Circle Time is absolutely the heart of the Waldorf Kindergarten in a Waldorf school setting.  At home, it sometimes is successful and sometimes not.  Many families have increased success with just choosing verses that go with transitions of the day, such as verses to accompany brushing of teeth, getting dressed, etc or verses and fingerplays that go along with things in nature that one can pull out on nature walks and during outside time.

One thing that I would encourage is doing a lot of singing in the presence of your children – singing whilst you do dishes or cook for example.  This, to me, is something that happens outside of the regular Circle Time or verses and fingerplays.

If one wants to try to put together a Circle Time,  remember  it can be difficult with only one child!  However, here are some suggestions:

1.  Circle Times usually are held for a whole month (or sometimes even longer with elements that are added or taken away).  A Circle almost always reflects the season, but can also include elements of festivals or can include a story as told in a Circle Time.

2.  Within a Circle one usually considers slow and fast movements, quiet and loud, gross motor movements versus movement of just the hands, balance.

3.  A Circle can include elements of counting in rhyme and movement.

4.  The Circle is typically so well-known by the end of the month that the child can say parts of it with you!

Here are some on-line examples of active circles:

This is noted as more of a “movement journey” rather than a strict Circle Time with indications for children with certain challenges:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW55blanning2.pdf

A Summer Circle:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/gw4615.pdf

A Winter Movement Journey:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW5004.pdf

When I do a Circle Time within my home, I either use a “pre-made” Circle out of “Let Us Form A Ring” or “Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures.”  Sometimes I do make up my own Circle Times, but I also can read music, which is a huge help in putting together Circle Times.  The Wynstones Books have been a large help to me in that regard, but again, the songs will not mean much if one cannot read music!  Your voice is the most wonderful thing for Circle Time, some teachers also bring in pentatonic flute or kinderlyre for part of the Circle.

Sometimes I find the Circle Times that I have put together myself are the biggest success because they speak so to my children.  You could make a circle about knights for Michaelmas and the month of September, an insect circle for Summer or whatever speaks most to your child.  One thing I would like to try is to write my own circle from scratch; I think that would be a fun adventure to pick a theme and write verses and music for my pennywhistle to go with it!

Hope that helps answer some questions regarding Circle Time.

Peace,

Carrie