To walk into a home with serenity, calmness, and love is magic. When I became a stepmother, I wanted our home to be just this. I wanted my stepsons to know our home was safe. Then I became a mother and wanted that feeling even more, a haven for my sweet baby. For the past 2 years, since I have discovered Waldorf education, I have been focusing on this. We have a daily and weekly rhythm that my children know so well. I rotate toys to keep the clutter at bay and change out books monthly to match the seasons. I do all these things to have a Waldorf-inspired home. To learn more about how I accomplish this, keep reading below.
Natural Materials
As I roam thrift stores, I continuously keep an eye out for baskets, wooden toys, and any natural fabrics. Natural materials, I feel, have become a rarity as plastic has been introduced. There is also something beautiful about a wicker basket, a wooden car, or even an old quilt. I try to purchase or create with natural materials for our home. Sometimes, I cannot, and that’s okay. This is one way I keep a Waldorf-inspired home. Most of their toys are wooden, but they have some that are plastic (like dinosaurs and the beloved Barbie). I do try to keep them open-ended.
Whole Foods
One important aspect of a Waldorf-inspired home is nutrition. I love to cook and create in the kitchen. I make most of our food from scratch, and there is something satisfying about creating a meal. My children all help, too, which helps with them wanting to eat what they cooked. Food is for nourishment and satiation. To fill our stomachs with a delicious home-cooked meal with our family is serenity for the soul. My favorite part of the day is dinner because it’s when the whole family is together, sharing a meal. Our family eats three meals a day and one snack. All of our meals are satiating and homemade, so many snacks are not needed.
Nourishing Stories
If you walked into my home, you would find many bookshelves filled with stories for all ages, including adults. Books are a must in my house. I have had a love of reading since I was a child. We take weekly trips to the library as well. Stories are not only a good source of entertainment; they are also amazing examples for life lessons. I try to find books with good stories inside. I have found that these books always keep my children’s interest.
Many hours outdoors
It is said that children get 4-7 minutes outside a day, and that just breaks my heart. We try to get an hour outside each day. Most days, we do. I prioritize nature in our home. We have a nature table I decorate for each month and season. Mondays are dedicated to nature in our homeschool. In the summer, we spend many hours outside, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Quality time
The last and probably most important part of having a Waldorf-inspired home is quality time with my children. I still do all the work as a stay-at-home mother, and I always make sure to invite my children to join. We love to play many games together, whether it’s board games or outdoor games. I listen when they talk and try to understand. Most importantly, I try to find an interest in what they are interested in (even if I don’t like it). I value my relationship with all four of them, and I try to be what I did not have as a child.