As Waldorf early childhood educators at New Amsterdam School, we have all at one time or another been met with questions from community members such as 'what is Waldorf?' or 'how do Waldorf schools teach x, y or z?’
Often the Waldorf approach can be misunderstood to be proscriptive or rigid, when at its best it is simple, intuitive, and flexible!
In this Conversation Series, we want to open the doors to our work at New Amsterdam School, and the world of a Waldorf early childhood approach, and invite you to come with your own reflections, curiosities and confusions. We will look at why we offer particular materials, furnishings and activities (and not others), but go further to discuss more deeply together what is at the real heart of what we strive to offer children and families.
We will examine what really is essential to the healthy development of young children, and how we as caregivers can intentionally create the most supportive environments for their healthy growth; both at an early childhood center like New Amsterdam School, and in our homes. We believe there is no single Waldorf way, rather there are some common principles we hold as guides, with a willingness to grow and change, acknowledging areas of limitation, and embracing diversity.
Susan Howard's article 'What Young Children Really Need: The Essentials of Waldorf Early Childhood Education' has given us an inspirational framework for discussion of these essential elements and common principles.
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Watch our discussion on Love & Warmth here!
The first 'essential' we will discuss is the need to imbue our environment and ourselves with qualities of love and warmth.
What must the child see, hear, and feel if we desire to see them develop true empathy, vitality and a healthy self confidence in expressing boundaries?
As imitative beings, children need to observe and experience loving care, acceptance, and respectful warm relationships even in difficult situations.
The physical environment also needs to contain supportive practical warming materials, foods, colors, and tones.
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Watch our discussion on Care for Environment here!
This month we will look at how conscious care is taken in our classrooms and curriculum to enhance opportunities for positive sensory engagement in the physical environments the children experience; inside and outside.
We work with the children to create and maintain beautiful spaces, and to see the beauty in the world around us. Intention and care is also required to shape the rhythm of children's days (or their temporal environment).
Space and time are made for energetic play and quiet listening, social interactions and alone time, eating and resting, running/jumping/climbing and sitting.
A healthy sense of balance is sought as is a sense of order (including cleanliness and timeliness) without missing out on many moments of fun, mess and creativity!
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Watch our discussion on Creative Artistic Experience here!
Making beautiful things, singing, movement, and storytelling are central to every day in Waldorf early childhood education. Perhaps particular days are painting days, drawing days, handwork days, or cooking days, but more important than the particular activity is an attitude of artistry, reverence and joy in the process of creative expression.
Each child, teacher, or caregiver brings different artistic strengths and knowledge, but we recognize that all human beings have capacities as creative artists, if provided opportunities to explore.
In our discussion, we will concentrate on the art of storytelling and puppetry. We will provide space to explore stories ideal for young children, and practical guidance in creating a beautiful puppet to take home.
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Watch our discussion on Imitation as a Foundational Force for Learning here!
Young children have an innate need to imitate.
Steiner's observation was that for healthy development, children need the adults who care for them to be worthy of imitation; in demeanor, in speech and in action.
In this month's conversation, we will discuss, with examples, how purposeful adult work provides particularly rich models and inspiration for imitation and learning.
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