March 25th, 2020
“In my heart shines the power of the sun
In my soul lives the warmth of the world
I will breathe the power of the sun
I will feel the warmth of the world
May the power of the sun envelope me
May the warmth of the world penetrate me.”
- Rudolf Steiner
Our school, along with many other schools and organizations, has been met with a myriad of decisions. At the heart of each decision lies human striving, grace, flexibility, and the chance to discover how to be in a community when a call for isolation and distance dominates.
May we all take this opportunity to care for one another.
Join Our Online Community Spaces:
Instagram www.instagram.com/haltonwaldorfschool
HWS Community Hub - Facebook Group
Free Play Indoors and Out Free, undirected play is critical for a child’s healthy development. We recognize this might be more difficult for some children without their social group. Give them access to open-ended playthings and space in which to make a mess, make noise and explore the world through play. Sand, dirt and water with some old pots, scoops and shovels can provide hours of fun outdoors. Designate a spot in your yard in which your child can dig and make a nice mess! Fill a large bowl or plastic bin with warm soapy water and a few different metal cups or bowls. A large empty box can provide hours of play ideas indoors. Minimize toys available and rotate them every week or two if needed. Get them started with a play idea and then start working on something tangible of your own (like knitting, gardening or housework) nearby. That way they will feel you are available if they need you, but you will not be responsible for entertaining them.
Parent Resources
Troubling Times: Anxiety Rising, Schools Closing and Way More Time At Home With The Kids (Simplicity Parenting, 5-part audio series)
Take a virtual museum tour The world’s best galleries and museums are just a few clicks away with Google Arts & Culture, a platform that allows you to take digital tours of legendary places from the Guggenheim in New York City to the Louvre in Paris. We also love the free online tours at the British Museum, The Louvre, The Smithsonian and The Vatican, Closer to home, The Virtual Museum of Canada bills itself as the largest digital source of stories and experiences shared by Canada’s museums and heritage organizations. You can even see iconic art pieces up close. The best part? It's all free. Cook meals from your favourite destinations Travel and eating are one of life's greatest matches, so what better way to satisfy your wanderlust than by feasting on food from a place you're longing to return to or to see for the first time? Explore the globe from your kitchen by sourcing recipes from the corner of the world you're craving. You can also take online cooking classes such as Nonna Live, where you'll learn to make classics from an Italian grandma. Free lessons have cropped up during this downtime, including daily Delish.com cooking videos for parents and children, and Kitchen Quarantine, Instagram lessons from Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura. Learn a new language Duolingo allows you to spend just a few minutes a day learning a foreign language, in a fun game style. It’s free and there’s even an app for kids. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites It’s not quite the same as being there, but you can visit some of the world’s most celebrated heritage sites without leaving home. The UNESCO website has a list of 1,121 sites that are considered to have “outstanding universal value.” Many of these cultural sites, such as India's Taj Mahal, England's Stonehenge and Peru's Machu Picchu, have their own virtual tours that enable you to see detailed panoramic images while reading all about these fascinating places to appreciate why they are so important.
To avoid isolation and self-focus, shift your attention and concern to the needs of others.
“It’s a time to expand children’s circles or concern, to focus children on those people who are especially vulnerable to this virus, including senior citizens and economically disadvantaged populations — people many children may not think about.” Read the full article here.
