Providing your child with the opportunity to grow food fosters a sense of responsibility and connection with nature.
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At this time of year, many families are nearing the end of their school year. You may be noticing a shift, more movement, more energy, and perhaps a little less ease in your usual rhythm. This is a natural part of the season. As spring unfolds, children often feel a sense of anticipation and outward energy that can show up in their behaviour.

Rather than working against this shift, we can meet it.
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Bringing learning outside and offering practical, hands-on work, such as gardening, digging, carrying, and building, can help ground this energy in a meaningful way. Growing food is a simple and effective place to begin. It allows children to move their bodies, engage their senses, and take part in real work that has purpose.
There are many ways to approach gardening, and you can choose what works best for your space and season.
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Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

• Choose your space. If you have a yard, set aside a portion as your garden, get your hands dirty, and dig away! Don’t want to dig up your yard? Live in an apartment? No problem. You can also use containers or get a plot of land in a community garden.
• Choose your seeds and starts. 
  • Starts: You can find starts at a local farmer’s market or garden store. Starts literally mean the plants have already begun to grow, so you can plant them directly in your assigned garden area. Strawberry or kale starts are easy to begin with.
  • Seeds: Radishes, peas, carrots, arugula, cucumbers, and tomato seeds germinate quickly. Read the seed package instructions. Some seeds must be sown indoors in early spring and then moved outside when it gets warmer, while others can be sown directly outside. 
  • Involve your child in every step. They can help buy the seeds or starts, plant them in your garden, gently loosen the roots of small veggie starts, and then place them in the dirt. They can cover roots and seeds with soil and help you water daily.
  • Teach your child about pollination and the importance of the sun and water. You can also plant flowers that are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

This is also an opportunity to observe and discuss the roles of the sun, water, and pollinators. Planting flowers that attract bees and other pollinators can deepen this experience.

As we move toward the end of the school year, there is still work to be done. But when we align that work with the season's natural energy, it becomes more manageable and enjoyable for everyone.

And perhaps most importantly, it keeps the learning alive.
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The key? Keep it simple, and have fun.

2. Yes, it's not your own dog's poop, but pick it up anyways if you see it on your walk.
3. Ditch the paper towels, use a cloth instead.
4. Refuse the plastic straw and carry your own reuse-able ones.
5. Donate old clothing and household items to your local thrift stores, free stores or shelters.
6. Buy local, support local businesses and cut down on environmental shipping costs.
7. Choose sustainable products.
8. Grow a garden, even just one pot with a plant on your window sill if you don't have a yard.

More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. For more information, visit www.earthday.org

Celebrate the halfway point between Spring and Summer with a May Festival.
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We encourage families to recognize the passage of time and the seasonal rhythms through festival celebrations.  Festivals provide an opportunity for your community to unite and share wonder, reverence and gratitude.  May Festival celebrates the awakening of the earth, the lengthening of days, and the rebirth of nature around us.  We celebrate this time of growth with joyous song and dance, playful games and a community picnic.

Traditionally May Festivals are celebrated on May 1st, but we have always found that using the early weeks of May to prepare and then holding the festival later in the month works too.  And if you're homeschooling, you can be as flexible as you like.

Spring is such a time of renewal and comes with a burst of energy. Seasonal celebrations give you a point of focus when choosing stories, crafts and activities to do as a family. Celebrations such as Easter offer a beautiful annual rhythm, something that your child looks forward to re-engaging with each year. It's a special experience to choose activities that become family traditions. ​

This poem by Kate L. Brown, is one of our favourites. We've used it as a verse and a dramatization where children act it out, pretending they are the seed.

In the heart of a seed,
Buried deep, so deep,
A dear little plant
Lay fast asleep.

'Wake,' said the sun,
'And creep to the light.'
'Wake,' said the voice
Of the raindrops bright.

The little plant heard,
And it rose to see
What the wonderful
Outside world might be.

