Safety, feeling at home, trust, self-confidence, creativity, and comfort in exploring the world, are things all children should have. From an early age, children form attachments that become the foundation of their future relationships. Strong bonds with their world (parents, educators, plants and animals) can only begin with a healthy attachment to themselves. With practical tips and real-life examples from an experienced educator, this insightful book explores how the process of healthy attachment develops in young children (until six years old), what conditions are needed for becoming well bonded and how carers and educators can help in this important process.

Warmth is a hand-knitted woolly jumper and a crackling fire in the grate. Warmth is a smile when we need encouragement and a hug when things aren't going our way. This one word has so many powerful, positive associations. Warmth is one of the basic building blocks of existence; without it, there would be no life or growth. As parents we want our children to be warm -- physically and emotionally. We raise them to be warm people full of compassion and hope. In the first book of its kind, anthroposophical therapist Edmond Schoorel explores the role of warmth across many aspects of child development, including: -- physical warmth and what children should wear; -- the role of warmth in bodily processes such as growth, energy and health; -- the importance of emotional warmth; -- warmth of spirit, or enthusiasm. This fascinating and practical book gives parents and caregivers valuable insight into how to nurture different aspects warmth in everyday family life, and will also be useful for teachers and anyone who works with children.

Simple singing and gesture games have long been a core element of Steiner-Waldorf early years education. This thought-provoking book explores such games in depth, considering their nature and significance. The deep esoteric meaning of these seemingly simple games is brought to light, and the author argues convincingly for the importance of a gradual and healthy awakening from the 'childhood dream'. The book includes delightful examples from the author's Dutch heritage, many newly translated into English.

Why is my son so clumsy? Why is my daughter's handwriting so messy? My children only want to play video games: will lack of movement really hurt them? Movement is essential in helping children develop not only motor skills but also intellectual, emotional and social skills. Children learn through 'doing' and play. But a child's journey to learn how to control their body can cause frustration in parents. How often do parents say, "Can you not just sit still?" or treat a grazed knee when children fall over their own feet? By understanding how children develop sensory motor skills -- that is, get information through their senses and respond with their physical body -- parents can start to address and find reassurance about the issues that concern them. In this practical and insightful book, Evelien van Dort's uses her thirty years' experience as a children's physiotherapist, and draws on Rudolf Steiner's theories of child development, to outline how children develop skills such as spacial awareness, balance, coordination and telling right from left. This book will inform and reassure any parent or educator about the impact of a child's movement on their wider learning.

Knitting can bring generations together. This practical and beautifully illustrated book, which contains step-by-step knitting instructions and patterns, was inspired by a granddaughter knitting a simple doll's sweater, her grandmother knitting the doll itself, and the girl's mother knitting a matching sweater for her daughter. Even young children can learn to knit the basic stitches, and this book features projects suitable for every age and stage of experience: from simple dolls' clothes for beginners, to sweaters for children and adults, and knitting the dolls themselves, which is more challenging. Knitting not only stimulates the mind and develops motor skills and dexterity but is also a way of creating something useful, with love, which can be cherished.

Children of all ages need clear boundaries to help them navigate the world around them and develop healthily. But 'boundaries' doesn't just mean rules: babies need physical boundaries such as loving arms or a cot to feel safe; young children depend on regular routines to know what will happen next and what they'll be doing tomorrow; older children need space to make positive choices and develop as individuals. So how can we provide appropriate boundaries for our children? And how do we know when to adapt as children grow. This insightful book gives an overview of the different types of boundaries children need at different ages and stages, from babies to young adults. It offers a parent's toolkit of practical advice on common pitfalls to avoid, how to form healthy family habits and how to set appropriate rules. Lois Eijgenraam, author of Helping Children Form Healthy Attachments, draws on Rudolf Steiner's theories of child development to create a holistic, natural and positive guide to inspire and support your own approach to parenting.

Fairy tales span centuries and cultures, bringing their profound wisdom and insight to generation after generation of children. In this book, experienced Dutch educator Daniel Udo de Haes explores the significance of fairy tales for very young children. He starts by asking why fairy tales are told in kindergartens, and discusses issues around metaphor, cruelty and morality which often arise in traditional fairy stories. He goes on to offer tips for telling fairy tales, and guides educators on how to choose specific fairy tales for specific children. He finishes with a note on the dangers of fairy explanations. This is a comprehensive book for all early years educators who need to understand the power of stories for young children.