Ive actually decided to use some of these ideas for at home and make an ongoing ‘birthday story book’ that we add to each year and read on each childs birthday!
This is kind of interesting to me because at the Montessori school or I worked for about six years we had a birthday ring as well but it was in the shape of a sun. We put a pillar candle in the middle and we will set it on a table and light it. Then we would hand the globe to the birthday child and the teacher would explain that for every year since you were born the Earth has gone around the Sun. So, we would have the child walk around the sun for each year old he/she was and the class would count the number. Then we would sing Happy Birthday in sign language and their choice of English or Spanish. Then they got to blow out the candle.
Wow! I had goosebumps as you were telling the story. I couldn’t help but cry as well. It truly touched my heart. There is no Waldorf schools on our rural mountain town in WA. I was just introduced to it by my therapist. I love you videos. Thank you for this bday video.
💞Oh my goodness this was the sweetest tradition.. I love it. The story touched my heart so much. It actually brought me to tears I don't know why... Maybe a mix of pregnancy hormones and the sweetness. Thank you for sharing.
That's very beautiful! I try not to spend money if uneccesary so I will repeat the tradition with a circle of tealights, thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you Sarah! Just starting to move into the Waldorf rhythm :) My daughter just tuned 6 with a Toy Story party -- perhaps we shift the tradition next year! Namaste
I love this! We are celebrating my daughter's fourth birthday today and I plan to use this approach. It is so much more meaningful than anything I've experienced this far with children's birthdays, so I am grateful and honored to be able to try this out. Thank you!
Thank you so much! Deeply appreciate this and the amazing channel you have for me being a starting Waldorf Kindergarten Teacher. The inspiration will be used in my daily work! ♥️
This story up until she came to her mother is very much alike of my daughter actually told me when she was 2 through 4 years old!! Thank you for sharing this. I noted what she said as she told me time after time so maybe I can make it to our own story and tell that story as our birthday tradition using birthday ring like you showed. Making picture book of it was my plan but this way I can adjust to any children. Thank you thank you
This is absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing my daughter is turning four on Monday and LOVES stories. She asks us to "tell a story from our minds" daily. I'm going to start this tradition in our home. Could you please share this story written in the description above or in a comment?
I love every part of this birthday ritual EXCEPT the first part of the story that takes place in heaven, and here's why: in therapy, as an adult, I'm currently working on processing the ways in which my parents implied to me that being born was somehow "my choice" or something I knowingly "did," by which I made their lives more difficult, their temperaments more reactive, etc. So I'm VERY wary of any story that tells a child there was this period (of which they have no recollection) where they actually CHOSE to be born and CHOSE to have the life/situation they currently have. I think it can be really dangerous to make a child think they had/have autonomy over their material conditions when in many ways they really don't. This message might not be too harmful for kids who are growing up in a financially-privileged, gentle-parented household, but for those who face hardship or neglect (and I certainly hope Waldorf is accessible to children in that position), I think this kind of narrative can cause them to internalize and blame themselves for the extrinsic issues they face, which is painful, damaging, and may prevent them from seeking outside support. Just wanted to give this perspective for any teachers or parents thinking of adapting this story for their child's birthday. When we're creating mythologies like this, we really need to ask ourselves whether the narratives are there for the sake of the CHILD and are benefitting the child. In this case, I think this narrative is probably particularly heartwarming and comforting for the PARENTS (of course it's pleasant to imagine that your child saw YOU and YOUR partner and YOUR life, and CHOSE YOU!) but not necessarily helpful for the child to hear and could potentially be harmful.
Wonderful story that should be translated into many languages.... and into Russian too. Sarah, I express my gratitude to share it with us, I will tell this story to my children in the class!!! Could you tell me who is the author of this story as I will point, I must point the author of this story when I share it among my children. Great thanks!!! From Russia with LOVE
It does exist in Russian. When I did my internship at the Irkutsk Waldorf Kindergarten (being a 11th grader of the Waldorf School) the teacher told a very similar story, though with some adjustments, to the birthday girl. I believe it's a universal Waldorf story all or at least many Waldorf Kindergartens or families worldwide use. Now I've made similar stories for some of my classmates in the 12th grade (only written and sent by VK or handed over by the teacher), now I'm thinking of making one for one of my classmates at the university. Unfortunately, I can't give you the original story in Russian since nobody gave me the written version, and the ones I did, were written by memory, therefore changed a little bit.
Also, how do you traditionally transition away from this tradition once a child has turned 12? Is there a part of the story or new story or new ritual that takes place of this one for a 13th birthday?