The Easter Bunny
A charming, simple story about how the Easter Bunny learned how to deliver eggs can be found here. This website offers great resources for celebrating the seasons and incorporating Waldorf principles into home life.

The Little Brown Bulb Puppet Play
Here's a sweet little puppet show perfect for Spring!

Spring Stories from Waldorf Schools
A Spring Story from the Waldorf School of Cape Cod
April Shower Fairies Story from Cedarwood Waldorf School 
Return of the Sun King​ from The Wonder of Childhood
Wake Up, Lady Spring Has Arrived by We Nurture Collective

Read Aloud Spring Stories
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg by Bill Peet
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller Mister
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

Egg Dying 
Natural dyed eggs are usually a 2 day project. To prepare, collect leaves and flowers, and secure them to the eggs using panty hose or cheese cloth (they work best when freshly picked, as maleable and moist sticks best to the eggs). After they have sat in the dye, the wrapping is removed revealing the beautiful stamp of the chosen flower or leaf.

If you're not so keen on the chemicals in store-bought Easter egg dye, try these nine all-natural options. Each features a colouring agent — a vegetable, fruit juice, or spice — that gives colour to hard-boiled eggs.

Alder Cone Bees Craft
Rebecca demonstrates how to make these sweet little bees from Alder Cones.

Grape Hyacinth Pink Lemonade
Make lemonade with grape hyacinths and watch your drink turn from purple to pink like magic!

Eggshell Beeswax Candles
Reuse egg shells by turning them into candles!

Bird's Nest Cookies
Shape coconut and chocolate into bird's nests that you can eat!

Kite Paper Carrots
A fun easter themed craft using kite paper.

Kite Paper Chicks
We're very hen-thusiastic about these kite paper chicks.

Why start seeds indoors?
While the earth outside may still be cold and sleeping, indoor seed starting allows us to begin the gardening cycle early. It gives young children the chance to observe the miracle of germination up close while preparing for outdoor planting in the coming months. Some plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, require a head start indoors to be strong enough for the garden by spring.

Gather your supplies and prepare your space

• Create your containers with supplies you have at home.  Cut a paper milk carton or egg carton, or even use egg shells to create plant containers or use paper cups. 
• A cookie sheet or other tray to easily transport and hold your planted seeds.
• Find a Sunny Spot – a bright window ledge or a table near natural light is ideal. If you don’t have enough light, grow lights can help mimic the sun.
• Organic soil
• Seeds: For young children, choose seeds that are easy to handle and sprout quickly. In early spring, you can plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, any members of the cabbage family, parsley, basil, and flowers indoors now. Do not plant squash, cucumbers, or beans yet. These plants grow very quickly and need to be moved outside within three weeks of germinating, so wait to plant them at the beginning of May or directly outside once the danger of frost has passed.
• Popsicle sticks for labelling, which seed is which

Instructions
Begin with a Little Ritual – Before planting, take a moment to acknowledge the gift of growing. You might say a simple verse like:
“The Earth gives us soil, so dark and deep,
The sun gives us warmth, where seedlings sleep.
The rain gives us water, gentle and free,
And we care for the plants, for you and for me.”

1. Prepare the Soil – Use an organic seed-starting mix and let your child scoop it into your chosen containers with their hands or a small spoon.
2. Plant the Seeds – Guide little fingers to make small holes in the soil, gently drop in the seeds, and cover them.
3. Water with Care – Use a small watering can or a spray bottle to moisten the soil. Talk about how plants need just the right amount—too much and they will drown, too little and they will be thirsty.
4. Label & Observe – Place a popsicle stick or a hand-drawn sign with the seed name in each container. Each day, check on the seeds together, talking about any changes you notice.
5. Sing & Speak to Your Seeds – Encourage your child to talk to their little plant friends or sing a gentle song. Some families like to tell stories about gnome gardeners who help the seeds grow!

