On Rhythm and Repetition

The Dance of Life


The Dance of Sun and Moon

Of the Day and the Night

The dance of Life

Of the four Seasons

And of brighter light

The dancing Sun

Shining, lighting the way Summer fire all around us,

And within us

The rhythm of the heart

The pulse of Life

Breathing in and out

With the Universe

The importance of Rhythm and Repetition

Rhythm means repetition with variation, and it is vital and healthy for living organisms. Our bodies dance to the tune of many rhythms, all of which harmonise into one vast symphony when we are healthy. Our internal organs have a rhythm of their own but we are all in tune with our environment, the elements and the natural rhythms of life.

Children need a healthy rhythm in their lives in order to maintain their own inner rhythms.

Daily routines create in the child a sense of security and belonging; children thrive on rhythm in their lives. A rhythmic home life in the years of childhood and rhythms in their life of learning will give them something of inestimable value for life. From the basic first rhythms such as eating and sleeping to daily patterns, centring around meal times and bed times; as long as the rhythm is a familiar one, the child feels relaxed, confident and secure. Also, the transition from one activity to the other has to be gentle and slow so not to cause a sudden change.

Like the seasons, we breathe in and out and children live at the same pace and more in tune with nature than us adults. Children need to experience the qualities of the natural rhythms to build a stronger connection with nature and with themselves as individuals.

So let the child experience each waking hour of the day and the sleeping time, and the buzzing activities and the quiet times, and the day and the night, and the days of the week and the months and the seasons and the years…let the child flow between these and live and play in freedom; let the child remember and learn; let’s enrich the children’s souls.

Let the children feel safe and let them trust themselves. This will bring self confidence and support learning.






Encourage your Child's Contact with Nature. Young children are so full of life, and


they see everything as being alive--up until puberty, according to Piaget! Value your

child's outside play. Provide rain gear as well as snowsuits and go to the park. Look at

your yard from a child's perspective: where can a secret hiding place be, a garden, a

place to dig holes? Also bring nature into your home: on a table, arrange items you

have collected on walks, and change your arrangement with the seasons. Be sure to

provide opportunities for sand and water play, for planting wheat grass in spring, for

watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly.



Ways to Encourage Your Child's Creative Play


The most important thing you can do for your toddler is to "childproof" your house so

that your child can explore freely while being close to you. Set aside a low kitchen

cupboard or drawer and fill it with pots, lids, wooden spoons, measuring cups, and

other cooking items to play with. Household objects provide a much richer experience

for a child than purchased toys do. In addition, some of the following suggestions for

three to six year olds can be started with a younger child:

Create an Inviting Environment. The way toys are displayed will determine whether

or not they are played with. Putting toys on shelves each night and setting up "scenes"

on the floor or on a low table--perhaps a farmyard or several small dolls and a boat--

will invite your child to play with them. Remember that much of play is suggested by

what the child sees.

Having activity areas can also encourage play. Putting the dolls in their beds each

night and waking them up in the morning can help them be livelier companions in

play. Or you can create a kitchen area with a simple stove-sink combination--a

wooden box with a hole cut in it for a metal mixing bowl sink and painted burners.

Toy dishes do not last very long; try getting wooden bowls and small pots from a

secondhand store.

You might also create a workbench area, an art area, a costume corner. Since your

child will probably want to be near you much of the time, activity areas are best set

up in various rooms rather than off in a secluded "playroom."
A few songs and verses for a nice ring time with your children...

Now I walk in beauty


Beauty is before me,

Beauty is behind me,

Above and below me. (repeat)

Over the rainbow trail I go - On toes to 8 counts of drumbeat

Hither I wander, thither I wander -Drum and step deeply on hither, wither

Over the beautiful trial I go. - 8 counts on toes to drumbeat

(repeat)

Mother Earth's children rise in the morn

Mother Earth's children gather corn.

Dance to the wind, dance to the rain,

Dance to the Earth who gives us grain.

Mother Earth's children put feathers in their hair

Mother Earth's children string beans to wear.

Dance to the wind, dance to the rain,

Dance to the Earth who gives us grain.

Mother Earth's children walk softly as the deer,

To the hearth with the golden ear.

Dance to the wind, dance to the rain,

Dance to the Earth who gives us grain.

A little fire they will make

Bread of golden corn they'll bake.

Dance to the wind, dance to the rain,

Dance to the Earth who gives us grain.

Bread of golden corn they'll eat

Then Mother Earth's children fall fast asleep.

(humming softly) Dance to the wind, dance to the rain,

Dance to the Earth who gives us grain.

(Repeat 'Over the Rainbow Trail I go

Hither I wander, thither I wander

Over the beautiful trail I go.” between all songs

and verses, same movements, no drumming.)

My paddle's keen and bright,

Flashing like silver.

Follow the wild goose flight,

Dip, dip and swing.

Dip, dip and swing it back, flashing like silver.

Follow the wild goose flight, dip, dip and swing.

Land of the silver birch,

Home of the beaver.

Wood where the mighty moose,

Wanders at will.

Green lakes and rocky shore,

I will return once more.

Follow the wild goose flight,

Dip, dip and swing.

Dip, dip and swing it back, flashing like silver,

Follow the wild goose flight, dip, dip and swing.

(Repeat verse.)

May we all fly like eagles

Flying so-o high

Circling the Universe

On wings of pure light

o witchi ti ti

Witchi ti o oh

o witchi ti ti

Witchi ti i oh

Witchi ti i oh

Witchi ti i o oh hoh

(Repeat verse.)

Mother Earth to you we're singing,

Listen to our song.

Thanks for golden harvest bringing,

Listen as we sing to you,

Sing to you, sing to you,

Songs of rain and sunshine.

On the trail where we are going

Ever will we sing.

When the winter comes with snowing

Still our hearts will sing to you,

Sing to you, sing to you,

Songs of rain and sunshine.

(Repeat verse.)

The moon on the one hand,

The sun on the other,

The moon is my sister,

The sun is my brother.

The moon on my left,

The sun on my right,

My brother “Good morning”,

My sister “Good night”.









And in Life's noisiest hour,

There whispers still the ceaseless Love of Thee,

The heart's Self-solace and soliloquy.



You mould my Hopes, you fashion me within;

And to the leading Love-throb in the Heart

Thro' all my Being, thro' my pulse's beat;

You lie in all my many Thoughts, like Light,

Like the fair light of Dawn, or summer Eve

On rippling Stream, or cloud-reflecting Lake.



And looking to the Heaven, that bends above you,

How oft! I bless the Lot that made me love you.

The Presence of Love

Samuel Taylor Coleridge