There are rings that have 16 holes, Sarah mentions it in the video, later you can place numbers in the ring and just tell a story of the life of the person, not year by year.
Hello Sara. You mention in the Video that you will post the story below in the infobox. But I can not find it there. Could you please post it. Thank you so much.
What if a child was abused during one of those past years? Is that part completely skipped in the story or is there a child-friendly way of coming to terms and understanding the situation better?
Hello Sara, is it normal to have bullying in Waldorf schools? my daughter is in a Waldorf kindergarten and the other childrens hit him and laugh at his way of speaking ... she has disorder specific language, and delay cognitive.What can I do? I talked already with the teacher and told me that he can not do anything is something that children must solve. And my daughter is not happy and tells me that she has a bad time. I would like to know your opinion about it. Greetings from Argentina Roman
Yes. It is very common among Waldorf schools because of their focus on free play. Some children learn that they have immense powers over others and they start to explore with this. This does not happen so often in schools regulated by rigid routines. My daughter was also severely bullied and started to stutter as a consequence thereof. It was very very hard for my husband and I to witness. Luckily the girl who bullied my daughter had a very progressive mother and grandmother who gave constructive guidance to the little girl and taught her how to be kind. Some Waldorf schools have teachers who believe strongly in karma and believe that children should sort out their differences themselves. Whilst I believe that it is important to learn how to engage with a bull and that this is an important life skill to have, I do not agree that teachers and parents should not get involved when it affects the well being of a child. I would have taken my child out of the school if this was the case where my child was. Small children in nursery schools needs to be protected against bullying. It does not correlate with the Waldorf motto of teaching the child that "live is beautiful". Teachers also should give proper guidance to redirect a child who becomes a bully. I would advise you to take the matter up with the school principal. I would also contact the parent of the child who bullies and ask the parent to assist to constructively redirect the bully. My heart goes out to you. I hope you find a speedy resolution and that the damage done could be healed.
Its important for children to learn how to solve their own problems. A child does not get bullied because of problems that they might have, but because they let it happen... However, learning how to solve problems or accepting themselves for who they are, might be something that they need some help with. The same can be said for the child that bullies, this child also should learn how to interact properly. (sometimes the parents dont know their child bullies, because it might not happen in the home, so its always important to inform the parents about it) I hope this might be helpful
Thank you for your words, very kind, and I really did not expect our daughter to go through this, and more in This way of education. ,that we love and respect.I'll see how I solve this and on the other hand, common schools would be worse. Thanks a Lot and I hope the universe resolve in a better way for all.Thanks a Lot for your time
The birthday story could have been more beautiful and realistic, why tell a lie to the child, its strange to hear that.. then he's gonna ask more questions abt the story and then you'll have to keep making the story further and further.. more lies...... keep it real , innocent and interesting I believe
The birthday story doesn't have to be this exact one. I remember my birthday stories would usually be about my interests and elements of my personality, and a comparison to a story or character from the mythology our teacher was reading to us that year. Because there are few religious people in my country there was also no mention of guardian angels or heaven in the stories.
hmm thats cute and thoughtful but i dont even like cake and id still want one though, you could just make it a carrot cake and then it would still count as all natural, winwin, kid still gets cake! :D
If you read about “Anthroposophy” on Wikipedia, you can get a better idea of how Steiner’s philosophy is connected to religion. I went to a Waldorf school for ten years, and talk of angels has more of a spiritual meaning rather than a religious one. A Waldorf education is certainly not a parochial one.
@@SRoseBlog Yup it's called Satanism! They won't look far enough into it to realize it or they blatantly choose to hide from you. But if you do your homework you'll find out how demonic it is.
Yup it's called Satanism! They either won't look far enough into it to realize it or they blatantly choose to hide from you. But if you do your homework you'll find out how demonic it is. Satan wants you children to grow up worshiping him as well as self. So study it out before you send your kids to such schools. Check out the founder and see what he was into. Witchcraft! According to the Word of GOD!!!
You will tell how it is actually/ the baby was in the tummy, and the tummy grew grew and grew until "child's name" was ready to come out... etc.. thats how it was told to us in his Waldorf class..
I agree, The birthday story could have been more beautiful and realistic, why tell a lie to the child, its strange to hear that.. then he's gonna ask more questions abt the story and then you'll have to keep making the story further and further.. more lies...... keep it real , innocent and interesting I believe
@@euphoria156 pretty much all stories we tell children are lies, it is important for them to experience something so magical while little. That is a big part of Waldorf tradition, storytelling - before you know it they will grow and know it is not the truth but the story will always stay a lovely memory.
