by Irmgard Kutsch and Brigitte Walden; Translated by Jane R. Helmchen
Encourage children to engage with the seasons as they craft willow hanging baskets, harvest and prepare fruit, care for birds and make Advent wreaths.
A wonderful resource book for any Waldorf or Waldorf-inspired kindergarten.
As well as fun nature activities -- both indoor and outside -- for children, this book also includes valuable background reading and advice for teachers, such as how to create your own kindergarten garden.
All the activities in this book are based on practical experience from the Children's Nature and Garden Centre in Germany, and are fully tried and tested.
Table of Contents
Introduction
September:
- Healthy Food
- Harvesting and preparation
- The Little Pot That Was Always Full
October:
- Basket-making
- House-building
November:
- Caring for birds
- Beeswax
- Dipping candles
- Making paper
- Painting and handcrafts
December:
- Advent
- An Advent Story
- Christmas scenes
January:
- Working with wool
- Weaving
- Knitting
- Felting
- Magic wool
February:
- Willow hedge
- Wooden toys
- Carvings Twigs in kindergarten
- More wood projects
- Working with clay
Resources
Hardcover, with over 300 colour illustrations. 160 pages. 29 x 19.2 cm.
Floris Books, 2019.
About the Authors
Irmgard Kutsch, born 1952, trained as a vet before working with children with special needs. She established the Children's Nature and Garden Centre in Reichshof in 1994, where children and teachers can learn about nature and participate in workshops.
Brigitte Walden, born 1953, worked as a Waldorf teacher for fifteen years. She is a carer at Haus Hohenfried in Bavaria, Germany, a centre for people with special needs.
Reviews
'The activities included will be inspiring for all, including those seeking outdoor nature-based ideas and projects for children up to the age of seven and beyond. It is richly illustrated with lovely photographs of young children engaged in these nature activities… With its spring/summer companion it would make a lovely gift and provides a resource to return to as the seasons turn.'
-- Kindling
'This is another wonderful book full of resources and ideas for activities with children, following the rhythm of the seasons of Autumn and Winter... This book is a worthy addition to any home or Kindergarten Library!'
-- Blathu