Finger Strings
A Book of Cat's-Cradles and String Figures

Michael Taylor

Hardcover over inside spiral - includes 2 brightly colored finger strings

$25.00

Finger string games are a wonderful opportunity for today’s children to practice meaningful movement, explore space, interact with others, and exercise their creative spirits. They are also great fun!

String games can be especially useful to children who struggle at school or are dyslexic, and for those who are learning the concepts of “left and right” and “up and down.” Finger Strings contains games that will delight all children, from the very young to those with greater dexterity.

Michael Taylor has many years of experience working with children and has shared his string figures at schools and camps throughout the world. Finger Strings contains more than eighty inventive, imaginative string games and stories, all clearly illustrated with step-by-step, color diagrams. This book is designed especially to require minimal page-turning while making string shapes.

Hopscotch, Hangman, Hot Potato & Ha Ha Ha
A Rulebook of Children's Games

Jack Maguire

Introduction by Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo)

Softbound

$15.00

Never again be at a loss of suggestions for "things to do"! Hopscotch . . . is packed with over 250 games, ranging from sports games to indoor games, travel, water, memory and card games. Anything you every played as a child is here - and much more besides. This is a resource book with more potential to generate happiness and health than stacks of most other books. We are very excited to be able to offer this classic treasury and hope it helps more children find the way back to active, joyful play.

Contents:

• Indoor Games for Sunny Days and Rainy Days
• Games to Play on Grass and Playgrounds
• Games to Play on Pavement, Steps and Stoops
• Games to Play in Water
• Party Games for Any Occasion
• Travel Games for Fun on the Road

Joyful Movement
A Resource for Nurturing Balance, Movement and the Senses

Christopherus Homeschool Resources

Donna Simmons

Spiral bound

$25.00

Donna Simmons always seems to know what I want her to write next -- perhaps because she is so tuned in to what we all want for our children and what we need that is missing from available resources. Joyful Movement answers the longing for a simple, do-able approach to integrating movement (and joy!) into home and homeschool life. Even when the integrator is not a dancer, eurythmist, gymnast or even particularly graceful. Donna, in her wonderful spirit of warm practicality, takes even the least "movement trained" of us by the hands, soothes away our sense of guilt and inadequacy, and then playfully leads us into as much delight as our children experience. This is so much more than just a book about movement -- this is a book about moving into life with joy, about awakening all our senses to the wonder of the world -- and while we're at it, learning to move with beauty and grace. Joyful Movement focuses primarily on the needs of children from birth to 9 and is ever aware of what an adult teaching them needs as support. Wonderful!!!!

Contents:

• Waldorf as Therapeutic Education
• Creating a Nurturing Environment
• Ideas and Advice - Body & Spatial Awareness; Fine Motor Skils, etc.; the Senses; Memory; Calming Down
• A Waldorf-inspired Backyard Assault Course (that's British for "Obstacle Course")
• Songs, Fingerplays, Movement, Verses
• Tongue-Twisters, Clapping Verses (Hand Games)
• Groups

Joyful Movement is a joyful resource for any parent or teacher wishing to embrace a joyful approach to learning.

Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures
Movement Enrichment with a Therapeutic Approach for Early Childhood

Nancy Blanning and Laurie Clark

Spiral Bound

$23.50

What a joy! Here is an entire book filled not just with charming circle games and songs for the kindergarten, but with charming games and songs that have been created to help our young children find their way into their bodies and souls. In more prosaic language, these games and movement songs address the spatial integration and sensory processing development issues that it seems more and more children are struggling with.

However you think about it, this is a book of genius and a gift to young children. The games are delightful - teachers and parents will have as much fun and the children. And, they are brilliantly thought out to include movement forms that will bring the children into the world in with strength and balance.

This is a truly essential resource of the caliber of AHE's Resource Teacher's Developmental Exercise Manual. Use it. Love it.

Eurythmy - DVD
Balance of Body and Soul

Mark Neil, Beatrice Gwinner, Friederike Heinsdorff

12 Exercises for Harmony of Body, Soul and Spirit - Gentle and appropriate for all ages

$39.95

*Bookstores and School Stores - we distribute this DVD. Click here to learn more.

One of the most frequent questions we have heard over the past 10 or so years has been, "Is there any book or video that teaches eurythmy?" Now we can answer, "yes." Australian eurythmist Mark Neil has taken up the challenge and answer the need beautifully. In fact, what you'll find on this DVD goes far beyond anything we dared even wish for - even someone as naturally ungraceful as I am can follow the simpler exercises successfully, notice improvement over time, and emerge from each session feeling invigorated and happy (that's a testimonial - I have actually been doing them).

Every exercise is presented more than once, with clear movements for you to follow. My favorite, recommended for the evening, but I do it whenever I feel the need, is Hallelujah! Try it when you're feeling a bit frazzled - it's like seeing the sun come out on a rainy day.

The exercises are gentle and appropriate for all ages, though some of the more complex exercises may be best for teens and adults. As with all eurythmy instruction, there is no spoken instruction so as to be able to go from the act directly into body and soul without detouring through the intellect. As someone who loves to detour through the intellect, I must (reluctantly) confess that the approach works beautifully, once you just do it. It's not the way we are accustomed to being taught, but the results are something we can all love.

And, what will you gain from this? The list is enticing and in my experience, accurate: strength, flexibility, balance; you'll find you're more relaxed after a while and that you feel more alive; you'll sleep better and your ability to focus and percieve will be heightened; best of all, you'll rediscover your playfulness, you'll smile more often.