I think it's wonderful for a child to be told a narrative of their life, and you're a great story teller. But I just don't see the need to add "other world" lies to it.
Waldorf theory is based on imaginative play. It's just imaginative; for the same reason people have santa claus and the tooth fairy. If you wish, you can leave out any parts you'd like when you retell the story.
I would be glad if you could use vegan silk for the products. Conventional silk is cruel to the animals, who this particular industry does not care about.
What a wonderful birthday tradition. I love that it focuses on the child as an individual. It’s not just a birthday song!
Your method completely describes my heart for my child . Thank you , Sarah 🥹
Ive actually decided to use some of these ideas for at home and make an ongoing ‘birthday story book’ that we add to each year and read on each childs birthday!
This is so beautiful! I’m in tears. I don’t think I can tell the story to my children without crying.
Same - I will need someone else to read it
This is kind of interesting to me because at the Montessori school or I worked for about six years we had a birthday ring as well but it was in the shape of a sun. We put a pillar candle in the middle and we will set it on a table and light it. Then we would hand the globe to the birthday child and the teacher would explain that for every year since you were born the Earth has gone around the Sun. So, we would have the child walk around the sun for each year old he/she was and the class would count the number. Then we would sing Happy Birthday in sign language and their choice of English or Spanish. Then they got to blow out the candle.
Jamie Culp that sounds lovely as well! I love the science in that idea as well as the fantasy in the story in the video.
Oh my goodness, I went to Montessori and this was the exact same thing we did!! I absolutely loved it🥰
That’s beautiful ✨
I appreciate the material focus of that ritual!
I absolutely love that!
I am crying! This is so beautiful! I have a birthday ring, and am going to share this joy with my kids for many years to come. Thank you for sharing!
Wow! I had goosebumps as you were telling the story. I couldn’t help but cry as well. It truly touched my heart.
There is no Waldorf schools on our rural mountain town in WA. I was just introduced to it by my therapist. I love you videos. Thank you for this bday video.
💞Oh my goodness this was the sweetest tradition.. I love it. The story touched my heart so much. It actually brought me to tears I don't know why... Maybe a mix of pregnancy hormones and the sweetness. Thank you for sharing.
Who’s cutting onions??? This was beautiful Sarah, thank you for sharing!
Lighting the candles with a story for every year is such a lovely idea ❤️
That's very beautiful! I try not to spend money if uneccesary so I will repeat the tradition with a circle of tealights, thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you Sarah! Just starting to move into the Waldorf rhythm :) My daughter just tuned 6 with a Toy Story party -- perhaps we shift the tradition next year! Namaste
I love this! We are celebrating my daughter's fourth birthday today and I plan to use this approach. It is so much more meaningful than anything I've experienced this far with children's birthdays, so I am grateful and honored to be able to try this out. Thank you!
Love the story ❤️ i was listening as a child you are a great storyteller
I was crying when you were telling the birthday story. Its incredible. Sorry for my english
Thank you so much! Deeply appreciate this and the amazing channel you have for me being a starting Waldorf Kindergarten Teacher. The inspiration will be used in my daily work! ♥️
This story up until she came to her mother is very much alike of my daughter actually told me when she was 2 through 4 years old!! Thank you for sharing this. I noted what she said as she told me time after time so maybe I can make it to our own story and tell that story as our birthday tradition using birthday ring like you showed. Making picture book of it was my plan but this way I can adjust to any children. Thank you thank you
Thanks Sarah! So excited to do our sons first birthday story this year!
This is absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing my daughter is turning four on Monday and LOVES stories. She asks us to "tell a story from our minds" daily. I'm going to start this tradition in our home.
Could you please share this story written in the description above or in a comment?
Let me say, this birthday ring is very common in Germany, not only for Waldorf educated kids.
What a wonderful story and tradition.
How beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I'm a beginner in learning about Waldorf education. ❤
Thank you so much Sarah for the inspiration!
Beautiful video Sarah. Thank you for sharing 💖
It was so beautiful
Thank you Sara for the very nice birthday story...
I love this idea. I would love to adapt this idea into my schedule. Thank you for sharing it.
