Hello mamas and papas!!  Welcome to our weekly blog post.  As you might have noticed:) I've put some of our pictures up in a slide show to give you all a window into our week.  

We had another amazing week on the farm and in the yard!  The kids have all become accustomed to our routine and we are having great days filled with wonder, joy and play!  ...and negotiation, name remembering, taking turns, exploring, as well as observing and interacting in/with our space, each other and our own feelings.  We're learning about 'checking in' when someone gets hurt by or near you ('are you ok?'  how can I help?') as well as asking to 'have a turn when you're done' - which is really hard when you REALLY want to play with something NOW:)  

We read "Have you Filled a Bucket Today?" which has resulted in many 'noticings' both of bucket dipping and bucket filling amongst the kids, picked cherry tomatoes and raspberries for snack, became acquainted with the compost mountain near the yurt, drew in our journals, watched the farmers throw pumpkins!!, helped prepare snack, watched the excavator fill a giant dump truck over and over as they create an irrigation system for the farm, used scissors to clip the grass near the exploration station table, built 'pirate ships' and bridges... and said goodbye to Summer and hello to Fall with Christine's drum and adorned our 'nature table' with colors and items that remind us of fall.  And much more:)

Their stamina is impressive - many kids running to the hill at the end of the day and few falls on our walks.  Bumps and bruises are pretty common and we try to let you know if they've required a bandaid or a kiss to make it feel better.  We talk to the kids about layers and check in regularly to see if any layers need to come off or go on.  Our goal is to have them tuned in to their own body and feel comfortable adding or taking off layers to stay comfortable as they play. If you ever have any questions, please email or call us!!  

The excavation of the irrigation pond has brought the pond right up to the yurt yard from the Bog Bridge down to Frog Pond.  We'll be keeping in touch with you as we establish our plans for our new 'waterfront', ie: we will be putting up a rail on the bog bridge along the pond.  Our intention is to incorporate the pond into our 'curriculum' and create safe boundaries and an awareness of staying safe near the water, as we do with all other potential hazards in and around our natural space. 

​Our menu for next week will be the same: M/Tu: almonds, cashews, rice crackers, apples, veggies and hummus from the farm/farm stand, muffins.  We are eating inside now, so avocado will probably be included on Wed/Th (along with nuts, apples and nut/sun nut butters, our g-f muffins, and whatever we can pick on the farm or get from the farm stand). We included chia pudding one day last week - coconut milk, chia, maple syrup and cinnamon - but not many chose to eat it.  We'll bring that back now and then and see who 'bites' :)  If you have a great snack that your kids love and can be shared (no tree nuts, mango, banana or gluten), please let us know!  It's always fun to have a new treat.

Lisa is taking a Lifeways course right now (Christine took the same course last fall!) and there are a few great articles/posts from the course that we thought you might like.  

A unique look at growth and development:
Caring for the Life-Forces of the Young Child
Creating Rhythm at Home and Work, by Jaimmie StugardKids learn by imitation: 
20 Simple Habits for Kids to Imitate

Age Appropriate Practical Work:
(Christine shared this 'chores by age' list last year too)
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Enjoy your week!!  
Warmly, 
Christine and Lisa

Christine and I are so excited to start our second year of Sprouts @ Tangerini's Farm.  A warm welcome to the 8 new families joining our Sprouts community and welcome back to our returning Sprouts and their families!!  We can't wait to get back to play and work on the farm and in the forest with all of you!

There are plenty of new things to see and do in and around the farm, yurt, yard and Fairy Forest.  For our parents, we have some new additions to the website this year.  You've found this blog by accessing the password protected Parent Portal (if all works as planned!!).  We will be posting at least weekly to this blog - a summary of our week with a few pictures to give you all a peak into what is happening at Sprouts.  We are open to input, so if you have any suggestions for how we can make it even better, please let us know!! 

We'd like to kick off the year by sharing some of our collective 'words of wisdom' for cultivating a healthy, thriving family:
         -  A full night's sleep is absolutely essential for everyone in the family.
         -  Love and respect your children, and yourself- the rest takes care of itself.
       - Keep it simple. Less is more. They will accumulate everything they need to know, as they are ready, along the way.
   - Minimize media and technology time. It gets away from you/becomes a huge battleground/stressor as they grow.  Technology time/media time crowds out the time they need for exploring and observing the world around them - essential for healthy development.  They will pick up the technology skills they need as they need them for school or work..   #getoutsideandplay
       -All children learn by observing - mostly you, but observing anything and everything they experience - so, how you relate to others, choices you make and how you spend your time are direct downloads and secondary to anything you 'teach’ them.  Do as I say, not as I do is a farce and an uphill battle.

But most importantly, TRUST YOUR GUT.  You know what's best for your child(ren) and will always be their #1 fan and advocate as they grow.  TRUST YOUR CHILDREN - they are designed to grow and learn at their own pace, following their own path..  

We look forward to another amazing year with all of you!

Warmly,
Christine and Lisa