Covered by snow, the school yard is tucked away in wintry silence. The shape of everything has changed, and the tiny details and hidden curiosities are buried deeper with each beautifully soft snowflake.
In the dark days of winter, I like to teach children about our beautiful love lights we hold inside. Our spirits glow bright when we are joyful, cozy and feeling love. We sing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” and we talk about what we love that makes us shine. During our December break, let’s enjoy cozy times with those we love – Let our love lights shine.
Here are a couple of fun ways to feed the mind, body and spirit and awaking the senses with the whole family.
In the kitchen, baking is rich with rewards. Inviting our children to participate with each step, can allow them to truly learn and appreciate the process. This is also a wonderful time for adults and older siblings to practice patience and teach grace and courtesy. Any project you choose will provide something for the whole self. There will be practical life skills such as, collecting supplies, using steady hands, measuring with cups and spoons, and taking turns. There will be sensorial exploration such as, touching the ingredients and mixtures, smelling the spices, listening to the tapping of spoons and cups, and tasting as much as possible. Even the glowing heat of the oven gives warmth to our core. While waiting for your delicious baked goods, feed your spirit with some tea and cozy blanket time.
For our lovely houseplants, who work hard all year giving us cleaner air(and company), let’s refresh and revive their homes. Children and adults alike, can explore the lovely world of root systems with each plant.
Supplies you’ll need:
- A large tray(even better is one with a tall edge)
- Small bag of indoor soil(specific to your type of plants)
- Small scooping cup
- An assortment of empty pots/old dishes
- Magnifying glass, if available
- Small watering can or jar for watering
With each plant that seems crowded in it’s pot, place it on the tray and carefully tip and tug it out of the pot. Your one crowded plant can be turned into many potted plants by splitting the root ball. Separating the soil and seeing which roots can be split is a delicate, joyful process. You’ll notice that the larger roots can be unwoven and de-tangled making way for a split that allows each side it’s own collection of healthy roots. Our hands are perfect tools for this job, however, a set of sheers will do the trick, too. Your largest, most central stock will go to a larger pot, making way for a smaller offspring to thrive on it’s own. Next, you’ll give any smaller babies new homes! Get creative and add texture by mixing plant varieties in pots. Succulent gardens are fun!
As for obtaining new plant pots, we don’t always have to buy new ones. There are many household items that can be made into new planters for your indoor garden: old tea cups, vases and mugs, coffee and food cans, milk jug with the top cut off, the list goes on. But remember that as you re-pot, you’ll also be acquiring more pots. Black plastic pots that plants from a nursery come in can be decorated with acrylic paint or wrapped in fabric for a new look. If you are using a dish without holes, remember to line the bottom with rocks before adding soil, and decrease watering amount to prevent root rot.
Decorating your new plant homes with special treasures, too, helps revisit memories of fun adventures every time you water. By giving love to our environment, we, in turn, give love to ourselves.