Please visit my new blog address at The Nature of Nurture

That's where you will find the up to date information on my classes in the DC metro area.
(and occasionally my thoughts on infants, toddlers, parenting, Waldorf ECE, Pikler, RIE® etc.....

In January at Acorn Hill:

Announcing a New 6 week Parent Infant II class!

6 weeks $148.00 Fridays 1:30-3:00 Jan 8, 15, 22, 29,  Feb 12, 19 

(No class Feb. 5)

This is an added class in response to many requests! 6 Friday afternoons of mindful observation and conversation in an environment supportive of babies free movement, play, and natural abilities.  Parents can be with their babies in a relaxing, natural setting that nurtures their parenting intuition.  Classes are based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner, Emmi Pikler, and current research on child development. To register, call Acorn Hill, 301 565 2282 or send in this registration from

 

New Parent Infant II class

Holiday Gifts

"Black Friday", "Cyber Monday." More stuff is about to invade!!!

Parents in my classes are expressing concerns about how to handle the holidays--all the gifts that come from well meaning family members. They also are wondering how to have a more simple, meaningful observance of the time of year that is about light in the darkness. Christmas, Hannukah, Solstice. So below are just a few suggestions and quotes....

• "Speak to our major bearers of clutter (I mean gifts), extended family and especially Grandparents about your wish for simplicity. Thank them for raising you in such a way that led you to make conscious parenting choices, that they gave you the strength to not be manipulated by marketers and the morals to not confuse love and care with “stuff”. Framing a conversation about your parenting values first takes the potential sting out of a request to keep the gifts simple".--Kim John Payne  Simplicity Parenting

• A good guideline, especially for babies is "Passive object, active baby" and to avoid the "active object, passive baby"

• ask your family to give 'experiences' , take your toddler for a walk in the woods, a walk through the Zoo, or help pay for one of the parent toddler classes....

• ask for only homemade/handmade gifts instead of participating in the commercial frenzy that happens at the holidays

• have a 'recycling' family gift exchange-- give and receive something that you or family members own and have enjoyed.

When looking ahead at the celebrations, spend some time now each day--maybe just a few minutes, contemplating what the holiday means to you --what is the essential, deeper meaning that nurtures you --gives you renewal?  Then spend some time in reverie--how to bring that in a simple way to your family? 

Winter Classes at Acorn Hill Registering Now

Parent Infant and Parent Toddler classes blending Waldorf and Pikler/RIE approaches to the birth to three years. "Come experience the Joy"!

Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery--Silver Spring, MD starts Dec. 3

Parent Infant: 11:30-12:45 8 weeks $195

--Thursdays non-mobile babies 6 weeks to creeping (Parent Infant I)

--Fridays mobile babies crawling to 15 months  (Parent Infant II)

registration and information:
acorn hill

 Parent Toddler:  Thursday or Friday morning

9-11

10 weeks $530 15 months-2 years with parent

Announcing Fall Classes starting in September

Fall 2015 Parent Infant guidance and Parent Toddler classes 

Starting in September--enroll now these classes have been filling quickly

Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery--Silver Spring, MD starts Sept. 9

For registration: acorn hill 

 Parent Toddler: 9-11 Thursday or Friday morning  10 weeks $530 15months-2years with parent
Parent Infant: 11:30-12:45 8 weeks $195
--Thursdays non-mobile babies 6 weeks to creeping (Parent Infant I)
--Fridays mobile babies crawling to 15 months  (Parent Infant II)
registration and information:
acorn hill

Washington Waldorf School--Bethesda, MD Starts Sept. 23

For registration: Washington Waldorf

Star Garden Parent Toddler 10 weeks $450
 10 months to 2 years with parent
Tuesday 9:45-11:30
Wednesday 8:45-10:30

Moon Garden Parent Infant 6 weeks $200 (you can sign up and pay for 2 6 week sections)
6 weeks to 9 months with parent

registration and information:
washinton waldorf

The world is good

“The World is Good” and how Nature can help us.

What I know as a Waldorf early childhood educator is that in the first 7 years, a child needs to have a foundational 'knowing' that the world is good. When something bad happens, we focus on the helpers—like fire fighters in a fire, for example. Since we know young children learn through imitation—a deep imitation, it is on us to somehow get to that inner sense ourselves that “the world is good” .

It is not always easy! Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by what is going on in the news.” The world? Not so good,” I think.

When I feel that overwhelm, I have to remember that I work with young babies and toddlers who are just coming into this world. They are just discovering things like stones, trees, bark, mud, flowers, worms, honey bees, butterflies. What a wondrous, magical place this world is!

I tell the parents I work with that if their child is out of sorts and really fussy, try going outside. I say “Mother Nature is a good mother”. 
When I step outside and smell the air, feel the breeze, regard the clouds, Its like I slip into a new gear--the rhythm of Nature, of the seasons. Chronological time suspends and a sense of well being arrives. I experience the mothering of Nature.  This is the foundational feeling that the world is good. This is what we can give our children.

Try working a regular 'walk' into your schedule with your toddler. I put quotes on walk because this kind of nature walk is  about what they discover on the way so you may only make it a half a block and back!

Be childlike discover nature with your child. Cultivate a sense of wonder with her. Rediscover that the world is good.

Rachel Carson
"If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

screen free week

Screen Free Week May 4-10--

 Spring Fair at Acorn Hill May 9^th!

HI parents,

May 4-10 is Screen Free week, and I invite you to go screen free for the week with me! What that means is limiting screen time to necessary work activities, but no entertainment/social media screens. I have also had parents in my classes devise plans like only checking phone for texts once every (?) hours, having a (paper)pad and pen handy to jot down what they want to 'Google' and setting aside an hour in the evening for that. The goal is to bring awareness to our use of screens--what is healthy for us and our relationships.  
Screen Free Week

As Kim John Payne says:To be clear, I am not anti-screen, but I am passionately pro human relationships and family connections.
pro human, not anti screen

It just so happens that May 9^th is Spring Fair at Acorn Hill. A lovely screen free event!

Come join us!

Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery

enlightening facts:

There is no research to support the idea that children need to be exposed to technology early in order to be successful in at high tech world. (Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood)

Most adults check there phone 140 times per day!

No screens for at least one hour before bed improves sleep in adults (we already knew this was so for children).