Caring for your sprouts

• Keep soil moist but not soggy.
• Ensure plants get plenty of sunlight.
• Gently turn the pots daily to strengthen stems.
• Watering the plants and moving them to follow the sunlight can be a daily task for children.  If you end up with more than one seed per container, help them to carefully pull out the extra plants.
• If you start fast-growing seeds like beans, you may see sprouts within a few days! Others, like herbs, may take a little longer.

Bringing the garden outdoors
Once the weather warms, your indoor seedlings will be ready to transition outside. This process called “hardening off,” involves gradually introducing the plants to outdoor conditions over a week or so. When the time comes, let your child help gently transplant their seedlings into the earth, maybe even into a little space just for them to garden however they wish.

Gardening is a wonderful way to engage in meaningful work alongside your children. There are so many ways to get them involved – digging, planting, watering, weeding, hauling, harvesting, snacking right from the vine, and helping in the kitchen.

Gardening Resources
If you’re new to gardening with children and want to learn more, we suggest the following resources:
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots by Sharon Lovejoy
Sunflower Houses by Sharon Lovejoy
Gardening with Emma by Emma Biggs
Gardening with Young Children by Beatrys Lockie

This blog post was written by Mareesha Nesling from Daily Wonder Home Learning in collaboration with the Okanagan Waldorf School in Lumby, BC

March 1: Create a March nature table. Gather early signs of spring—buds, moss, pussy willows, or a small bowl of sprouting seeds. Create a display card using watercolour paper, write the following seasonal verse on it, and showcase it on your table.

Spring is coming, spring is coming,
birdies build your nests.
Weave together straw and feather,
doing each your best.

Spring is coming spring is coming,
flowers are waking too.
Daisies, lilies, daffodillies,
all are coming through.

Spring is coming, Spring is coming,
all around is fair.
Shiver, quiver, on the river
joy is everywhere!

March 2: Make wet-on-wet watercolour paintings inspired by the changing sky. Use soft blues, purples, and hints of golden yellow. Here's a guide to painting a spring tree and here's a general guide to wet-on-wet watercolour painting. 

March 3: Read the story of Persephone and Demeter or another seasonal tale about spring’s return.

March 9: Make an edible mandala. Arrange dried nuts, fruit and seeds in a beautiful pattern, then enjoy them for a snack. Alternately, you could made a seed mandala and then scatter the seeds outside for the birds.

March 10: Celebrate Daylight Saving Time by lighting candles at breakfast or having an evening lantern walk.

March 11: Bake a Simple Honey Cake to honour the return of bees.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup honey 
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 3 cups flour of choice
• 1 T baking powder1 T baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt 

Mix together the dry ingredients and set aside. In another large bowl, beat the wet ingredients just enough to mix together, but not so much that it begins to froth. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and beat together till well blended. Add to loaf pan and cook at 350 for about 40minutes or until firm and bounces back with a finger press.

March 12: Craft felted wool flowers to brighten your nature table.

March 13: Celebrate or discover the vibrant and joyful Jewish holiday of Purim through the story of Queen Esther and a recipe for making traditional Hamantaschen.

March 14: Celebrate Pi Day (3.14) by making a fruit pie together. Discuss the beauty of circles and spirals in nature.

By the way, did you know that tonight is the night of the Full "Worm" Moon? Native American tribes often referred to the first full moon of the spring season as the Full Worm Moon, as the ground is no longer frozen and earthworms reappear, inviting spring birds to return. So, be sure to get outside tonight to view the moon!

March 15: Make a magical and enchanting fairy house.

March 16: Make a butterfly wand to celebrate the coming of Spring and share this verse:

Flutter, flutter butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter, butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky!
​
March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making hand-sewn felt shamrocks or baking Irish soda bread, and do this sweet finger play with your little ones:

Leprechaun Finger Play
Leprechaun, leprechaun, Hiding in the hay.
(Hide pointer finger under opposite hand)
Leprechaun, leprechaun, don't you run away
(Hop pointer finger around)
Leprechaun, leprechaun, Let’s go out and play.
(Hop both pointer fingers together)
Leprechaun, Leprechaun, It’s St. Patrick’s Day!
(Dance pointer fingers up and down)

March 18: Learn about earthworms and soil health. Gently dig in the garden and observe what you find.

