Movement for the Young Child

Book excerpt: This treasury of stories, songs, verses, and games is intended for use in the kindergarten circle time as well as the eurythmy lesson, to bring the joy and healing power of movement to life. Estelle Bryer shares the insights of 43 years as a eurythmist and Waldorf kindergarten teacher: the development of the child, the importance of movement and gesture, and suggestions on discipline, music and structuring a lesson. Whether done with eurythmy gestures or with richly imaginative descriptive gestures, the many sample lessons provide plenty of opportunities in these stories and verses for clapping, stamping; walking on tip-toe, walking on heels; skipping, hopping; and finger-play, as well as contrasts between loud and soft, vigorous and quiet, contraction and expansion, tension and relaxation.Formerly available as Eurythmy for the Young Child, this new edition has been been thoroughly revised and corrected, and the music newly edited by Sally Schweizer.