Using the Waldorf-Inspired Colors of the Day to Add Rhythm

One of the first things new Storytime members notice is that I refer to the days of the week as colors.

“On Yellow Day, we have Storytime outside.”
“On Red Day, we learn a new craft together.”
“We have puppet shows on Orange and Green Days.”

One of my favorite tools for creating and maintaining a weekly rhythm is the Walorf-inspired Colors of the Day. In this blog post, I will give you an introduction and overview of the Colors of the Day and then share how you can use them to create and support rhythm.

Colors of the Day- Intro & Overview

Time can feel slippery and confusing to children–even more so for English-speaking children, as the names of the days all sound the same in English!

Using the colors of the day allows young children to visualize and understand the passage of time more easily. It also helps you create and maintain a weekly rhythm.

Using this idea, we replace the name of the day of the week with a color.

What are the Colors of the Day?

• Monday: Purple Day
• Tuesday: Red Day
• Wednesday: Yellow Day
• Thursday: Orange Day
• Friday: Green Day
• Saturday: Blue Day
• Sunday: White Day

You may be thinking: “Wait. That doesn’t look right. Why aren’t they in the order of the rainbow?”
They are in this order because they are named after celestial bodies: the sun, moon, and planets.
We don’t have time to discuss this in these videos, and I encourage you to do more research if you are interested.

Associated Celestial Bodies

• Monday: Purple Day: Moon
• Tuesday: Red Day: Mars
• Wednesday: Yellow Day: Mercury
• Thursday: Orange Day: Jupiter
• Friday: Green Day: Venus
• Saturday: Blue Day: Saturn
• Sunday: White Day: Sun

How to Use the Colors of the Day to Build a Weekly Rhythm

Recognizing the colors of the day in your home can be an easy way to add rhythm, especially for those who are just beginning to create or reimagine their rhythm.

Start using the color names for the days of the week.

Practice saying things like: “Tomorrow is Red Day, and we are going to swim lessons. We have swim lessons every Red Day.” Write the names of the days of the week and their corresponding color on a piece of paper and stick it in a visible spot for easy reference while you learn.

Add consistent and predictable moments to the different days of the week.

If you’ve ever visited a Waldorf-inspired early childhood program, you might notice that they plan their activities using the colors of the day.

“Purple Day is Baking Day.”     

“Red Day is Craft Day.”

You can use this idea at home, too. Since the Colors of the Day are built into Storytime in the Schoolhouse, our families quickly adopt them and create weekly rhythms similar to those we use in Storytime. They have been able to add regular times of crafting, baking, and other activities.

Because it’s often easier to understand with real-life examples, here are some ideas of weekly rhythms from Storytime families to inspire you:

• Since we have “Craft Visits with Ms. Rae” on Red Days during Storytime, many families have made Tuesdays, or Red Days, crafting days. This means that each Tuesday, they take time to work on a nature-based craft or seasonal project together.
• Every Wednesday, we have a “field trip” during Storytime. Following this rhythm, families take field trips each Wednesday.
• Families bake each Monday, following the recipes in the Storytime Guidebook or using their own.
• Some families plan chores around the different days. Purple Day is laundry day; Red Day is mopping day, etc.

Add a visual weekly calendar to your home.

A simple chart using the colors of the day in a central location in your home. Make sure your children can easily see it, too.
I made a Circular Rhythm Chart that uses the Colors of the Day. You can download a free PDF of my chart or create your own.

Get creative!

Over time, I added Gnomes-of-the-Day, colored napkins, tablecloths, and dishcloths to my kitchen. Some people even like to dress in the color of the day to help reduce choices for clothing.

Other Rhythm Resources

Blog Post: What is Rhythm? Busting Common Misconceptions
Blog Post with Video: Getting Started with Rhythm

We often hear about the importance of rhythm in early childhood circles, yet it remains elusive in reality. No matter our intentions, it can be hard to implement and maintain a rhythm for your family that actually works.
I created the Rhythm Workshop to walk parents through creating a rhythm one step at a time. Join the self-study course and walk away with the foundation of a rhythm that will serve your family for years to come, no matter what changes life throws your way. Buy the Rhythm Workshop because now is a good time to build a rhythm that supports ease and well-being (and at less than $50, it's a freaking steal).