“There is physical warmth, emotional warmth- the warmth of love, of generosity, of true morality-and all of these “warmths” pour over and merge with each other. Perhaps most importantly, warmth is the essential ingredient in transformative work. Without warmth we cannot change, and the life of the small child is consumed with processes of growth and adaptation. Warmth helps us be healthy human beings on many different levels. A healthy education model understands that a child is indeed actively striving to integrate: to learn to feel comfortable in her body, to find the means for expressing outwardly what she feels inwardly, to develop a sense of security and understanding about all the new and unusual experiences brought by the world around her. To bring what is in, out; to make what is foreign, one’s own. Warmth helps that process.” ~Adam Blanning, MD.

Inner and Outer WarmthAs the seasons change and shift all around the world I am reminded of the importance of warmth. Keeping our children warm is essential during the colder months for their physical, cognitive and emotional development. When a child is sufficiently warm there is enough energy to support the development and growth of their brain and inner organs (especially heart, liver and lungs).
Warmth is one of the most simple gifts we can give our children on a daily basis,  physically and emotionally. Woolen undergarments and hats are complimented by a warming touch, aromatic baths, warming drinks and nourishing food.  
Children have an extremely high metabolic rate and therefore they very seldom "feel" cold even when they actually are. Woolen/silk long underwear are ideal for the colder months so the children can easily take them off and put them on when the weather may shift. My little one lives in her marino long undershirt. I very rarely wash it and often after I take her out of a bath at night I will put it right back on for sleep. The undershirt should cover the child's entire torso making sure their kidneys stay sufficiently warm. Some schools of thought believe this method to strengthen and hold the child's etheric body (life-force, energy) and so the garment is best worn for a prolonged period of time without washing. The type of fabric you chose to put on your children's skin is crucial. Natural fibers such as silk, wool, linen or cotton breath and insulate easily encouraging healthy circulation and warmth. As many of you know, wool has anti-bacterial /anti-fungal properties and can be self cleaning.    Therefore you don't have to rush to wash these clothes. This can be very helpful for us busy parents!  Merino is soft and not as irritating to the skin.

Nourishing your family through food
​Warming food is an important part of nourishing and supporting your family's health and immunity during the colder seasons. Home made bone broths, soups, stews, spiced milks and hot porridges are a few yummy choices. And because these foods are slow cooked as opposed to raw they are easier to digest leaving more energy to keep our bodies warm.
Here are a few great recipes to get you going
Bone Broth recipe adapted from Nourishing Traditions

ingredients

• 2 pounds (or more) of bones from a healthy source
• 2 chicken feet for extra gelatin (optional)
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 stalks of celery
• 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• Optional: 1 bunch of parsley, 1 tablespoon or more of sea salt, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, additional herbs or spices to taste. I also add 2 cloves of garlic for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• You'll also need a large stock pot to cook the broth in and a strainer to remove the pieces when it is done.

Cooking instructions

1. If you are using raw bones, especially beef bones, it improves flavor to roast them in the oven first. I place them in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes at 350.
2. Then, place the bones in a large stock pot (5 gallon pot works well). Pour water over the bones and add the vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the cool water. The acid helps make the nutrients in the bones more available.
3. Rough chop and add the vegetables (except the parsley and garlic, if using) to the pot. Add any salt, pepper, spices, or herbs, if using.
4. Now, bring the broth to a boil. Once it has reached a vigorous boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until done.
5. During the first few hours of simmering, you'll need to remove the impurities that float to the surface. A frothy/foamy layer will form and it can be easily scooped off with a big spoon. Compost this part. I typically check it every 20 minutes for the first 2 hours to remove this. Grass-fed and healthy animals will produce much less of this than conventional animals.
6. During the last 30 minutes, add the garlic and parsley, if using.
7. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in a gallon size glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use.

Warming Spiced Milks

Children's Chai

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of ground cardamom, nutmeg and cloves
• 2 tablespoons honey
• i cup of your favorite milk (we use hemp, almond or goat)

whisk all ingredients together over low heat and simmer until it is hot. Let it cool for 5 minutes and pour into your mug over a fine strainer. Sip and enjoy.

