Waldkindergarten #3 Continued

Today I am going to continue the information from the #3 Waldkindergarten.  I stayed here three days so I really got the opportunity to see the day to day workings and the details.  This photo is from the first location, but I think it is important to mention that nearly all locations have similar structures at locations, such as, Waldkindergartens, in-house schools,  or playgrounds.  They are meant for children to climb and jump from... typically the highest point is around four feet high.  It was great to see the children climb, jump and "fly."  This is all part of understanding the independence and

​The Farm:  This location had a full working farm.  It had two geese, a horse, pony, 2 mules, 3 pigs and a lot of chickens and goats.  The children come to this location on the property on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  They put bridles on the pony and mules and walk them then brush them out.  The children love this.  Other children gathered peaches that had fallen and greens and fed the pigs.  One child had the idea to tie the greens to a rope and feed the pigs that way… like fishing for pigs.  She liked the idea.

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Birthday's at the Waldkindergarten
For the children's birthdays they decorate an area that also has a string of 365 multicolored pompons.  These represent each day of the year and are coordinated with seasonal colors.  For instance, October has deep orange and red and January has light blue and white.  The children also get to bring a special treat too, like a lecker (delicious) cookie.

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AMERICANA!
Today, when the birthday child passed out the cookies the children were all chanting... AMERICANA! AMERICANA! AMERICANA!
I started to panic. I thought they were coming for me and I was going to be sacrificed! But come to find out, that is the name of this cookie with frosting, chocolate candy drops and gummies.  I have never seen a cookie like that from the US. Maybe it is called an Americana, because it is covered with 6000 grams of sugar.

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​The Apples:  The children had picked apples on the first day.  On the second day the children cored the apples then they cut them.  The apples were large and the knifes were sharp. All ended well.  No one was hurt. They dipped them in batter and fried them.  They discuss nutrition and other important issues regarding healthy living.  Not everyone wanted to do this.  The attitude of the teachers is, “Why get upset?”  If a child wants to eat some of his apple, they think why not? Why stop them? So I have control?  That’s not what you do as a cook, why would you force a kid NOT to try it.  

Climbing Day
On the third day that I was at this Waldkindergaten we went to yet another location.  (FYI there are a total of 5 specific locations on this property. I am sad to say I did not get to see all of them.) This location had a solid canopy of trees.  As you could imagine, there were some downed trees and other branches in plies throughout this 200 square yard area.  There was also a "cliff" that was a very steep 15 foot hill.  Some children ran to the hill armed with ropes and tied them to the trees (with the help of the teacher) and they repelled down.  Then they climbed back up.  There were 5 different ropes and a lot of physical activity and imagination.  

Ropes Course
The teachers know that the children like to climb so they created a makeshift ropes course for them.  The children learned large motor skills, cooperation, and collaboration.