March 19: Press early spring flowers like violets, crocuses, or daffodils and then use them to make any or all of these beautiful pressed flower crafts.

March 20: Celebrate the Spring Equinox by making a springtime nature mobile.

March 21: Plant a butterfly or bee-friendly garden with pollinator-friendly flowers.

March 22: Make a springtime window transparency.

March 23: Make these simple paper butterflies to decorate your windows.

March 24: Take a sunset walk and notice how the light lingers longer than it did in winter. Also, consider taking a "listening walk" a few evenings this month to listen to the nighttime sounds with your children.

March 25: Begin your garden preparations by getting your seeds started indoors now and share this verse: 

Little brown seeds so small and round,
Are sleeping quietly under ground.
Down come the raindrops
sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle.
Out comes the rainbow,
twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.
Little brown seeds way down below,
Up through the earth they grow, grow, grow.
Little green leaves come one by one.
They hold up their heads and look at the sun.

Here's a guide to planting seeds indoors with little ones.

March 26: Craft a springtime crown with fresh flowers, vines, or felt leaves.

March 27: Visit your local library to find books about birds and their nests.

March 28: Make a needle-felted bird nest or this no-knit yarn nest.

March 29: Make kite paper flowers to decorate your windows.
​
March 30: Have a family picnic outdoors, even if it’s just a simple tea and bread on a blanket.

March 31: Reflect on the month together. Share your favourite moments, draw pictures in a journal, or create a gratitude list for March.

By weaving these simple, meaningful activities into your homeschool days, you can embrace the joy and beauty of March while nurturing a deep connection to nature and the seasons.

What are your favourite March activities? Share in the comments below!

Homeschooling offers the freedom to take deep dives or lightly touch on topics, move quickly or slowly, and tailor education to the child's needs. Yet with that freedom often comes a challenge many homeschool families know well: without the external structure of a school calendar, it can be easy to lose rhythm.

Days blur together. Weeks feel unanchored. Motivation rises and falls. Parents may find themselves wondering, Are we doing enough? Are we covering what we should? Why does this feel harder right now?
​
From a Waldorf perspective, one of the most supportive answers lies in honouring the natural rhythm of the seasons.

Children are deeply affected by rhythm: daily, weekly, and yearly. When homeschooling, the yearly rhythm becomes especially important. Seasonal rhythms give shape to time, offering natural beginnings, middles, and endings to the homeschool year.

Rather than relying solely on schedules, checklists, or academic pacing guides, seasonal rhythm allows learning to be carried by life itself.

The changing seasons:

• Create natural transitions in learning
• Support emotional and energetic shifts in children
• Help parents know when to push forward and when to soften
• Bring meaning and anticipation to the year
  

​Seasonal festivals act as anchors, gentle markers that guide the flow of learning and family life.
​
Waldorf education includes the celebration of festivals throughout the year. The intention behind celebrating is to honour and recognize what is happening in nature and see those rhythms reflected in our internal human experience. Because Waldorf education began in Europe, you might be most familiar with the Eurocentric Waldorf Festivals. However, the best way to see oneself reflected in the seasonal rhythm is to celebrate the festivals of the place where you live. You’ll find a diverse list of celebrations for each season below. Did we miss one? Share your favourite seasonal celebration in the comments.

As the days shorten and the earth turns inward, autumn is a natural time for grounding and settling into learning. Many homeschool families find this is when focus returns after the openness of summer.

From a Waldorf perspective, autumn supports:

• Developing routines
• Building inner strength and confidence
• Beginning new academic work

Fall festivals help children meet this season consciously. These celebrations acknowledge the growing darkness while encouraging courage, gratitude, and inner light.

