Our Waldorf Homeschool Journey

Hi Everyone

It’s absolutely Freeeeezing here in Cape Town. We had the most stunning warm spring day last Saturday, where the whole family spent most of the day in the garden weeding vegetable beds, trimming grass, trimming back long overdue shrubs. We even managed to squeeze in a picnic at the beach for dinner that evening. And then bang Sunday was icy cold. It’s been icy and hailing on and off since then.

I must admit I’m quite happy with the cold weather as it extends our winter projects with StJohn for a bit longer. He’s just finished his first ever piece of knitting, and is due to start his rabbit project this week.

Our nature table looks a bit between seasons at the moment, as we have a weavers nest, rocks and drift wood from the beach, a small vase of flowers from the garden, and a large number of winter leaves. Not quite Spring, not quite Winter, but it feels right for now. I wonder what Rudolf Steiner would think about global warming and what it has done to our seasons?

Ahem! (So easily side tracked)Back to the reason for my blog post….Juliette being in Grade 4 now has started to learn Cross Stitch. The thinking behind this from a Steiner perspective is that the children are usually going through the difficult 9 to 10 year change, where they are taking a step towards independence and developing a sense of self. The movement, crossing over of one stitch over another helps them to get into their bodies. The crossing over action is echoed again in their Eurythmy exercises.

This 9 to 10 year change is a difficult time for kids, and I’m finding is accompanied by a definite search for firm boundaries, a begging for an even more secure environment. I’m just thankful I’ve been made aware of this time, as I would have mistaken it for pure rudeness and disrespect from Juliette. A number of her friends are being regularly punished for being disrespectful to their parents, and just downright impossible to deal with. For me I’m finding patience I never knew I had. Jules and I are talking and learning from each other as we go. That is the one reason for choosing a Steiner Waldorf Inspired Curriculum to follow. As a parent you learn as much as your child, it is an awakening that I wouldn’t trade for anything!

We are supposed to draw a picture onto graph paper (an original design, and then using the graph paper as a guide sew the pattern onto the Aida Fabric. Aida Fabric is woven in Belgium (it was the last time I looked!), and is pure cotton and the cross stitch thread I use is spun in France, the DMC range, also pure cotton.Our needles are made in England, so Juliette was having a good giggle at my expense, as I’m constantly checking items before I buy them to see if they’re local or not! So if anyone knows of any cross stitch fabric and thread made locally in South Africa, please email me!!

Anyway back to Grade 4 Cross Stitch. Juliette didn’t feel confident enough to draw her own design, so I allowed her to pick a pattern out of my many, she chose balloons. Now that she has completed it we’ll be doing our own design, possibly a small pillow with a spring theme.I’ve found it easy to teach as it’s one of my fave things to do. She has watched me since she was tiny and always wanted to do some. Now she has the chance! Look at how her First Cross Stitch Project turned out …..

I Love it! She’s so thrilled with it and now is willing to give her own design a try! Thanks everyone for all your support and always visiting. Pop in soon, and I’ll show you the knitting needles StJohn made with his Dad on Sunday. Yes! Dad can Homeschool the Waldorf Way!

Blessings as always,

Sue

Filed under: Handwork & Crafting, Waldorf Homeschooling, Homeschool on September 16th, 2008