I love every part of this birthday ritual EXCEPT the first part of the story that takes place in heaven, and here's why: in therapy, as an adult, I'm currently working on processing the ways in which my parents implied to me that being born was somehow "my choice" or something I knowingly "did," by which I made their lives more difficult, their temperaments more reactive, etc. So I'm VERY wary of any story that tells a child there was this period (of which they have no recollection) where they actually CHOSE to be born and CHOSE to have the life/situation they currently have. I think it can be really dangerous to make a child think they had/have autonomy over their material conditions when in many ways they really don't. This message might not be too harmful for kids who are growing up in a financially-privileged, gentle-parented household, but for those who face hardship or neglect (and I certainly hope Waldorf is accessible to children in that position), I think this kind of narrative can cause them to internalize and blame themselves for the extrinsic issues they face, which is painful, damaging, and may prevent them from seeking outside support.
Just wanted to give this perspective for any teachers or parents thinking of adapting this story for their child's birthday. When we're creating mythologies like this, we really need to ask ourselves whether the narratives are there for the sake of the CHILD and are benefitting the child. In this case, I think this narrative is probably particularly heartwarming and comforting for the PARENTS (of course it's pleasant to imagine that your child saw YOU and YOUR partner and YOUR life, and CHOSE YOU!) but not necessarily helpful for the child to hear and could potentially be harmful.
I will be starting this tradition this year !
So beautiful to watch...just wonder if this same story is told every year as the celebrate new ages.
So sweet and life affirming!
Wonderful story that should be translated into many languages.... and into Russian too. Sarah, I express my gratitude to share it with us, I will tell this story to my children in the class!!! Could you tell me who is the author of this story as I will point, I must point the author of this story when I share it among my children. Great thanks!!! From Russia with LOVE
It does exist in Russian. When I did my internship at the Irkutsk Waldorf Kindergarten (being a 11th grader of the Waldorf School) the teacher told a very similar story, though with some adjustments, to the birthday girl. I believe it's a universal Waldorf story all or at least many Waldorf Kindergartens or families worldwide use. Now I've made similar stories for some of my classmates in the 12th grade (only written and sent by VK or handed over by the teacher), now I'm thinking of making one for one of my classmates at the university. Unfortunately, I can't give you the original story in Russian since nobody gave me the written version, and the ones I did, were written by memory, therefore changed a little bit.
Also, how do you traditionally transition away from this tradition once a child has turned 12? Is there a part of the story or new story or new ritual that takes place of this one for a 13th birthday?
Breaha Wallin I’m curious too.
There are rings that have 16 holes, Sarah mentions it in the video, later you can place numbers in the ring and just tell a story of the life of the person, not year by year.
Thank you for sharing this!
I do not see the birthday story? Thank you for sharing, wonderful! You are gifted Sarah.
Brought me to tears.
Hello Sara. You mention in the Video that you will post the story below in the infobox. But I can not find it there. Could you please post it. Thank you so much.
I absolutely love this. We will definitely be starting this tradition this year. :)
so beautiful 🤩
What if a child was abused during one of those past years? Is that part completely skipped in the story or is there a child-friendly way of coming to terms and understanding the situation better?
I have the same question. My son was abused and then put through the foster care system and eventually placed with us.
Hello Sarah, is there any place to find this beautiful story in other languages? Spanish for example ❤️
Hello Sara, is it normal to have bullying in Waldorf schools? my daughter is in a Waldorf kindergarten and the other childrens hit him and laugh at his
way of speaking ... she has disorder specific language, and delay cognitive.What can I do? I talked already
with the teacher and told me that he can not do anything is something that children must solve. And my daughter is not happy and tells me that she has a bad time. I would like to know your opinion about it. Greetings from Argentina
Roman
Yes. It is very common among Waldorf schools because of their focus on free play. Some children learn that they have immense powers over others and they start to explore with this. This does not happen so often in schools regulated by rigid routines. My daughter was also severely bullied and started to stutter as a consequence thereof. It was very very hard for my husband and I to witness. Luckily the girl who bullied my daughter had a very progressive mother and grandmother who gave constructive guidance to the little girl and taught her how to be kind. Some Waldorf schools have teachers who believe strongly in karma and believe
that children should sort out their differences themselves. Whilst I believe that it is important to learn how to engage with a bull and that this is an important life skill to have, I do not agree that teachers and parents should not get involved when it affects the well being of a child. I would have taken my child out of the school if this was the case where my child was. Small children in nursery schools needs to be protected against bullying. It does not correlate with the Waldorf motto of teaching the child that "live is beautiful". Teachers also should give proper guidance to redirect a child who becomes a bully. I would advise you to take the matter up with the school principal. I would also contact the parent of the child who bullies and ask the parent to assist to constructively redirect the bully. My heart goes out to you. I hope you find a speedy resolution and that the damage done could be healed.