For homeschool families, autumn can be a time to:

• Establish your daily rhythm
• Begin new subjects or main lesson blocks
• Create consistent learning habits without rigidity

​Fall Festivals Celebrated Around the World

Themes: Harvest, gratitude, balance, courage, remembrance, preparation for darkness

Indigenous & Earth-Based

• Harvest Festivals (global, many cultures)
• Corn Harvest Ceremonies (many Indigenous North American nations)
• Mid-Autumn Festival (China, Vietnam)
• Yam Festivals (West Africa)
• Sukkot (Judaism)
• Chuseok (Korea)
• Pongal (South India – sometimes late autumn)
• Mabon / Autumn Equinox (various Pagan traditions)
  

Religious & Cultural

• Michaelmas (Christian)
• Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur (Judaism)
• Navaratri & Durga Puja (Hinduism)
• Mawlid (Islam – variable)
• Diwali (Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism – often in the autumn)
• Loy Krathong (Thailand)
• Obon (Japan – sometimes late summer/autumn)

Winter asks us to slow down. Energy turns inward, and children often need more rest, warmth, and emotional reassurance.

In homeschooling, this is a season when families may feel pressure to “push through,” yet Waldorf wisdom reminds us that deep learning requires periods of rest.
​
Winter festivals bring light, hope, and meaning into the darkest part of the year. Simple rituals, candlelight, stories, and songs help children feel safe and held.

This season supports:

• Review and deepening rather than acceleration
• Artistic work, storytelling, and handwork
• Trusting quieter learning periods

Winter Festivals Celebrated Worldwide

Themes: Stillness, light in darkness, reflection, renewal, hope
​
Indigenous & Earth-Based

• Winter Solstice (global, many traditions)
• Dongzhi Festival (China)
• Yule (Northern European Pagan traditions)
• Inti Raymi (Southern Hemisphere winter solstice – Inca)
• Soyal (Hopi)

Religious & Cultural

• Advent & Christmas (Christianity)
• Hanukkah (Judaism)
• Kwanzaa (African diaspora)
• St. Nicholas Day (Europe)
• Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
• Pancha Ganapati (Hindu)
• Mawlid (Islam – variable)
• Lohri (North India)
• Las Posadas (Latin America)
• Orthodox Epiphany (Eastern Christianity)
• Candlemas / Imbolc (Christian & Pagan overlap)

As nature awakens, children often experience a surge of energy and curiosity. Spring is a natural time for renewed enthusiasm in learning.

From a homeschool perspective, spring supports:

• New beginnings within the school year
• Projects that involve movement and nature
• Increased engagement and creativity

Spring festivals honour transformation, renewal, and growth. Learning during this season often feels lighter and more joyful, mirroring the world outside.

Spring Festivals Celebrated Worldwide

Themes: Renewal, rebirth, growth, balance, awakening
​
Indigenous & Earth-Based

• Spring Equinox (global)
• Nowruz (Persian New Year)
• Holi (India)
• Songkran (Thailand)
• Nyepi (Balinese New Year)
• Indigenous New Year ceremonies (varies by nation)

Religious & Cultural

• Easter (Christianity)
• Passover (Judaism)
• Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr (Islam – variable)
• Vaisakhi (Sikhism)
• Vesak / Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhism)
• Qingming Festival (China)
• May Day / Beltane (European Pagan traditions)
• Shinto Spring Festivals (Japan)
• Semana Santa (Latin America & Spain)

Summer brings fullness, warmth, and outward movement. In Waldorf-inspired homeschooling, summer is often less structured, and intentionally so.

Rather than formal lessons, summer supports:

• Experiential learning
• Time in nature
• Family connection and creativity

Summer festivals honour courage, light, and joy. Summer experiences become a reservoir that children draw on throughout the year.

