Morning

Morning Verse

Morning has come, night is away
We rise with the sun to welcome the day

To Earth I come
To greet the sun
To greet the moon
The stones that rest
The plants that grow
And animals that run
To greet all people in this world
Love greets me in all I do
And I and you and the world are one.

Cleaning Day

Of course your child has their daily chores and responsibilities. When the young child is entrusted with meaningful work, it builds their self-esteem, skill set, and relationship with the world they live in. Research even shows that chores and responsibility in the early childhood years lead to higher academic achievement later in life.

Perhaps Fridays become your laundry day, deep clean day, special tasks day. Your child can clean their toys, disinfect door knobs and surfaces, pay particular attention to tidying their room or play area. Here are some songs and verses to inspire the cleaning process:

Story

The Story of the Daffodil
Adapted and Narrated by Ms. Dylan from a Cornish tale.

Song & Movement

Throughout the year in Cedar Rose, we have been tall trees. In Autumn, the apples fell from our limbs, in Winter the raindrops dripped and dropped, and now it is Spring and the flowers are blooming!

This movement game invites the children to:

move and sing at the same time, which develops early literacy
cross the horizontal midline, a developmental milestone
touch their physical body to experience tactile sensory feedback
engage with the changes of the season in an imaginative way

This is my trunk
From standing, bend at the waist with straight legs and touch your toes
I’m a tall, tall tree
Run your hands up your legs and torso, eventually coming up to stand with arms over headIn Springtime the flowers bloom on me
Two arms overhead, make fists with your hands
They open
Right fist opens into a flower
They open
Left fist opens into a flower
Repeat 3 times.

Spring is Coming
Spring is coming
Spring is coming
Birdies build your nests
Weave together straw and feather
Each is doing their best

Spring is coming
Spring is coming
Flowers are coming too.
Pansies, lilies, daffo-dillies
All are coming through

Spring is coming
Spring is coming
All around is fair.
Shimmer, quiver, on the river,
Joy is everywhere.

Porridge Recipe

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of warm, sweet oat porridge? It’s the perfect breakfast on a chilly morning and a hearty and filling snack at any time of day.

We use steel-cut oats in Cedar Rose, which take a little longer to cook than the rolled variety, but yield an unparalleled flavor and texture. The proper ratio is 3 cups of liquid to one cup of oats, so adjust according to your family size. Add more liquid for thinner porridge according to your preference.

Ingredients:
1.5 c steel cut oats
2 tbsp Earth Balance or butter
3 c almond or coconut milk (or milk/milk substitute of your choice)
1.5 c water
1/2 apple, peeled and chopped small (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Toppings:
Raisins
Maple syrup (for a special treat, heat the syrup in a small saucepan on low)
Butter
Flaked coconut

Instructions:
Add the oats and Earth Balance or butter to medium-sized pot or large cast iron skillet. Stir frequently over medium-low heat until oats are fragrant and slightly darker in color.

Add the milk, water, salt, and cinnamon and increase heat to bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and add the chopped apple (if using). Allow to simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

When most of the liquid is absorbed, turn off the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving with your choice of toppings.

Afternoon

Evening Wind
Adapted from Wilma Ellersiek

Blow the evening wind so mild
Rest my little flower child
Lu lu lu lu lu, lu lu lu lu lu

Flowers Grow
Words by Monica Stone
This verse can be accompanied by gentle therapeutic touch to help your child come to a state of rest and wellbeing.

The flowers, they grow on your ten little toes
With forefinger and thumb, gently caress and massage each toe
All the way up to your little nose
Gently draw finger down the length of child’s nose
The petals, they softly brush your cheek
Gently brush each cheek with back of your hand
As you lay down and fall fast asleep
Gently run fingers along child’s brow

My Big Blue Boat
I love to ride in my big blue boat, my big blue boat, my big blue boat.
I love to ride in my big blue boat, over the deep blue sea.

My big blue boat has two red sails, two red sails, two red sails.
My big blue boat has two red sails.
Come ride along with me.

My big blue boat goes splish and splash, splish and splash, splish and slash
My big blue boat goes splish and splash, over the deep blue sea.

Fairy Dough Activity

Sculpt with your hands and have fun with this wonderful tactile and sensory experience.

Make anything that you please! Perhaps a wiggly worm or snail? Include treasures from nature like acorns or leaves to press into the dough and make prints!

Find our favorite recipe for fairy dough here.

Friday: Porridge Day