and are beautiful and soft to touch. Natural materials provide a connection to the natural world. This is a foundation of the education cycle and of rooting a child in the reality of life here on earth. The toys are made from wood, wool, silk, mohair and from collections of shells, sticks, flowers and more that the children themselves gather. These natural materials nourish a connection to the natural world and a sense of belonging for the developing child.
Another notable feature of Waldorf toys, are the dolls, they have a simple face. The strong and static face of a plastic baby doesn’t leave room for imagination. The simple face of a Waldorf doll allows the child’s own imaginative play to set the emotion of the baby. Further the soft dolls are pleasing to touch and comfortable to snuggle. In these ways, the dolls nourish the senses while allowing (rather than stimulating) imaginative play.
Ultimately, it is an environment in which children are trusted to grow through their own interaction with their own imagination. It is a place of support of the natural rhythm of life and a child’s own unique relationship to their growing world.
This year we are excited to announce that Mount Baker Preschool’s Family Dance fundraising event we will have a beautiful selection of Waldorf toys as well as several handmade items that your little one can take their chances on at our Waldorf toy raffle!
Mount Baker Preschool Candlemas
Community beeswax candle making and Mount Baker Preschool alumni mixer
Saturday, February 4th from 3-5 pm
Mount Baker Community Club
2811 Mount Rainier Drive South
Seattle, WA 98144
Get tickets at http://www.mbps-candelmas.brownpapertickets.com
Come welcome the returning light by making beeswax candles with Mount Baker Preschool! This family centered fundraiser benefits our tuition assistance fund and provides alumni an opportunity to come together. We will have premade beeswax candles available for purchase, dipping and rolling candles for everyone to make, and a molding wax station as well as a “box-fort” play area just for children. Light snacks alumni will remember from their preschool days will be provided. Candles will be available for pre-order and for sale the day of the event.
A little Background:
Candlemas is a pagan tradition that was integrated into the Catholic and Christian traditions.It marks the half way point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Traditionally, this is the time that new candles are made and set aside to cure; and the candles that were made last year are brought out for use in the coming year.
The Waldorf value of the rhythm of the natural world is the focus of this event. It marks the final days of winter and creates a still point before the coming of busy spring work. The return of the light is punctuated by the creation of light giving candles. Candlemas is a time for children and adults to relax in the warm smells of bees wax and the quiet work of creation. (The box fort room upstairs will be full of fun and physical play to counter balance the focus needed down stairs in the candle making room.)
Beeswax shines with a light that resonates with the same vibrational frequency as the sun. Beeswax candles create a more soothing light than any other candle. Beeswax cleans the air by releasing negative ions which attach to and drop dust and pollution particles to the ground. Unlike paraffin and other waxes, they are chemical free, hypo-allergenic and wonderful for people suffering with asthma.
Adventures in Pumpkin Picking
On Wednesday October 21st Mount Baker Preschool packed up and ventured outside of the city for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. We enjoyed a cold morning at the Two Brothers Pumpkin Patch at Game Haven Farm in Carnation, WA. Our trip was packed with produce, farm animals, mud and creative exploration.
We met at the barn near the parking lot and started off the morning with our morning circle and songs. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents and siblings to participate in the daily rhythms of our preschool. After a hearty snack we walked down to a field full of ripe pumpkins and squash. The children ran around excitedly choosing a pumpkin and hauling it over to our classes’ wheelbarrows to be purchased.
Through independent play and discovery, we observed the wide variety of produce in both color, shape, and size. We also had plenty of time to get muddy, climb on top of the giant pumpkin, and check out a pretty realistic looking scarecrow.
After the pumpkins were weighed and paid for we headed back up to the barn to visit with the baby calves. Our children were allowed to pet them, and a few even helped the farmer bottle feed the calves.
Afterwards we ended our day with a picnic lunch, which served as an opportunity for building community as families in our preschool took the time to become better acquainted. Overall it was a great time of hands on learning, play and fellowship for all involved.