Thoughts on Nature Tables...

A nature table is a lovely thing!  It is a common sight in Waldorf/Steiner kindergartens and early year classes, and often makes itself known in family homes.

A nature table becomes a place where the outside world is made visible on the inside.  Where we can take a motif, or theme, and expand upon that to, in some small way, make it live a bit more consciously, on a daily basis.

A nature table can be a representation of a season, of the subtle changes in the world surrounding us and as a way to encourage children to take notice.  Children often love the nature table, and want to add their own bit of spice to it!

This is my Mid-spring Nature Table.  It is a simple representation of a young boy out sailing in his boat, with his grandfather waving hello to him.  Boating is a familiar sight here in Spring, with our gorgeous blue sky golden sun days. 

One of the biggest challenges we face as Waldorf/Steiner teachers is remembering to always bring everything we do back to the essence.  The nature table (and our classrooms) presents this question to us in many ways.

In our western world, it is easy to be seduced by beauty, by material goods, by perfectionism but when we think of young childhood, we must strive to remember that goodness and simplicity are two golden keys we must hold.   

Oftentimes, we Waldorf teachers are seduced by the lovely and sweet things made by our families, the craft group and found in Natural Parenting type shops.  We can sometimes overfill our rooms, and our nature tables, with things that are indeed beautiful but sometimes so 'fixed' in their nature, that a child actually cannot do anything with the image.  The things on display can become more about what we like, or find pretty, than anything about truthfulness, honesty or integrity.  We can forget our goal of bringing a 'taste' of the world and instead bring something false.  It is the creation of a winter table complete with snow and a snowman, when the climate in reality is sub-tropical, with palm trees, all year round beach access and t-shirts. 

Simplicity is one gift we can give young children.  A simple scene, unadorned, allows a child to 'grow' the setting and have some input.  A child (especially one living in our 'information overload' world) will notice a simple scene and be mesmerised.  There is magic in leaving some things undone. 

Creativity and imagination require two things-  space and time.  Space to allow some kind of growth, and time to let things develop.  A simple nature table scene, left intact for a week or two or three, provides a platform for so many things-  inspiration, imitation, imagination, language development, storytelling and games to name a few. 

When we take a moment to look at our selves, and our surroundings, and the things we set up for the children, it marks the beginning of a growing consciousness about children.  We learn that less IS often more! 

Happy Nature table creating!