Traditional Ayurvedic Spiced Milk

• 2 cups Whole Raw Organic Milk (I recommend local, pasture-fed, happy cows or goats)
• 1 cup water
• 3 cardamom pods (crack pods open so the seeds are exposed)
• 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg (Only add nutmeg at night/nap time- it acts as a mild sedative)
• dash of cinnamon
• dash of fresh ground black pepper (if your child is ok with hotter spices)
• 4-5 strands of saffron 
• 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup (to taste)

Put all ingredients (except maple syrup) in a medium sized pot- on med low heat, bring to a boil (watch it carefully, when milk boils it tends to boil over) Let it simmer for 15 minutes or so. Take off heat, add maple syrup, cool and pour into mug over a strainer. Enjoy!
Warming up your space
The physical environment must be understood in the widest sense imaginable. It includes not just what happens around the children in the material sense, but everything that occurs in their environment, everything that can be perceived by their senses, that can work on the inner powers of the children from the surrounding physical space. – Rudolf Steiner, The Education of the Child

Early learning is deeply connected to the child's physical and sensory experiences. Therefore everything the child hears, smells, touches and sees has an effect. Thus, we begin to understand how the space a child inhabits will play a large role in their learning and development. As the weather grows colder, the spaces we provide for the children should become filled with warmth physically and emotionally. Whether it be outside or indoors, the location can provide varied and nourishing learning opportunities. Creating a safe comfortable area for the child is essential for the enjoyment of self education in touch, balance, movement and inward listening. In any season, all of these experiences are created by the space we provide for our children and have the ability to instill a sense of warmth.

There are many ways to set up a space of warmth and comfort. Creating a beautiful seasonal nature table or making a little cozy nook for children to play, read or rest in are just two  recommendations. The color of a space can create warmth. You may want to drape a pink, golden or peach colored cloth over a table or along any surface to warm your space. You can also choose to dress yourself or your children in warming colors to keep things bright in the cold winter months.

"The care, love, and intention expressed through the outer materials and furnishings of the classes are experienced unconsciously by the child. The child experiences the immediate environment as ensouled and nurturing." ~Susan Howard

Media Mindfulness is a way of being conscious of how much time we spend in front of screens whether it be televisions, computers, iPads, smart phones, video games or any other technological devices. 

What screen time can really do to children's brains
When very small children get hooked on tablets and smartphones, says Dr. Aric Sigman, an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of Britain’s Royal Society of Medicine, they can unintentionally cause permanent damage to their still-developing brain's frontal lobe. Too much screen time too soon, he says, “is the very thing impeding the development of the abilities that parents are so eager to foster through the tablets. The ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people’s attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary—all those abilities are harmed.”
The brain’s frontal lobe is the area responsible for decoding and comprehending social interactions. It is in this corner of the mind that we empathize with others, take in nonverbal cues while talking to friends and colleagues, and learn how to read the hundreds of unspoken signs—facial expression, tone of voice, and more—that add color and depth to real-world relationships.
How and when does the brain’s frontal lobe develop?
The most crucial stage of frontal lobe development is in early childhood and it is dependent on authentic human interactions. So if your young child is spending all of his/her time in front of an iPad instead of chatting and playing with teachers, parents and other children, his empathetic abilities (the instinctive way you and I can read situations and get a feel for other people) may be dulled, possibly for good.
What you can do
Families should encourage "media mindfulness" in their children's lives. Parents and children can work together to decide how much time to spend with media every day, and to make sure good choices are being made about what media to take in.

