Warmth in Early Childhood

Warmth, it’s something we talk about a lot in winter, in summer, all year around. A sense no doubt so deeply connected on a deep level to our experience in the womb, to the first feelings of life, of safety and security. Warmth is one of the twelve senses - a middle sense, distinct from touch which not only involves physical warmth but soul warmth too. I’d never considered soul warmth before reading Steiners work, but then realised that all the personal experiences I have which relate to warmth are always connected deeply to love, my Nanna wrapping a scarf around my neck, my mum tucking me in bed.

Yesterday I spent a large part of the afternoon rearranging upstairs ready for the little ones bed being set up, and I brought down an old rug for the playroom. A much needed layer of warmth on our cold winter playroom floor.

The little one has been preferring to play in the sitting room on the rug of late, and this layer of warmth on the playroom floor has been much needed and welcomed by her.

The warmth of our love, and keeping their physical body warm are two of the most important things we can give to our children, especially during the first seven years of their lives when they physical bodies are developing. Using natural fibres to keep our children warm and snug, allows their bodies to focus on growing strong and healthy, allows their bodies the fuel they need for proper immune response. I’m sure we all know the feeling of being cold - how much it draws us away from ourselves, how we can focus on nothing else. Keeping our child removed wrapped in the warmth of our love and in physical comfort allows them to really deepen into play and their experience of the world.

I’ve heard many time over ‘children don’t feel the cold like adults do’ that is so true, before age seven children live in the moment, they are so engrossed in what they do they don’t sense coldness in the way we do - who are physically so grounded in this world.

Providing fuel for physical and soul warmth through love and is so important, showering our children with deep and meaningful interaction and lovingly creating an space which lets them grow and deepen into their (cont in photo) ...