The feeling is very hard to describe, but the adrenaline is high, I am sure, for the little ones starting school; the first day at school, mixed with curiousity, excitment, fear, anticipation! It is the same for me and for lots of adults too, I believe. So many of us, even without children, start a new course or a new job, for most of parents with school children is a blessing to just get back to a routine; then we will know what day of the week it is and if it is swimming day or pizza day, or maths homework day!
For the parents of little children routine is more than a blessing, it is vital! For routine shapes our days and routine is repetition and a comfortable space where the children feel cared for an secure.Some of the things we do daily, like dressing and feeding and doing things in a certain way and eating food at the same time, at the table, playing and going out, seeing the same friends, growing together, learning and sharing; this is also part of how the little child relates to others than himself, to his family and to the community. That is why I take my children (my daughter, and the children in my care) to regular local things: the library, the market, the playground and a few weekly groups. I don't have a favourite, but if I had to choose it would be the outdoor group in Oxleas Woods; I run this group myself, but I also have been taking the children there before when other Acorns leaders run it. it is such a lovely thing to walk and discover and sing and play in the woods, and to share a picnic. Whatever the weather I go armed with wellies and waterproofs and enjoy seeing dewdrops on spiderwebs, musrhooms on fallen tree trunks, birds nesting,bluebells and much much more, each season comes with its beauty, even the winter is special with the bare branches and the vast skies with amazing views on top of the hill above the meadow.
because of my routine and schedule with the children I have changed the day back to the original Outdoor Session day - to Friday, I hope to see the regulars and perhaps newcomers too!
For details go to http://www.greenwichacorns.org.uk/outdoor-pch-group.html
Then, I also take the children to Jo's group on Monday am at The Conservatoire Blackheath,which is a lovely group for 0 to 4 years old where we create and imagine and interact with the teacher's lovely stories.
Morgana, my daughter goes to drawing and art lessons there too, she loves it!
I run a Parent and Child group session indoors too, as you all know already, and it has been such a lovely place for all of us to learn, grow and share; the way I see the group is a place for the parents to do some domestic, creative work for us, for the spirit of togetherness and of the community, then the children enter free play and relax in this calm environment, where the adults are busy working and interacting, without directing or actively teaching, but just being there and using song, gesture and a lot of care.The rhythm of the session is always the same so the children feel safe and learn with repetition.
A lot more info on
http://www.greenwichacorns.org.uk/timetable.html
http://www.greenwichacorns.org.uk/outdoor-pch-group.html
I advise all of you to book now as places fill very quickly!
So,off to the shoe shop for Morgana's needs her new season's shoes!
xxx
Susannah
Some songs and verses I sing or say to the children:
When we come to the ring and greet each other I sing
Good morning Dear Earth,
Good morning Dear Sun,
Good morning Dear Stones, Stick and Flowers, every one,
Good morning Dear Creatures and Birds in the Tree
Good morning to You and Good Morning to me!
Down is the earth
Up is the Sky
Here are my Friends
And here am I: two eyes to see, two ears to hear and two feet to walk and run;
Here are my hands
Give yours to mine
Good Morning everyone!
When we come to the table for the meal I sing a blessing:
For the golden corn and the apples on the trees,
For the golden butter and the honey for our tea,
For fruits and nuts and berries that grow along the way,
For birds and bees and flowers, we give our thanks today.
For the golden butter and the honey for our tea,
For fruits and nuts and berries that grow along the way,
For birds and bees and flowers, we give our thanks today.
Blessings on our meal and our family.
Blessings on the Blossoms,
Blessings on the fruits,
Blessings on the leaves and stems,
And blessings on the roots
(hold hands)
Blessings on the food!
In my ring time I sing about apples and squirrels and the falling leaves and the whirling wind and in my storytime I sing:
Mother earth, mother earth,
Take or seed and give it birth.
Father sun, gleam and glow
Until the roots begin to grow.
Sister rain, sister rain
Shed thy tears to swell the grain;
Brother wind, breathe and blow
Then the blade green will grow.
Earth and sun and wind and rain
Turn to gold the living grain.
September activities in my group will be gathering leaves and sticks making boats out of bark and leaves in the woods; indoors i will be scrubbing, cleaning, then grinding flour and making bread.
Some songs will be about The Miller, and the Wind and The Mill
When the wind blows
Then the mill goes
When the wind drops
Then the mill stops
Clickety - clackety,
Clickety - clackety,
Clickety - clackety,
Clack!
~~~
Blow, wind, blow! and go, mill, go!
That the miller may grind his corn;
That the baker may take it,
And into rolls make it,
And send us some hot in the morn.
At story time I like to talk about nature and one of my favourite story is the Squirrel nutkin which I simplify but it helps to be inspired by the classics like
The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes
And the song goes like this:
Squirrel Nutkin with its coat so brown
Quite the loveliest in London Town
Two bright eyes for him to see
Where the sweetest nuts will be
( change London Town to Woodland Town for the woods)
I love squirrels and the children see them everywhere so it is part of their daily life!
Happy end of Summer/early Autumn to you all!
Susannah
Lampshade made of tazzine da caffe'
