Our 6th day, September 9, 2026, homeschooling my four-year-old triplet nephews continued the rhythm we're beginning to establish in our Waldorf-inspired kindergarten. Many of our projects take several days to complete, and today we returned to the wool the children had cleaned and carded during our previous lesson.

We're making wet felted wool balls, and I prepared the centers ahead of time using scraps of wool and yarn. The children wrapped their carded wool around the cores before we began felting them in warm and cold water.

I've done this project with children of different ages, and I've learned that demonstrating is much more effective than giving a lot of verbal instructions. I also found that if I get each child's project started and make sure the wool is beginning to hold together, they can continue quite successfully on their own.

The children are also incredibly patient about waiting for their turn. Even though we have plenty of adults and teenagers available to help, they really don't need as much assistance as I expected. They listen, wait for their materials, and are very responsive when I show them how to adjust what they're doing. Teaching them has truly been such a joy.

Wet felting is definitely a messy project, but that's part of the experience. We started with warm water, making sure it wasn't too hot for their hands, and then moved into ice cold water. The children went back and forth between the two, and it was interesting to see which temperatures each child preferred. Once the balls were felted, we added them to our natural dye pots with yellow onion skins and black beans. They'll get to see their finished projects the next time they come.

Then it was time to head into the kitchen for our snack. Today we made chia seed pudding with coconut milk, bananas, and coconut flakes. I ground the chia seeds first for a smoother consistency, and the children helped measure everything into their individual bowls.

While the pudding thickened, each child cut half a banana using a serrated knife. They've now worked with knives during several lessons, and I'm seeing them become much more confident and capable. They added their bananas and coconut flakes to the pudding, and once again, such a simple task gave me an opportunity to observe their different personalities. One child added scoop after scoop of coconut, another added exactly what I asked for, and another was very careful about getting just the right amount.

I'm still in the beginning stages of observing the children and learning about their individual personalities and temperaments. These everyday experiences give me so much information about who they are and help me think about how to bring lessons that are appropriate for each of them.

We've also been gardening since our first few classes, and now we're getting to see the exciting part. Our seeds are growing! The children are able to observe the changes, water their plants, and see which seedlings have emerged. Some are already ready to be transplanted, so that will become another project for an upcoming lesson.

We finished our day with The Hedgehog Leaves Home. We're still reading only one or two pages at a time, which feels like just enough for this age. Before we continue, I ask the children what they remember from the previous part of the story, and then we bring out our little animals and props.

Our collection continues to grow as new animals appear in the story. Today the children explored a little metal spider that they could hold and pass around. We also brought out a little mouse that I never quite finished making. I had hesitated to give it to them because it wasn't complete, but of course they didn't care. Their imaginations filled in everything that was missing, and the little mouse crawled up and down their arms while they giggled.

We also have a little bird sitting on two tiny eggs. The children are very curious to see if the eggs have hatched, but not yet. Because they're fragile, this is also an opportunity to learn that some things can be held and played with while others are simply observed.

As new animals appear in the story, the children immediately ask if I have one. Luckily, much of the time I do. Today I brought out knitted bunnies that my own children made years ago along with a little cat. I love seeing these handmade toys become part of another generation's childhood.

Eventually, I'd like to memorize the story and tell it rather than read it so that I can bring it more authentically in the Waldorf tradition. I've also discovered that The Hedgehog Leaves Home is part of a series, and several more books have started arriving. I'm excited to incorporate them as we move through fall and into winter.

The children now know that our story marks the end of our school day. When it's finished, they gather their things, put on their shoes and socks, grab their water bottles, and wave goodbye until next time.