[Radical_childcare] Minutes from Sunday 12th meeting

[tumbleweed_freed at riseup.net]

Hi anna,

all sounds lovely: this one (pencil meditation) in particular would be
perfect to do before my elder pencil making workshop? it would put their
own handmade pencil in context, and enhance their understanding of the
process, and anti-consumerism links.

I need to do the elder workshops as close to the beginning of cc as
possible (within first few days) as the elder needs to be fresh (its
harder to work with if dried out), unless i find a bush on site and i can
continue all week! If Elder doesnt work out, i will adapt it.

also, is the thursday going to be laying out the space and the actual
putting up of the tent, or is the plan that the tent and contents will be
up and ready for thursday? ie: should the 'decorate your kidspace'
activities be on friday and not thursday? and the workshops bumped up a
day?

I also would like to do a feminist storytelling workshop [I am putting a
callout to those on the feminsit childrearing CRAP! Collective list to
join in too], maybe for 11am-12noon monday: reading some feminist kids
books and playing the 'circle stories' game (kids sit in circle and go
round making up story line-by-line), someone will write the story down to
put in this cc zine [although would have to be done b4 sunday for
printing] or in next Spratz zine, and kids can illustrate their story.
What was also suggested at the meeting on sunday was for the kids to make
some puppets, and they could act out their stories too. How do you feel
about doing a puppet-making workshop within the storytelling, anna?

[was going to go to a recent storytelling workshop at emerson- some mates
are doing a biodynamic course there].