Contents:

Exercises for the Morning

• I take the warmth of the sun
• Rod exercise

Exercises for the Day

• I think speech
• I A O
• Looking for love
• Five pointed star (A E I O U)
• I'm happy, I'm sad

Exercises for the Night

• Hallelujah

Further Exercises

• I A O with jump
• Second rod exercise
• Evolutionary sequence
• Contraction and expansion

Eurythmy
A Creative Force in Humanity

Experiences from Pedagogical Practice

Sylvia Bardt

Softbound

$18.00

Sylvia Bardt has created a thorough overview of the why's, wherefor's and content of pedagogical Eurythmy as taught in Waldorf schools.

Her particular instructions are intended for Eurythmy teachers and will probably not mean all that much to those of us who are untrained. However, the love the author holds for her art and the children in her care shines through and informs all of us in so very many ways. Her accounts are insightful and warm - anyone wanting to gain an better understanding of what lies within the intent of pedagogical Eurythmy will be well met by this book.

Games Children Play
How games and sport help children develop

Kim Brooking-Payne

$30.00

This is an exciting collection of games and activities for children from preschool through the teenage years. Interspersed with over 200 games, organized by age group, are articles and commentary on the benefits of the various activities for healthy development, and suggestions as to how to help children overcome challenges of coordination and strength. This is a great book for teachers, parents, coaches, and anyone interested in the relationship between physical and personal development. Kim Brooking-Payne is to be congratulated for his truly excellent work.

Touch the Earth Gently
Games and Sports - Class 1 to 12

Alan Whitehead

$18.95

A great collection of games and movement activities for Waldorf physical education through all 12 grades. Contents: the class trip, family and fun, games and sport, elementary games, water games, facilities, ball games, 7 movements, children's gymnastics, 4 temperaments, bush games, field games, indoor games, equipment games, high school sports, sport physiology, scuba diving, martial arts, sport's a joke!, fishing? clean-up, Australia, hunting?!, dancing, Steiner as sportsperson

Child's Play 1 & 2: Games for Life for Children

Wil van Haren &
Rudolf Kischnick

$25.00

This is an almost encyclopedic collection of games and activities for children from preschool to fourteen. Child's Play is a terrific resource for anyone who works with groups of children, as well as being a great refresher course on how to play many of traditional games from our own childhood.

Looking Forward
Games, Rhymes and Exercises to Help Children Develop Their Learning Abilities

Molly von Heider

$25.00

Molly von Heider years' of experience as a class teacher and eurythmist has enabled her to give us marvelous collection of games, songs, verses, etc. for children in grades 1 through 5. The qualities of the verses and the activities of the games benefit children in the early years and lay the foundation for sound learning later on. Also included is a very special section on "Gardening with Children" by Peter Hughs and Fiona von Heider, one of the few written accounts of a Waldorf gardening class.

The Big Summer Activity Book

Anne and Peter Thomas

Hardbound

$30.00

Although we can't guarantee that you'll never again hear, "There's nothing to do" from your children, we can guarantee that with this book at your side, you'll have a ready suggestion that's likely to be met with delight.

Based on many years experience of keeping children busy and happy, Anne and Peter Thomas have compiled a huge collection of summer activities that will help keep boredom at bay and help parents feel better, knowing that their children are busy having wholesome fun.

The authors include both indoor and outdoor activities, things to make, things to see, and things to do. It is packed with handy tips on food (like sweets for car journeys), health (such as sunburn), and safety. The Big Summer Activity Book covers everything from simple games that parents might themselves have played as children, to inspiring projects that will challenge the whole family.

Fully illustrated in colour throughout, this is an indispensable handbook that every parent will want to keep handy throughout summer vacations.

Contents:

• Introduction: Whose holidays? — Three important factors
• Holiday preparations: Tips for going on holiday
• Checklist
• In cases of illness—from motion sickness to insect bites and stings, plus a traveling pharmacy
• The weather
• The stars and planets
• Nature
• Orientation in the wild, in nature, and more
• On the beach
• In the mountains
• Games to stretch the muscles
• Living and playing in the countryside
• Tag and other outdoor games
• Playing on the beach
• Indoor and outdoor games
• Creativity with natural materials
• When it rains
• ... plus a revolving celestial chart, songs, and more
  

Button, Button, Who's got the Button?
101 Button Games

Hajo Bücken

Softbound

$15.95

Buttons are easy to find, fun to collect, and they provide the family with lots of games to play. The author takes a light-hearted look at a 101 games, from very easy ones to the more challenging. They include simple guessing games, games using boards or table-tops, and games of imagination, wit, and creativity.

A delightfully improbable book about games to play with buttons.

Journey to Gameland
How to Make a Board Game from your Favorite Children's Book

Ben Buchanan, Carol J. Adams, Susan Allison

Illustrated by Doug Buchanan

Softbound

$12.95

Eleven-year-old Ben Buchanan, who created a board game based on the popular Harry Potter books, provides advice for all children who would like to turn their favorite book into a board game. along with his co-authors, he offers a ste-by-step process, with suggestions for parents, librarians, and teachers, on how to help children transform their favorite book into a board game.

The book shows how you can have hours of fun creating the board game - then have lots more hours of fun playing! Journey to Gameland encourages children (and parents and teachers, too!) to develop their own creativity - and to joyously engage with books.

As an aside, I found that I had hours of fun reading Journey to Gameland, too! This is a win-win book!!