Winter is well and truly here - a time to turn inwards to find our own inner light and warmth. We hope all of our Preschool families are enjoying this time of candlelight and warm fires at night, with gentle, nourishing stories for the children. Eating delicious warming foods as we rug up and keep our feet snuggled into woolly socks and slippers.
At Preschool, all of our children have celebrated the longest night – with each group holding their own Winter Festival. In readiness for our festivals, the children have been involved in preparing apple crumbles and pumpkin soups to share. We have been busy making gnome hats, lanterns and candles and practising our songs and our 'Lantern Spiral’, a symbol of the inward reflection that is marked by the longest night and an opportunity to help create a rhythm of quiet inwardness in the children.
As well as the lantern walk, another important part of our winter festivals are the special songs that we practise and sing at this time of year. The following are two of our favourites:
| Little light, little light Inside me, shining bright. Outside when the sun has gone Inside me my light shines strong Little light, little light Inside me, shining bright Outside when the sun has gone Inside me, a happy song Craig d'Arcy Preschool Coordinator | Starlight, star bright Shining on this winter’s night Soft but clear your whispers I hear Guide me through this longest night Starlight, candle bright In my heart there shines a light Warmth and love glow in me Like a golden sun |