early childhood

Recognizing that during the first seven years of life the child grows tremendously and learns through doing, the overall goal of the early childhood program is to help the child develop a healthy body and to allow them to live in the world of wonder and reverence. The child is striving to grasp and understand the world that they live in. Through movement, crafts, and domestic activities we help the child take hold of their body and learn to use it in more skillful ways. A rhythmic schedule and the practice of good habits form the beginning of self-discipline and the ability to use their will with intention. Because young children learn through direct experience, we teach through imitation. Therefore the environment plays an important part in this education. We take care that the young child is surrounded by beauty and order and that their senses are met with gentle impressions. Learning to work as part of a group helps the child to develop social skills.

For many children, entering the early childhood program is one of their first experiences without their parents. We seek to support the child through this separation and foster the unfolding of the child's growing sense of autonomy. We lead the child to gradually become more independent by learning to dress themselves, speak up for themselves, and to solve more problems on their own - all under the guidance of the teacher.

The early childhood classroom is set up in a home-like way to nurture the child and provide them with a sense of security. The children help the teachers with domestic activities such as snack preparation, cleaning and washing, putting toys away, taking care of plants, etc. These tasks are part of the necessary work that is required for our classes to run each day; by being part of it the child feels a sense of self-worth and of mastery.

The child's powers of fantasy unfold naturally at this age and we seek to strengthen them by providing ample opportunity for free play and simple toys which require that the child use their imagination. This forms the foundation for a strong memory in the grade school years.

Play is the heart of the Waldorf early childhood program. Daily opportunities for free play, both indoors and out are provided. Through play the child exercises their fantasy, social skills, fine and gross motor skills, and most importantly experiences the world directly. Artistic activities such as watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, coloring and seasonal crafts are also woven into the rhythm of the class.

The day consists of both individual and group activities, some which are more focused and some which are more free. A rhythmic movement between these types of activities develops flexibility and health.

Through the daily circle time activities of reciting poems, singing songs, and practicing fine and gross motors skills, the children are developing the ability to follow the teacher as part of a whole group. As with all of the artistic activities, circle time also nurtures the inner life of the child.

Story time is part of each day and fosters the development of the child's fantasy, listening skills and vocabulary. The teacher tells the same fairy or nursery tale for a week or two; this allows the child to fully take in the story, which then sometimes is expressed in their play.

We encourage a healthy relationship between the human being and the world by being attentive to the changing seasons and the cycle of the year. What is happening in nature and the work associated with that time of year often form the content of circle time and give the impulse for crafts activities and stories. The children also experience the seasons and the elements through daily outdoor play.

By protecting their childhood and sense of wonder, allowing the child to experience the world directly, and by providing healthy examples for imitation we form the foundation needed for continued growth and development in the areas of thinking, feeling, and willing.