The Children's Stoneman House

The festivities have begun! 🌸🥚🐇💫 “The wind told the grasses And the grasses told the trees. The trees told the bushes, And the bushes told the bees. The bees told the robin, And the robin sang out clear: Wake up! Wake up! Spring is here!” This poem-turned-song is the children’s current circle time favorite & I have to say, I just love it🌱 https://www.instagram.com/p/BwYUiSfFTHs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zn802upy2qv1

Throughout the year we celebrate festivals to connect us with the cycles of nature, establish a yearly rhythm for the children, and strengthen our community. Michaelmas is the first festival of our school year. This ancient festival is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days, and celebrates harvest, human courage, and the triumph of light over darkness.. As the days get colder and shorter, we come together to give thanks, celebrate the fruits of summer and make ourselves strong in the face of the oncoming winter. Michaelmas challenges us to strive for balance between that part of us which belongs to nature, and the other part, which strives for goals that are not to be found in our “human nature”.  Through our own efforts (“with sword and with shield”) we discover new inner strength that can help us grow towards life and light. The task we each have of “casting out the dragons” can become very real in our lives whenever we wish to take a new step on our inner journey, to raise ourselves a little above our nature, to overcome the intractability of the hidden dragon in our own beings. Cheers to conquering our individual inner 🐉 dragons and celebrating the light in our lives so that it may glow brighter and brighter in us, with us, for us, and for those in our lives! #courage #kindness #raisingourselves #raisingourselvesaboveourownnature #waldorf #hiddendragons #naturetable (at Laurel, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoKSnt2HYUw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lbe7sujh74xh

A child’s creativity will grow if nurtured and they will most definitely practice what they see exemplified in daily life! It brings me joy when the children dive into and focus on their art and expressive mediums. Oh sweet #earlychildhoodeducation #waldorf #playschool #magicofchildhood (at Laurel, Virginia)

On the art table today 🌈💫🌞

🌸 A Solstice Blessing 🌞 🌿Small plants, leaves and buds, growing in the soil. O fiery sun, may your rays of light and warmth bless us with abundance, and allow these plants to blossom with life.🌱 (at Laurel, Virginia)

When children discover that blue and pink create purple by following their curiosities. And then there is the excitement of discovering the color you have created is the same color of the cape that you love to wear, while singing and dancing around the house inside and out each day! Pure magic! I love to celebrate life’s simple treasures. This is what childhood should be like. Children should not have to worry about their safety or fear the security of their daily live’s. Children need family and they need a stable environment where they can be who they are and discover the world through their senses and curiosities. My heart goes out to all of the children and families separated at the boarder. It’s beyond disappointing that such an event could occur. While I try to keep this Instagram account focusing on the beauty in life, I feel that I need to state where I stand on this matter. We do not support what is happening to these families. These children, these mothers, these fathers, these brothers, these sisters. My life is focused on the healthy development of the children I work with. I cannot imagine any other profession being of greater importance. I think about these children being taken from their parents and being imprisoned. It is not Ok. It is child abuse. #imaginativeplay #playschool #waldorfeducation #earlychildhoodeducation #imaginativeplay #magicofchildhood

When children discover that blue and pink create purple by following their curiosities. And then there is the excitement of discovering the color you have created is the same color of the cape that you love to wear, while singing and dancing around the house inside and out each day! Pure magic! I love to celebrate life’s simple treasures. This is what childhood should be like. Children should not have to worry about their safety or fear the security of their daily live’s. Children need family and they need a stable environment where they can be who they are and discover the world through their senses and curiosities. My heart goes out to all of the children and families separated at the boarder. It’s beyond disappointing that such an event could occur. While I try to keep this Instagram account focusing on the beauty in life, I feel that I need to state where I stand on this matter. We do not support what is happening to these families. These children, these mothers, these fathers, these brothers, these sisters. My life is focused on the healthy development of the children I work with. I cannot imagine any other profession being of greater importance. I think about these children being taken from their parents and being imprisoned. It is not Ok. It is child abuse. #imaginativeplay #playschool #waldorfeducation #earlychildhoodeducation #imaginativeplay #magicofchildhood

Creating worlds within worlds, then having to take a phone call right in the middle of the adventure. #imaginativeplay #learnthroughplay #playschool #waldorfinspired (at Laurel, Virginia)

We discovered an enchanting fairy land! ✨🌈🧚‍♀️🌈✨

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

Today✨ June 7✨ is the very last day Willow Love will be 2 years old!!! 💕😭💕#turning3 #geminibaby

The Rainbow Room ~ one of many inspiring spaces the children blossom in 🌈🌸🌈 #stonemanhouse #playschool #waldorf #learnthroughplay #imagination #magicofchildhood (at Richmond, Virginia)