THE WALDORF WAY: PLAYGROUP

Every Wednesday morning for the past 10 weeks, Everly and I have been a part of a special little community, a Waldorf playgroup. A Waldorf playgroup follows a gentle rhythm of in and out, of indoor and outdoor play, focused activities and free play, where the children are guided through transitions by familiar songs and rituals. It has been a lovely journey for the both of us, being our first structured mums 'n bubs type activity. Last week was the final session for the year, so I took along my camera to capture our morning...

The morning starts with a warm welcome and inside free play. Baskets and shelves full of wonderful things to spark the imagination are available to explore - wooden tree blocks, pinecones and shells, tiny felt gnomes and knitted animals, coloured play cloths and handmade Waldorf dolls. Everly always gravitates to a small bookshelf filled with tiny teacups, little woven baskets, silver spoons and a miniature cookset.

Then it's time for morning tea. Hands are washed in warm water and lavender oil before sitting at the table. The children hold hands, a candle is lit and a blessing is sung. Then they tuck into their little bowls of cut fruit. (Being the final week, morning tea was instead shared on plates outside.)

 


Next is the part that Everly looks forward to the most - bread dough! She dons her apron and sits eagerly at the table. Flour is sprinkled for each child ('Sunbeams are falling for Everly...'), the dough (already prepared earlier by playgroup leader, Lila) is tipped out the bowl and kneaded, then small balls of dough are rolled along the table ('Pass it along, pass it along, pass it along the table...') until each child has their own piece to work with (this requires a lot of patience on Everly's behalf!).

We sing as the children knead and pound the dough ('Look at the baker, what is she doing? Kneading dough, she's kneading dough...'). We help them form it into whatever they wish - perhaps a snake or a flower or a plait, and then carefully place them on floured trays to be baked in the oven.

Here is proof Everly loves playing with the bread dough. (And also proof [can you spot the flour around her mouth?] of her other favourite past-time - eating the raw dough!)

While the bread bakes, the children play outside. They say hello to Steve the turtle in the pond, run around on the grass, and play with the spades, saucepans, teapots and spoons in the sandpit. Soon it's time to come inside for story-time - a simple story, told using handmade puppets and props - followed by songs and finger rhymes.

By this point the room is filled with the delicious smell of warm bread. Children clamber onto chairs as bread rolls are sliced in half and spread with lashings of butter. Suddenly it is silent as they all happily devour their bread, their very own creations.

It has been an absolute delight to watch Everly settle in to playgroup over the last couple of months. Finding her place there - slowly, slowly, a little more each week. Learning how to interact with the other children. Making new friends. Following the rhythm. Trying new things. Growing as a little person. I think myself extremely lucky to have found this group - the perfect environment for Everly to play and learn, and such lovely Mums whom I have been so blessed to form friendships with. Needless to say both Everly and I are looking forward to Term 1 next year!

A big thank you to Lila, Tori, Abby and Danni for allowing me to capture this special moment in time for my family, and for allowing me to photograph your gorgeous children!