Community Letters 2019 - 2020

Let’s talk About Warmth

As you know, your children spend a LOT of time outdoors.  Unless it is pouring rain or the wind is prohibitive, I teach my classes outside.  Here in the northern hemisphere that means plenty of cool and cold days; and here on Cape Cod, and even more specifically at the school’s current location, that also means breezes that can bring the windchill down substantially.

You may not have considered before how dressing your children and having them prepared for this weather may substantially affect their health and indeed their ability to learn!  Children will often tell us that they are warm, even hot, and proceed to strip down to T-shirts. Since I am working especially with their bodies, I don’t allow this. I know that they have not yet learned how to read what they best need for their well being -- just as we parents know not to let our children eat only sweets just because they want to nor do we let them stay up as late as they might wish, we need to use our best judgment with their clothing as well.

This means layers -- not thin spring and summer clothing -- and hats and gloves or mittens.  A lightweight long-sleeved top is not enough. Also warm socks and shoes that are sturdy and will keep them warm.  It’s especially important to have something around their upper chests and throats. Scarves are helpful, too, if they aren’t wearing sweaters or fleeces that come all the way up.

Why, you might ask?  My child runs hot and doesn’t need much to stay warm, you might say.

A colleague shared a very simple but helpful adult analogy.  He went to work at another job where the heat was off. In spite of his interest in his work, he was distracted because of the cold and couldn’t focus completely.  I think we can all remember a time like this. Cold literally constricts us and our capacities. It’s not just a matter of comfort.

Waldorf educators have known for a long time that emotional and physical elements of warmth are essential to the healthy transformation of their bodies and minds that is constantly going on.  The entire Waldorf curriculum is specifically guided towards developing the children’s emotional as well as intellectual intelligence, step-by-step. When I hand off the children to their next class -- often one that requires them to slow down and focus inwardly --I want to do so knowing that they are ready to work and take in what is being offered to them.

So, we need your help.  Please send your children with the appropriate gear and don’t leave it to them.  I remember finding it very useful to have this all set out the night before or to have a bag always packed with all the possible options.  This takes stress off the morning scramble and doesn’t put the onus on the children to know what they need. They will grow into that, but our wisdom should be the guiding light at this point in their development.

Our indoor space also tends to run cool, so please send them in a thin underlayer with a thick long-sleeved top over it and an appropriately fitting fleece or sweater.

For outside, they need rain pants and a rain jacket for damp days and a warm winter coat and possibly snow pants for really cold days. They always need a hat, rain or shine, throughout the winter and early spring, even with these recent whispers of warm weather to come. Sending more is always good!  

- Kristen Henley-Hills and the faculty of WSCC