Journal

As I was driving to work today I started to think about the Konmari method and how similar it is to the Waldorf kindergarten teacher method that I was taught when I kids were little. I remember visiting in a classroom and getting to be a teacher helper, which was such a fun thing to do. The teachers had cleanup time after playtime in the morning. During cleanup time the children learned how to take care of things - fold them, roll them and put them away - and everything had a place and everything was stored in a certain way. It reminded me of the Konmari method that people are using now - how we're all working to clear out our shelves and closets and take care of our things. I was thinking what a nice lesson this is to teach our children.

Here is a story we tell the children about how the years got their animal names.

Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. 

The importance of play from babies, children, adults and play in animals. Studies and reflections of Stuart Brown from the National Institute of Play.

We love how simple and beautiful cloth wrap is. And your wrapping becomes another gift or can be reused year after year. Playsilks are especially beautiful as wrapping as the colors are bright and shiny and then children can play with them.

When my boys were small they enjoyed trick-or-treating but I didn't want them to eat all that candy. My friend told me about the Halloween Elf who ...

Our playthings are designed to be conducive to creative, imaginative and meaningful play. Creative play is vital for children's well-being and is the most effective form of learning in early childhood; supporting growth on many levels: intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and physical.

Children love to collect beautiful natural objects and are often proud to see them displayed in a special place in the home. Let them play with there but also hold the space as sacred and special. You will foster an inner connection with nature.

A basket of playsilks are a staple of most Waldorf preschool and kindergarten classrooms. And they've become very popular among families of kids between 3-10 as well.

Sarah's podcast, interviewing creative interesting people about fun things they do, how play has influenced their lives, words of wisdom they have to share, favorite colors, memories, childhood games, and more. I'm curious about what makes other people find meaning in life and make the decisions that they do. 

Ask me a question or let me know if you would like to be interviewed!

We spent three days filming and playing with children all around Sonoma County. Don Prouty captured so beautifully the essence of Sarah's Silks- light, sun, freedom, living in the moment, connection with others and nature, imagination and finding moment of joy.

All of our silks can be hand washed in the sink, bathtub or a basin. Here is how: Use shampoo or dish soap and warm water. Get them soaked and soapy, scrub gently, rinse and hang to dry. Use a medium iron to restore the shine.

Did you ever wonder where the silk for playsilks comes from?  We did!  So, we spent some time finding out. First we took a trip to China to chronicle the process from the Mulberry trees to the hemmed playsilks; then we came home and raised some of our own silkworms in our living room and in our son’s third grade class at our local waldorf school.