xx


> Another workshop I can run that it is very simple and lasts 30 minutes and
> aimed at older children (from 9 years old) :
>
> ~ wooden pencil meditation ~
> A very simple exercise that raises awareness on how goods are being
> produced, understanding the facts and consequences of excess consumerism
> and the `butterfly effect '.
> Sitting in circle with 3 to 7 children, we will pass a wooden pencil
> around from one person to another, each person will observe and meditate
> on the object that lay in their hands, giving the group one piece of
> information about the object that lay in their hands (about its shape,
> colour ect...), then pass it on to the next person and like this as many
> times as needed until the group has mapped the pencil journey from a
> forest tree to the finished object that lay in their
> hands.
>
> This powerfull meditative exercise is being taught during storytelling
> courses at Emerson college (a permaculture/biodynamics college) in Forest
> Row. I think it could be creative and relevant ? What do you guys think ?
>
> A xx
>
> From: annaferacci at hotmail.com
> To: feministchildrearing at riseup.net; radical_childcare at lists.aktivix.org;
> anaelleb at yahoo.co.uk; annaferacci at hotmail.com
> Subject: RE: [Radical_childcare] Minutes from Sunday 12th meeting
> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:51:27 +0000
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Great to hear about Gemma's workshops, I feel it goes in the same
> directions as this proposal ....
>
> ~ Feltmaking, Butterflies and Bee making workshops ~
> (I thought of giving a detailed plan but all that follows is flexible and
> I am happy to hear your comments, ideas ...)
> Like Gemma, the workshops I propose for the kids space @ Climate camp are
> craft orientated.
> As well as decorating and giving an identity to the area, using felt, pine
> cones and wooden sticks brings awareness and reverence for the natural
> world : the visual impact is attractive to young children.
> Bees can be seen by the kids as a gentle reminder to care for our
> endangered species, it can also start conversations between children and
> adults on the process of pollination and observation of the plants and
> insects activities (and how their potential disappearance could affect
> human life).
> Like Gemma I use hands-on approach because through physical experience
> children understand the world in their own personal way without feeling
> they are being "taught" - just by imitation.
> Using raw Felt has therapeutic powers thanks to its natural hand-dyed
> colours, warmth and softness. We call it the magic wool for its versatile
> quality as it can transform : raw merino tops can be turned into
> caterpillars on the first workshop day and metamorphosed into butterflies
> on the second day to experience the qualities of change in Nature (usualy
> kids use them as ornament in their hair, clothes ect ..)
> The same qualities of transformation and change, "warmth" and cold, dry
> and wet coexist in the wet felt making to make patterned cloths that can
> dry on washing lines around the kids tent / we can discuss what to make
> out of them (flags, patchwork, bags, ...whatever is useful ... I always
> carry a sewing kit).
>
> For now, I am thinking of two workshops/day, 1 hour/workshop. Hopefully
> will commit for two days (if more days possible closer the date then
> great).
> Light Bee making and Feltmaking are inspired by activities I run in a
> Steiner Kindergarden, in Home Ed groups/ camps, La Leche meetings and are
> aimed at children from 4/ 5 years old onwards (adults of course welcome).
> For children under 5 years old I would prefer the parents to take part /
> otherwise a helper would be great.
>
>  All for now xx
> Anna
>
>
>> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:01:08 -0700
>> From: feministchildrearing at riseup.net
>> To: radical_childcare at lists.aktivix.org
>> Subject: Re: [Radical_childcare] Minutes from Sunday 12th meeting
>>
>> [from Tumbleweed]
>> cool, also:
>>
>> - just quick reminder that this list is open for anyone to join
>> (approved
>> by the list moderator of course but sometimes the person is not
>> 'verified'
>> or even known to us) and so we should keep any sensitive/detailed
>> information away from this list (this is a reminder for myself also!).
>> We
>> need to think about how we will deal with this issue i think.
>>
>> - i will email the statement to this list on wednesday eve so that
>> people
>> can change/add to it on the thursday and so on friday we all should be
>> happy with it.
>>
>> - the forest-school-inspired activities i can do are:
>>
>> (this is an approx example)
>>
>> Thurs (all ages)- Help decorate your kidspace! Setting up a free-play
>> environment curtain (an ongoing display contributed to by kids to learn
>> about our environment and reducing waste), and other decorations etc
>>
>> Fri (ages 3plus but flexible)- the magic of Elder (part 1): learn about
>> the ancient Elder tree, drink juice from its flowers, and make your own
>> pencils from its wood.
>> (Plus: Whittling freeplay)
>>
>> Sat (ages 3plus but flexible)- the magic of Elder (part 2): learn about
>> the folklore of Elder, make beads/necklaces from its wood, and colour
>> your
>> necklace using Elder's own natural dyes.
>> (Plus: Whittling freeplay)
>>
>> Sun (all ages)- Leafcrowns and Rainbow bracelets: using what you can
>> find
>> around the kidspace area decorate a crown or bracelet.
>> (Will be adaptable depending on the site)
>>
>> mon/tues- i will see what i have left of my supplies and energy!
>>
>> Each activity may run for 30-60mins depending on the kids. The best
>> times
>> for me would be prob 11am-12noon.
>>
>> I will try to bring enough elder with me, but will depend on how many
>> kids
>> turn up and if there is any spare elder on site! also the elder needs
>> to
>> fresh so i need to have done all the elder activities by saturday to be
>> safe.
>> If anyone wants to bring in some elder for me, then that would be
>> great.
>> for the elder magic i also need lots of potato peelers, some penknives
>> and
>> a couple of hacksaws- obviously i will have to make do if this isnt
>> possible but can this info be passed onto cc insiders? i will need to
>> know
>> prior to thursday if this wasnt possible.
>>
>> I also will need at least one helper (pref 2 as i have a young child)
