Welcoming Spring: Family Rhythms for Springtime
+ Downloadable Guide for Members of 'A Playful Year'
I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for the change of season. Since December, we have been beset by constant sickness bugs and as I type this newsletter, I have my middle child curled up next to me reading her book, whilst she recovers from a bout of strep throat and a perforated eardrum.
In short, Winter this year sucked. Real life friends have commented on how both themselves and their children have gotten ill far more frequently in comparison to last year. Perhaps this is all a result of the world opening up again after years of Covid lockdowns? I’d love to hear how your thoughts:
As I’m sure you’re aware by now, especially if you’ve been a subscriber to this newsletter for a while, we do like to live our lives by the seasons. Seasonal living brings with it the opportunity for us to review our rhythms, introduce or maintain traditions, organise our home environment and adapt play.
For me personally, living seasonally brings with it the opportunity to review goals (professional, personal and parenting) so that I can set realistic targets for the coming season.
As a UK native, living seasonally was something I grew up with. Seasonal celebrations such as a Harvest collection, Christmas Nativity Play and Easter Hat parade was part of school life for many years. It’s how I counted the passing of time and how I looked forward to the months ahead.
Young children are typically not developmentally ready to learn calendar time. However, they are constant observers of the world around them. Acknowledging the seasonal changes around them is something they can easily engage with, particularly when they are able to spend plenty of time outdoors and participate in seasonal activities.
I’m well aware that my subscribers hail from all over the world. If you are an Australian subscriber, I recommend that you read the ‘Family Rhythms for Autumn’ post instead along with the ‘Seasonal Rhythms’ newsletter.
And if the seasons where you live aren’t defined by Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, use religious holidays and cultural celebrations as your guide.
Establishing a Family Rhythm should always be about establishing traditions, routines and rituals that work for you and your family. This starts with creating your family values.
