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Waldorf inspirations

The little house with a star inside

puppet show apple

While the playgroup children played in the garden, I disappeared inside to create a magical land. A land made of table dolls, play silks, roving, flowers and toys.

When I was ready, I popped back outside for a little tidy up before singing our transition song

Puppet show is in the town, everybody gather round

apple star puppet show

Once the children settled down to watch and listen we sang…

Mother of the fairy tale, take me by your silver hand. Sail me on your silver boat, sail me silently afloat. Mother of the fairy tale, take me to your shining land

flower meadow

And then I told the story.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He had been playing all day long. But now he didn’t know what to do. So he said to his mother. ‘Mama I have played and played and played, and now I don’t know what to do.’ And his mother said ‘somewhere nearby there is a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. Why don’t you see if you can find it.’

And so the little boy walked over the bridge and into the flower meadow. There he found a little gnome. He said to the little gnome ‘I am looking for a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. Have you seen such a house?’ And the little gnome said ‘no, I have not seen a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. But the farmer might know. Why don’t you visit him and ask’.

farmer

And so the little boy walked through the flower meadow to the farm. There he found the farmer. He said to the farmer ‘I am looking for a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. Have you seen such a house?’ And the farmer said ‘no, I have not seen a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. But the wood gnome might know. Why don’t you visit him and ask’.

wood gnome

And so the little boy walked through the farm to the woods There he found the wood gnome. He said to the wood gnome ‘I am looking for a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. Have you seen such a house?’ And the wood gnome said ‘yes, I have seen a little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside. Why don’t you look around the woods and see if you can find it’. And the boy did!

little red house

He took the little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top and a star inside back to his mother. He said ‘Look mama! I found the little round house, with no windows and no doors, with a chimney on top. But I can’t see the star inside.’ And his mama took a cutting board and a knife and cut the little round house in half. And the little boy said ‘Now I see the star!’

Apple star

And after the tale was told, we cut the apple to share among the playgroup children.

There are many  variations of this story. This is the one I told because of the toys I had on hand and what I remembered of it. Since then I have been reminded that there is often a charming final character ~ the wind! And often it is the wind that helps the little boy find the little round house, with no windows and no doors, a chimney on top and a star inside. Because the wind goes everywhere after all.

Blessings, Kelly

After school activities can wait

Sparkle stories and playing  This is a sponsored post

When Max and Ruby arrive home after school they are tired.

They need time to decompress after their lovely full days at our wonderful Waldorf school.

And at their ages (4 and 7), I have found they do better without organised activities after school.

And I remind myself, we have many years ahead in which they can explore the many and varied activities available for children. 

Sparkle stories and puppet show

And so for now, we come home.

We rest. We rejuvenate. And they play.

And while they play, they listen to Sparkle Stories {see the smart phone in the photo? It is playing the audio stories, but is locked from any other use}

Max listening to sparkle stories

Sparkle Stories are lovely Waldorf inspired stories ~ filled with wonder, whimsy and adventure {which is just right for their ages}.

Max loves listening to Martin & Sylvia, as well as the Willowbee Tree.

We have heard tales of Martin & Sylvia visiting Grandma’s House {which was a great one for a car trip!} and anticipated Christmas with them *grin*

Max building

My children identify with the three children from the Willowbee Tree *smile*

Max smiles as he hears about Piper (the eldest Willowbee) being bold and adventurous.

He laughs to hear about Little Ty, who like Teddy, seems able to find anything that has been lost {really it is a rather remarkable similarity!}

Ruby with playsilks Sparkle stories

While Ruby adores the stories about the magical fairies, wood elves and fire sprites in ‘So Many Fairies‘.

We listen to Sparkle Stories to match the seasons

So last week we enjoyed listening to ‘The Tree that Surprised the Wind’, which is perfect as we watch the leaves change colour and start to fall.

I love that we can choose stories to help build toward seasonal festivals, or stories that help us work through challenging behaviour *grin*

And so, while the children play, they listen.

And in their minds they go on great and small adventures.

At the moment you can meet Martin & Sylvia and all the other Sparkle Stories’ characters with a Free 10-Day Trial!

Blessings, Kelly