​Tips on sorting out screen time 

1. Do real work in the presence of your children. Real work is this: washing dishes, sweeping the kitchen, folding laundry, making soup, etc.  Seeing us do actual, physical work – with results they can see – inspires our children to do their work (play!).
2. Bring back car games! Don’t turn on that DVD player while driving.  Staring out the window is a great time for that essential part of childhood – daydreaming.  Or being bored.  Or finding all the letters of the alphabet on license plates.
3. Cultivate the endangered skill of “Wondering in the Age of Google.”  Immediate answers to every question “cheapens” the beauty and pace of wondering.  Sit with the question for awhile, and then pull out the reference books.
4. Strengthen your Parental Resolve.  You are the benevolent King or Queen of your family; feel that energy, and be clear about the screen time boundaries.  (If you want support in embodying the role of the warm, firm and calm leader of your family, this is one of the many things they work on in Simplicity Parenting parent groups.Perhaps you could start one up in your area?)
5. Create mealtime rituals.  Remember that meals are sacred family time; create rituals that you all look forward to, so the fact that screens are off-limits at the table isn’t even noticed. One of my favorites? Everyone tells the rose (best part), thorn (hardest part) and bud (what they’re looking forward to tomorrow) for that day.
6. Be a good media role model. Model “The Pause” (slow down, be quiet and tune in to your child).
7. Set clear screen time parameters: the struggle is less when the parameters are clear.
8. For tweens or teens who may be getting their first phone. Create a contract.
9. Keep supplies stocked; a nice thick pad of drawing paper, sharpened pencils and a few field guides are a good place to start!
10. Get comfortable with hearing, “I’m bored!.” In fact, give yourself a secret pat on the back when you’re children say this; allowing them the time and space for boredom (which is the precursor to deep play) is a true gift.

What we are doing in our home
​Here in New Zealand we live in a community space with family and friends. Niko, Mirabai, Silas and I live in a yurt and we have our own kitchen about 100 yards away from the main house which is the shared community space. There are travelers and friends passing through the main house most days and this can make it tricky to get every one on board for setting healthy media examples. We recently had a core family meeting and discussed how we can be better role models for the children and each other in the community. Media mindfulness was a topic that I had brought up and upon much discussion we decided to set up a 'internet cafe' in one of the rooms at the main house. Now we have a space where all the technology lives and where people can go and work on their computers or phones. The children can still be in the community space without the devices being used freely all the time here and there around them. The adults are showing that they have clear intentions and meaningfulness around using technology. The process and follow through of setting up a set space in our home for the use of computers and phones has been extremely helpful, healthful and rewarding for all of us and I highly recommend it for any family living in or out of community.

​In Kim John Payne's book 'Simplicity Parenting' he touches on  four guidelines that may initiate ease in your creative discipline journey with your children.

• Balance and simplifying the amount of stuff your child has

When you have fewer things what you do have becomes precious. And if you are playing with others you learn to share what little you do have. Sharing and creative imaginative play help fire up the limbic system and the frontal lobe of the brain. This stimulates collaboration and cooperation, encouraging these qualities to develop. The limbic system is connected to the development of emotional health, social cooperation and empathy.

I left a handout at school which mentions effective methods in clearing out the clutter from your children's lives, starting with the toys. You can also use these techniques with their clothing. Please let me know if you need more information on this topic.

• Rhythm and predictability

Payne writes about mixing the "big" and "small" picture realities when working with your families rhythm and keeping calm in your daily routine. The "big" picture is to try to have the event happen at the same time everyday whether it be eating a meal or brushing their teeth. The "small" way to build rhythm is by zeroing in on the little details and keeping them consistent. For example, having the soap and washcloth in the same place each day. In establishing rhythm and predictability you can actually notice some of the rough transitions during your day dissipate. Or you may see them coming because you have established a clear rhythm and you can now prepare for them. Payne says that 'recognition is the first step toward building rhythm and a (different) predictability into the day.'

• Scheduling

Children need time to process and digest what happens around them and free play is essential for this.  Children digest all the worlds outside busyness through their uninterrupted, imaginative play. Rather than stuff our children's lives with back to back activities we must embrace the gift of boredom because boredom is the precursor to creativity.

Payne believes if you provide your child with lots of time for free play and down time, many of your disciplinary issues will decrease.

• Filtering out adult conversation

The proper degree of separation between the adult world and the child's is crucial to the child's well being. If children are constantly hearing news about the world events they will almost certainly feel unsafe. When we discuss adult information in front of our children we raise them to our level. Children are not developmentally able to process this adult information whether it be current events or our own struggles in the adult world. Their lack of processing strategies, sadly erodes their sense of safety and this can lead to a nervous, anxious and stressed child. Payne writes about 'the chrysalis' - the protective sheath in which childhood unfolds. We are the guardians of this sheath and we must do all we can to protect it. Payne goes on to write "before we say anything in front of our children, we need to ask ourselves four key questions, 'Is it kind, is it necessary, is it true and will it help my child feel safe?' Unless you can answer yes to all these questions, don't say it."