In honour of Spring I decided to set up a Waldorf-style nature table, with Hannah’s help of course. A nature table, or seasonal table, is a small surface decorated with natural objects to reflect the season. The idea is that you will have small toys or crafts, candles, and items collected on walks. You change your table for different holidays and festivals, as well as when the seasons change.
Hannah sets up the table
The purpose (as I understand it) is to bring a bit of the outdoors inside, and to help bring the seasons alive for children. A nature table is meant to be played with, and the kids should be involved in choosing items and setting it up. It’s not a display space for Mom, designed to enhance the beauty of the room. Although it might do that, letting the kids enjoy themselves is more important than enforcing good taste and colour coordination.
Setting out the playsilk
Hannah picked up on the idea right away. She referred to it as a ‘spring scene’ – they have seasonal scenes set up in a fish tank in her daycare. She had all sorts of ideas, and we engaged in some heavy negotations to determine where it would be. We finally chose a spot we could agree on, and found some playsilks to use as tablecloths. I laid out some objects for her to use – a flower-shaped candle holder, a felted spring fairy, some wooden eggs, Hannah’s ‘treasures’ from a trip to the park with my mom. And then Hannah chose some items, too. A metal bowl, a pillow, a toy honeypot, and of course Barbie.
The spring fairy needs a friend, and Barbie’s just the ticket
After all, who doesn’t love Barbie?
I’m pretty sure that mass-produced plastic toys are not meant to be part of a nature table. But I decided to butt out. The nature table is not about me. It is about Hannah, and in her mind Barbie can only improve any tableau, with her eternal smile and her flowing blond hair. This is one time for me to let Hannah’s self-expression reign. As she gets older we may be able to come to a better understanding as to what belongs on the nature table, but for now I will leave it in her capable hands.
Hannah playing with the ‘spring scene’
After several permutations Hannah did remove the Barbie doll. And I was secretly pleased. Although I guarantee you she will be back on there again as Hannah plays and re-arranges. Perhaps she will even be joined by the ever-loving Barbie styling head that Hannah purchased with her allowance. Or a My Little Pony. The non-Waldorf-approved toy options are rather plentiful here at Casa de Strocel.
The ‘finished’ product (for now)
You can find more photos of our recent adventures on my photostream. And please, let me know if you do anything with your kids to mark the changing seasons. I’m always up for good kid activities, as long as no felting is involved. 
In my house we only have ‘erotic’ barbie….as it seems my girls refuse to keep them dressed! It would be a riske type of ‘nature’ scene if you know what I mean….but, what a good idea. I think I might just borrow this when the snow is gone…I wonder, is it okay to wrap summer into spring on the table
ahhhhh! that is just too funny!
I like your flexibility. Barbie can like nature too!
I am just learning about Waldorf ways myself and a nature table is something I am working on too. I am really feeling a need to be more natural lately. To make and give natural, handmade gifts and to experience nature in our everyday lives to the fullest.
The process is what I believe to be the most important, the time you spend together creating, discussing, choosing, and then playing with. The streams of imaginative play, the learning process are what is important so I say if Hannah wants Barbie, then she should have Barbie on her table.
I am positive Barbie goes against everything Waldorf in the first place but you are, like me, just venturing into a journey along a waldorf path; we pick up the pieces that work for our lives, and use them the best we can.
I love how you encourage her creativity and imagination. Your a great mentor.
in my house it would totally be tinkerbell