Summer Festivals Celebrated Worldwide

Themes: Light, abundance, joy, courage, community
​
Indigenous & Earth-Based

• Summer Solstice (global)
• Sun Dance (Plains Indigenous nations)
• Green Corn Ceremony (Southeastern Indigenous nations)
• Yam & Rain Festivals (Africa)
• Midsummer (Scandinavia)

Religious & Cultural

• St. John’s Tide (Christian)
• Inti Raymi (Inca)
• Dragon Boat Festival (China)
• Obon (Japan)
• Guru Purnima (Hinduism, Buddhism)
• Eid al-Adha (Islam – variable)
• Raksha Bandhan (India)
• Teej Festivals (South Asia)
• Fiesta de San Juan (Latin cultures)

​Seasonal rhythm does not require elaborate celebrations or perfect execution. What matters most is repetition, intention, and presence.

Simple ways to honour the seasons include:

• Seasonal stories and verses
• Music and singing
• Special foods shared each year
• A nature table that changes with the seasons
• Time spent outdoors noticing changes
• Candlelight and simple rituals

When children experience the same rhythms year after year, they develop a deep sense of security and trust in the world.
​
For homeschool families, seasonal rhythm becomes a quiet guide offering structure without rigidity, direction without pressure, and a meaningful flow to both learning and life.

How Does Daily Wonder Approach History and Geography?

This is a question we’re asked often, especially because Daily Wonder is a Canadian-based company with families learning all around the world. How do we approach subjects like history and geography when they are so deeply connected to place?
​
The short answer is: we begin with the child, honour development, and bring learning to life through relationship with place.
​
Here’s how that looks in practice.

A Waldorf-Inspired, Developmental Approach
​
Daily Wonder is grounded in Waldorf pedagogy, which understands that children are not ready to engage deeply with formal history and geography until around nine or ten years old.

Before this age, children experience the world in a more dreamlike way. Stories, nature, and imaginative play nourish them best. Around the nine-year change, however, something shifts. Children begin to develop a clearer sense of time: past, present, and future and with this comes a readiness to understand history as something that truly happened, rather than something imagined.

At the same time, children develop the ability to hold a “bird’s-eye view,” an inner picture of looking down upon a landscape. This new capacity makes mapmaking and spatial thinking possible, opening the door to meaningful geography studies.

By offering history and geography at the right developmental moment, children are able to meet these subjects with curiosity, depth, and genuine engagement.

Beginning Where the Child Is: Geography in Grade 4

In Grade 4, Daily Wonder begins formal geography with the child’s immediate surroundings.
​
Our geography sequence unfolds slowly and intentionally:

• The Wonder of My Place begins at home and expands outward to the neighbourhood, town or city, and local area. Children start mapmaking with familiar spaces, such as their bedroom or a well-known walking route, and gradually build spatial awareness.
• The Wonder of My Region widens the lens to the province, state, or territory, exploring physical geography, Indigenous perspectives, settlement history, and the relationship between land and people.
• The Wonder of My Country later brings the child into relationship with the geography and story of the nation as a whole.

Throughout these units, parents are guided to thoughtfully integrate Indigenous knowledge, values, and relationship to land, always grounded in the specific place where the family lives.

How Daily Wonder Supports Families Worldwide

Because Daily Wonder families live across the globe, we do not provide fixed regional content for history and geography. Instead, we offer clear, step-by-step guidance on what to bring and when, while leaving space for each family to explore their own place.

In the geography units (My Place, My Region, My Country), we include:

• A comprehensive breakdown of topics to cover
• Weekly guidance for parent preparation
• Suggested timelines and reminders in earlier units
• Resource links to support research

​While Daily Wonder typically handles the planning for you, these geography units invite parents into a more active role. Preparation may take one to two weeks, and we recommend using the built-in flex week to gather materials, read ahead, and plan outings.

You are never expected to “know everything.” You are simply invited to learn alongside your child.

Geography Beyond the Local Landscape

As children grow, geography studies continue to expand outward.