>> please contact me on tumbleweed_freed at riseup.net to sort this out, or
>> if
>> you have any ideas.
>>
>> All of the forest-school-inspired activities are not only crafts in
>> themselves, but always have educational links to our environment and
>> human
>> action. Children learn by doing, therefore an abstract concept like
>> 'climate change' is only understandable to kids thru hands-on
>> activities.
>> Are any of us doing the climate change workshop? I would like to link
>> with
>> them to bring in activities to help kids understanding of these issues
>> (this is if they havent already done this already- if its sorted then
>> wicked)
>>
>> xxx
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Radical Childcare Collective meeting 12/7/09
>> > Â
>> > Present: Anna Davies, Anna, Annelle, Brunel, Gemma, Jon, Kaden,
>> Maggie,
>> > Molly, Una.  (Apologies to children who’s names I failed to
>> find out.)
>> > Â
>> > Â
>> > Almost the whole meeting was focussed on the climate camp Kidspace
>> that
>> > we’re helping to organise.
>> > Â
>> > First meeting
>> > We’ll have a general Kidspace meeting on Friday 28th (probably
>> in the
>> > early afternoon) which will be a time to get as much input from kids
>> and
>> > their carers as possible about what they want the Kidspace to be.Â
>> It
>> > would be good to get an experienced facilitator along to that meeting
>> as
>> > well as someone with experience of communicating effectively with kids
>> of
>> > all ages to get the most out the this meeting.
>> > Â
>> > Kids’ action
>> > Some people are interested in organising a kid friendly action towards
>> the
>> > end of the camp.  This could include a happy colourful exciting
>> march
>> > through London to a climate-change-is-affecting-kids type target.Â
>> It
>> > could also include planting a tree somewhere.
>> > Â
>> > The political importance of childcare
>> > We’re concerned about the lack of enthusiasm around providing
>> stuff for
>> > kids and their carers.
>> > Action point: Gemma to write a short statement based mainly on stuff
>> from
>> > the Raising Some Hell zine about not leaving your friends behind and
>> the
>> > whole community taking responsibility for childcare.  Gemma will
>> send it
>> > round to the list for a quick group edit before it is finalised.Â
>> This
>> > statement will be read out at the next climate camp gathering, by
>> either
>> > Anna Davies or Annelle.
>> > Â
>> > As well as this there’s a plan to do a workshop for adults
>> about these
>> > ideas.  The workshop would basically involve facilitating a general
>> > discussion on childcare issues within “the movement�, not
>> leaving our
>> > friends behind and what we can all do to draw attention to this.
>> > Â
>> > Notice board
>> > We’ll put up a Kidspace notice board in the welcome tent which
>> will draw
>> > attention to what’s going on.  It will include a rough
>> programme of
>> > what organised activities are happening each day.  It will also
>> include
>> > plenty of space for people to write up needs and offers of support
>> with
>> > regards to childcare to facilitate parents/carers getting to the
>> workshops
>> > they want to.  We’ll probably also put up a suggestion about
>> > parents/carers camping close together so they can conveniently share
>> > kidsitting arrangements in the evenings.
>> > Â
>> > Climate Camp Kidzine
>> > We plan to gather all sorts of pictures, games ideas, recipes and
>> diary
>> > entries together from the first few days of the kidspace and publish
>> them
>> > in a zine that can be coloured in at the end of the camp.  The plan
>> is
>> > for someone to get it printed on the evening of Sunday 30th (or first
>> > thing on 31st if it’s not open then) and have it all assembled
>> to be
>> > enjoyed by everyone on the 31st sometime.
>> > Action point: Anna Davies to speak to Bob at the printing co-op about
>> > using their facilities and whether they have a collating machine that
>> > staples stuff too.
>> > Â
>> > Resources
>> > We agreed that we’d like the stuff we gather for the Kidspace
>> to be as
>> > creative and multi-use as possible i.e. not toys that can only be used
>> in
>> > one way and are often useless once one piece is missing but rather
>> lots of
>> > natural objects and versatile construction and crafts materials.
>> > Action point: Jon to send a list of resources round the list included
>> > things we already have and things we’d like.  This list can
>> then be
>> > forwarded to other lists to help us gather all the stuff we’d
>> like.
>> > Â
>> > Activities for the kidspace
>> > Between us we have lots of cool activities we can run and at the camp
>> > there are bound to be lots of other people coming forward with their
>> own
>> > activities they’d like to facilitate.  Here’s our list
>> so far:
>> > Â
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Felt making with Anna
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Bee making with Anna
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Leaf crowns, elder whistles and other forest
>> school
>> > activities with Gemma
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Flag making
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Kite making
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Bread making and biscuit making with Brunel
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Circus skill share with Jon
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Bike maintenance for kids
>> > -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Climate change workshop for kids
>> > Â
>> > This list will be submitted to Maddie for inclusion somewhere in the
>> main
>> > programme, partly in the hope that this will attract more kids to
>> climate
>> > camp this year.
>> > Â
>> > Collective Meeting
>> > We decided to have a meeting of the radical childcare collective at
>> > climate camp as a way to make ourselves more visible and to attract
>> more
>> > people to the group.  Time and date to be arranged.
>> > Â
>> > Â
>> > Yarlswood family
>> > The group would like to show solidarity with Steve and Juliet Umoru
>> > who’ve been recently deported from Yarlswood to Nigeria.
>> > Â
>> > Â
>> > Next meeting Sunday 2nd August 1pm in London Fields play area near the
>> Pub
>> > on the Park.
>> > Â
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
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