This week on “Sunday With Sarah” I take time to answer some of the questions that viewers have posted here:

• How to Keep Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy
• How to Handle Unwanted Toys / Gifts
• On Becoming a Waldorf Teacher

For more information on becoming a Waldorf teacher and for a list of Waldorf teacher training programs in North America, please visit the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

Have any other tips to share? Please leave them here, and keep those questions coming! What topics would you like to hear me discuss in future weeks?

As many of you know, I was in Germany last week attending the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg.

Not only was I ecstatic to discover many wonderful new wooden toys and Waldorf dolls to introduce this year at Bella Luna Toys, but I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with the presidents of several of the lines of European toys we carry, including Grimm’s Spiel & Holz, PlanToys, Käthe Kruse, HABA, and Ostheimer.

I had a long and wonderful visit with Wolfgang Schühle, the president of Ostheimer in Germany, and met Stephan Zech, the company’s current designer. I was able to share with them my love of Ostheimer figures and tell them about the joy they have brought my family over the last 20 years.

Wolfgang was able to share with me some of the history of the company, founded by Margarete Ostheimer in Stuttgart, Germany nearly 60 years ago. Fortunately, I was able to record some of my talk with Mr. Schühle and am happy to share it with you here!

GIVEAWAY: Win a Five-Piece Collection of Ostheimer Wooden Animals for Spring!

I want to share my Ostheimer love with you, so Bella Luna Toys is giving away a set of these beloved wooden figures, perfect for a child’s Easter basket!

Set Includes:

• 1 Sheep
• 1 Sitting Rabbit
• 1 Picking Brown Hen
• 1 Brown Chick
• 1 Yellow Chick

Click on the link below for details and to enter for a chance to win:

Ostheimer Wooden Toys Giveaway

We’ll announce the winner next Sunday. Thanks for tuning in, and good luck!

Thanks to all of you for your many wonderful comments. Congratulations to Toby Rolf who won the Ostheimer Set Giveaway!

Toby wrote: “We are pretty new to the Waldorf world so I would really LOVE to have these for our daughter! She would especially like the beautiful bunny! Thank you for the opportunity!!”

I hope that this set brings many years of enjoyment and fond childhood memories for your daughter, Toby. Enjoy!

~Sarah

Resources

Wool Roving for Needle Felting

Foam Pad for Needle Felting

Felting Needles

Are you an experienced needle-felter? Have any tips to share? If you’ve never needle-felted before, are you inspired to try?

Please leave your comments below!

On this week’s Sunday With Sarah I share further thoughts on Waldorf homeschooling, and the lessons I learned when I began to let go of sticking with a prescribed curriculum, and the idea of “Waldorf School at home.”

If you use a curriculum, how strictly do you follow it? Do you combine resources? Are you an unschooler? Please share what works for you!

This week on Sunday With Sarah I share my thoughts on a few well-established curriculum resources for homeschoolers wishing to incorporate Waldorf methods.

Resources:

Oak Meadow - A more mainstream homeschool curriculum with a Waldorf flavor.

Live Education - A curriculum developed by Waldorf class teachers. Waldorf school at home.

Christopherus Homeschool Resources – Developed by a Waldorf educated, Waldorf trained, homeschooling mother of two, who knows what it’s like to juggle being a mom, running a household, and educating one’s children. Highly recommended.

LifeWays North America - A wonderful resource for parents of children birth to age six. Offers a training program for parents and home caregivers, and a wonderful newsletter full of information.

Are you a homeschooler? An Unschooler? Do you use a curriculum? What’s working for you? Share your thoughts, suggestions, and questions here!