Celebrating Festivals with Children - by Freya Jaffke (Paperback)

About the Book

Describes festival celebrations in relation to child development in the first seven years.

Book Synopsis

In this thoughtful book, Freya Jaffke describes festival celebrations in relation to child development in the first seven years. She considers in detail the main festivals throughout the year: Easter, Whitsun, St John's, starting school, harvest, Michaelmas, lantern time, birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and carnival.

Drawing on many examples, she shows how we can celebrate festivals with children at home and in kindergarten in a meaningful way. Every festival is prefaced with a deeper contemplation for adults, before considering preparations with children, followed by the actual organization of the festival -- with games, craft activities and decorations, stories, songs, poems and the seasonal nature table."

Review Quotes

'This is an immensley practical... [and] extremely useful handbook for kindergarten teachers, giving full descriptions and explanations of all the festivals that she celebrated with her kindergarten children and their parents.'
- New View

'Throughout, one feels how childhood itself is respected and protected. She conveys her warmth for the subject in all the practical advice, of which there's plenty... a very useful and stimulating book and is recommended to anyone with young children.'
- Perspectives

About the Author

Freya Jaffke is an experienced Steiner-Waldorf kindergarten teacher in Germany. Her books on early childhood have sold over quarter of a million copies worldwide and include, Toymaking with Children, Magic Wool and Work and Play in Early Childhood.