Its important for children to learn how to solve their own problems. A child does not get bullied because of problems that they might have, but because they let it happen...
However, learning how to solve problems or accepting themselves for who they are, might be something that they need some help with.
The same can be said for the child that bullies, this child also should learn how to interact properly. (sometimes the parents dont know their child bullies, because it might not happen in the home, so its always important to inform the parents about it)
I hope this might be helpful
Thank you for your words, very kind, and I really did not expect our daughter to go through this, and more in
This way of education. ,that we love and respect.I'll see how I solve this and on the other hand, common schools would be worse.
Thanks a Lot and I hope the universe resolve in a better way for all.Thanks a Lot for your time
What should I do with a five year old (almost six) who has taken to "lying" to us and her teachers?
Has she been punished for telling the truth?
Is there a version of this that isn't religious?
I would just skip the part about the angel and start with the mom carrying the baby and continue as shown from there.
Why am I crying?
Where does the Waldorf birthday attorney originate? I've never heard the idea of being with a g.a. throwing a gold ball around etc...
The birthday story could have been more beautiful and realistic, why tell a lie to the child, its strange to hear that.. then he's gonna ask more questions abt the story and then you'll have to keep making the story further and further.. more lies...... keep it real , innocent and interesting I believe
The birthday story doesn't have to be this exact one. I remember my birthday stories would usually be about my interests and elements of my personality, and a comparison to a story or character from the mythology our teacher was reading to us that year. Because there are few religious people in my country there was also no mention of guardian angels or heaven in the stories.
hmm thats cute and thoughtful but i dont even like cake and id still want one though, you could just make it a carrot cake and then it would still count as all natural, winwin, kid still gets cake! :D
Can u write this story in the discribtion box..
Does this tradition have a religious connection? I loved it until I heard: the heavens and guardian angels.
you can make it into anything that is important to you and your family :)
If you read about “Anthroposophy” on Wikipedia, you can get a better idea of how Steiner’s philosophy is connected to religion. I went to a Waldorf school for ten years, and talk of angels has more of a spiritual meaning rather than a religious one. A Waldorf education is certainly not a parochial one.
Is Waldorf following some sort of religion?
Nope. But each relihion can adapt it to their beliefs
@@SRoseBlog Yup it's called Satanism! They won't look far enough into it to realize it or they blatantly choose to hide from you. But if you do your homework you'll find out how demonic it is.
Yup it's called Satanism! They either won't look far enough into it to realize it or they blatantly choose to hide from you. But if you do your homework you'll find out how demonic it is. Satan wants you children to grow up worshiping him as well as self. So study it out before you send your kids to such schools. Check out the founder and see what he was into. Witchcraft! According to the Word of GOD!!!
@@Brendaleegeneau what is satanist about waldorf?
@@natc1008 she clearly doesn't even know what Satanism actually is or what waldorf is haha it's honestly sad in both regards
How would you tell a story without bringing in heaven etc? I love this idea but we don’t talk about heaven, gods etc
You will tell how it is actually/ the baby was in the tummy, and the tummy grew grew and grew until "child's name" was ready to come out... etc.. thats how it was told to us in his Waldorf class..
I agree, The birthday story could have been more beautiful and realistic, why tell a lie to the child, its strange to hear that.. then he's gonna ask more questions abt the story and then you'll have to keep making the story further and further.. more lies...... keep it real , innocent and interesting I believe
@@euphoria156 pretty much all stories we tell children are lies, it is important for them to experience something so magical while little. That is a big part of Waldorf tradition, storytelling - before you know it they will grow and know it is not the truth but the story will always stay a lovely memory.
Use "dreamland" in place of heaven, this is what we do in our waldorf inspired daycare :)
May God bless you all
I think it's wonderful for a child to be told a narrative of their life, and you're a great story teller. But I just don't see the need to add "other world" lies to it.
Waldorf theory is based on imaginative play. It's just imaginative; for the same reason people have santa claus and the tooth fairy. If you wish, you can leave out any parts you'd like when you retell the story.
I was super sold into this until I heard god and angels. 🤢🤮 does anyone know of anything like this without religion??
The beginning was way to religious for my personal taste.
honestly just seems like witchcraft but for kids lol
Why do you provide the children with this misinformation?
I would be glad if you could use vegan silk for the products. Conventional silk is cruel to the animals, who this particular industry does not care about.
Luckily, you can choose to use vegan silk if that's important to you.
This is kind of strange almost like it teaches paganism