• Grade 6 focuses on North America and Europe
• Grade 7 explores Africa and Asia​

Supported, Held, and Never Alone

Teaching history and geography can feel daunting at first, but it is also one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling. Many parents tell us that preparing for these units becomes a kind of re-education, deepening their own relationship with the land they live on.

Please know that Daily Wonder is here to support you. Our teachers are available to answer questions, offer reassurance, and help you navigate this work with confidence.

When we approach history and geography with care, honesty, and imagination, children don’t just learn facts; they develop belonging, perspective, and responsibility.
​
Trust the Wonder.

Curious about what Parent Preparation entails? Check out this sample from our Grade 5, The Wonder of My Country unit.

Claudia McLaren Lainson is a teacher and Therapeutic Educator. She has been working in the field of Anthroposophy since 1982, when she founded her first Waldorf program in Boulder, Colorado. She lectures nationally on various topics related to spiritual science, human development, the evolution of consciousness and the emerging Christ and Sophia mysteries of the twenty-first century. 

The time between December 24th and January 6th is when the veil between the earthly and spiritual world is the thinnest. This is an excellent time to reflect, meditate on the year ending and gather wisdom for co-creating your upcoming year with your higher self and spirit guides. 

Whoa! That's a tall order, you may say! Indeed, it is! I have done this meditation for six years, and I take it one step deeper each year. It starts simply with an awareness of this opportunity and an intention to take a moment to consider or be open to the virtue highlighted each day. 

Since Daily Wonder is in the biz of homeschool education and parent support, this meditative journey can be an incredible opportunity to focus on your homeschool experience. The winter break can be the time to carve out some quiet, reflective time and think about each month of teaching over 2024, as well as the lessons, experiences, and growth you and your child(ren) have experienced. As you are approaching the halfway point in the school year, you can assess if there are changes you want to make coming into the new year. The virtues highlighted are wonderful ways to frame your strengths and challenges as a homeschool parent. Every moment is an opportunity to practice self-love!

You can trust that the depth in which you experience this opportunity is exactly as it should be. 

Each day you will reflect on a different virtue; your work is to consider how each virtue plays out in your homeschool life in general and then specifically over the year that is coming to an end. For example, were there highlights that put this virtue into practice? Were there moments when you could have strengthened this virtue? 

When you reflect over the year, begin with the most recent month of December, and work backwards. Each night you will go back one more month to review your year in rewind. This act of reflecting backwards elevates our everyday thinking and shifts our awareness to a higher level of observation and reflection. 

Once you have a feeling for how this virtue is playing out in your experience as a homeschool family, and specifically as your children's teacher, you can set an intention for how you would like to deepen or strengthen your connection to this virtue. Then, you can envision how that might look in your life and how this will feel for you and your child(ren).
​
The power of holding the image and feeling will take you deeper into co-creating your upcoming year. 

The Stars once spoke to Humankind
It is World Destiny that they are Silent now
To be aware of the Silence
Can become painful for Earthly Human
But in the Deepening Silence
There Grows and Ripens
What Humans Speak to the Stars
To be aware of this Speaking
Can become Strength for Spirit Human

-Rudolf Steiner (Christmas 1923)

Day 2- DISCRETION (December 25th)

We learn that there are times to hold our thoughts and feelings to ourselves, and there are times to choose to share them. Not everything, positive or negative in experience, needs to be shared. In silence, the flowering of discretion becomes an ever-deepening meditative force of contemplation. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be STILL into the next year. 

Reflect on November 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 2 is rose-coloured.

Day 3- COURAGE (December 26th)

It takes courage to overcome our soul resistance to change. It takes courage to create a future of goodness. Courage is the ability to take on actions and experiences that cause fear. The ability to overcome our resistance and our fears and bring more love. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be COURAGEOUS into the next year. 

Reflect on October 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 3 is peach-coloured.

