The word 'rhythm' is something you hear a lot in Steiner education. At Little Shearwater Playgroup, Preschool and Kindergarten, the day is structured with a rhythm based on 'breathing in' and 'breathing out': between concentrated activity and free play. When the children sit down for songs, stories, craft activities or bread-making an ‘in’ breath takes place. Later, with cleaning up and outside play, a breath ‘out’ and so on.
Daily rhythm helps young children to know what is coming next. When the appropriate song is sung, the children will know that it is time to wash hands, come together in a circle or tidy up. The adults set the example for the children.
Children feel secure in the cycle of the days, weeks and months, through repetition of daily and seasonal activities, such as stories, songs and festivals.
This term, our Preschool and Kindergarten children have been busy with seasonal activities - preparing warming foods, making lanterns, and practising songs for our Winter Festival, when we will walk the lantern spiral together, another rhythmical activity that helps create a winter mood of quiet inwardness in the children.
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