Day 4- SELF-DISCIPLINE (December 27th)

When we practice parenting our inner Self, we find that we must bring a balance of love and acceptance for where we are at in our evolution, and the healthy push to become more self-disciplined. When we practice self-discipline in our thoughts, speech, and actions, this leads to deeper knowledge of our self and other.  Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be SELF-DISCIPLINED into the next year. 

Reflect on September 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 4 is red-violet coloured.

Day 5- PATIENCE (December 28th)

Patience is wisdom paired with will power. When patience is practiced, it leads to the gift of spiritual insight. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be PATIENT into the next year. 

Reflect on August 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 5 is blue-violet-coloured.

Day 6- CONTENTMENT (December 29th)

When we practice contentment, a feeling of peacefulness in any situation, it brings us the blessing of equanimity. Can I be content with the current moment, even if it is uncomfortable? Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be CONTENT into the next year. 
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Reflect on July 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 6 is purple-coloured.

Day 7- REVERENCE (December 30th)

This is reverence that honours a courteous, tactful heart. This encourages the ability to communicate with kindness and love. To add to this pondering, this day also honours the spiritual nourishment and digestion taking place throughout this meditative process. We are digesting the year and nourishing our way forward. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be REVERENT into the next year. 
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Reflect on June 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 7 is indigo-coloured.

Day 8-COMPASSION (December 31st)

Compassion asks us to hold the future of each person as positive and illuminated. Compassion leads to freedom, as we harbour no ill will toward another. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be COMPASSIONATE into the next year. 
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Reflect on May 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 8 is blue-coloured.

Day 9- EMPATHY (January 1st)

Here we are reflecting on our capacity for empathy. When we practice selflessness, we are led to an inner awakening. We feel the connection between our Self and the Other, and we become more attuned and more sensitive. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be EMPATHETIC into the next year. 
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Reflect on April 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 9 is green-coloured.

Day 10- PERSEVERANCE (January 2nd)

This is the virtue of perseverance to fulfill our soul’s destiny, leading us to True Faith. When we feel an inner calling, an inner knowing that we have work to do upon this earth, we have the inner will and steadfastness to work ceaselessly throughout our lives. This inner knowing that we are called to bring to life is our True Faith in the meaning and purpose of our life. In this way, we each bring our gift to the world and to the people linked to us by our destiny. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to PERSEVERE into the next year. 
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Reflect on March 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 10 is yellow-coloured

Day 11- INNER BALANCE (January 3rd)

This is the inner balance of soul, body, and spirit. It also refers to the balance of our outer work with our inner life. When we find balance in these realms, this leads us to our soul’s progression along our spiritual path. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to be INWARDLY BALANCED into the next year. 
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Reflect on February 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 11 is orange-coloured.

DAY 12- DEVOTION (January 4th)

We contemplate devotion that leads to self-sacrifice. When we devote ourselves to something greater than ourselves, we feel the power of self-sacrifice, and in this way, we serve human evolution. Be open to visions of how you would like to expand your ability to feel DEVOTED into the next year.
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Reflect on January 2025, and your experiences and soul lessons. 

The candle for day 12 is red-coloured.

DAY 13-INTEGRATION (January 5th)

​This night is your Soul Epiphany that has come from pondering and meditating on your year that has passed and the year you are beginning.  All the virtues are now integrated through the force of Divine Love. We can see the year as a whole and have prepared the foundation for the coming year. 
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May you each find the sacred place within yourself that allows you to perceive with the eyes and ears of the Divine. You are gathering in community with many who share your perceptions and will work with you on transcendent and holy ways. You are not alone. 
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Know that there is New Life Awakening within your heart that will bless each day of 2026.

The candle for day 13 is gold-coloured.

Love, Jennifer

Here is an easy sewing project that's perfect for younger children.  These Waldorf felt gnomes are enchanting in their simplicity and children adore playing with them. They also make excellent gifts, tree ornaments or decorations for your winter nature or advent table.

...and these ones were made by children at a local Waldorf co-op.

Have fun!
xoxo Mareesha