Things I’ve Learned and Love About Waldorf Education
Educating the Hands, Heart, and Head
A Focus on Rhythm
• There are natural rhythms in our years (winter, spring, summer, fall), weeks, and in our days (day and night). Embrace these rhythms in your life because they are there for a reason.
• Rhythm is a gentle and familiar flow.
• Children feel safe and secure; they thrive on knowing what comes next.
• Have daily rhythmic tasks the children can be a part of like washing dishes by hand and sweeping the floor.
• Have a rhythm of the day so children always know what comes next.
• Use morning rituals and bedtime rituals like bath time, a story, and prayers with a bed time candle.
• Waldorf schools use colors of the day and grains of the day for snack to help children know the rhythm.
A Focus on Purposeful, Joyful Work
• Children learn what they see; they imitate everything in their environment. So we need to always be worthy of imitation.
• Parents/teachers should bring joy into their everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, washing, and ironing by truly loving and valuing the work that is done.
• Children are encouraged to help with the work.
• Sing as you work.
• In Waldorf Education children take part in bread baking and soup day. They help with the kneading, the peeling, and the chopping. They get to contribute and feel pride in their work.
A Focus on a Beautiful and Calm Home Environment
• Children flourish in a calm and soothing environment that is free of stress and “hurry, hurry”.
• The atmosphere we create in our home is the most powerful influence over a young child.
A Focus on Play
• The child is given so much time to play and use the imagination.
• Academics are not rushed. Learning through play is the focus in early childhood and kindergarten.
• Play is a young child’s “work”.
• Children naturally create and imagine, let them be in their own world of play and they will be able to entertain themselves for hours!
A Focus on Natural Toys
• Waldorf toys are made of natural materials like wood, silk, wool, and cotton.
• Waldorf toys are a rich sensory experience because children take in everything; they experience everything, through their senses.
• Waldorf toys are pleasing to the touch. Imagine what it feels like to a toddler holding a hard, cold, plastic doll compared to a doll made of warm and soft cloth and wool…much more pleasing to the senses.
• Toys should be beautiful to behold because the sense of sight is just as important as the sense of touch.
• Waldorf toys inspire imagination. They are simple so children are free to create their own play any way they would like. Waldorf toys are open-ended and can be used many ways. Toys with lights and sounds and toys that only do one thing take all the imagination away.
A Focus on Nature and Outdoor Play
• Waldorf education is inspired by nature. Children are just coming to know this world of ours. They delight in the beauty and wonder of nature.
• Gardening is one of the best ways to teach a child the wonders of nature.
• Children should take slow nature walks to experience nature daily.
• Children play outside every day in all kinds of weather. They are able to run and jump, swing and slide, play in the dirt and sand, splash in the puddles, and play in the snow.
A Focus on Music
• Singing songs is a huge part of Waldorf education. Songs are sung throughout the day, during circle time, and during special festivals and celebrations.
• In Waldorf education, children learn to play the pentatonic flute in first grade and a string instrument in fourth grade.
A Focus on Movement
• Children take part in movement games during circle time.
• Children are involved in active kinesthetic learning to teach and master skills, especially in math.
• Children take a special dance class in movement.
A Focus on Stories and Storytelling
• Rich oral language experiences that nourish the head and heart.
• Children are told stories every day for pure enjoyment.
• Children are taught academics through stories.
• Children enjoy puppet shows and put on plays of the stories they are experiencing.
A Focus on Art
• Chalkboard drawings are created to bring art and beauty into a story or lesson. They help the children really live into and fully experience the story or lesson.
• Beginning in early childhood, children use beeswax crayons. They are a delight to the senses. The colors are so vivid and blend beautifully. They smell sweet.
• Children learn drawing and coloring techniques that they then use in their main lesson books.
• Beginning in early childhood, children do wet-on-wet watercolor paintings. This is a beautiful way to paint and learn about color. The colors shine and dance on the paper.
• Children do beeswax modeling; another sensory experience. The beeswax is so brightly colored. It warms up and softens in the children’s hands.
• Children also do clay modeling.
A Focus on Crafts
• Handwork is a critical part of the curriculum. This builds the brain and exercises the fingers. It also teaches pride in work.
• Beginning in Kindergarten, children learn to finger knit. They learn how to knit in first grade.
• Children also learn sewing, crocheting, and cross stitch.
• Children do wet felting and needle felting which improves spatial awareness and fine motor skills.
• In the older grades, children learn wood working.
A Focus on Main Lessons and Main Lesson Books
• Children are taught in main lesson blocks which allows for more time to deepen understanding of the material.
• Children create their own main lesson books instead of using textbooks. Their own words and drawings go into their main lesson books. This makes their learning that much more meaningful. It also is the perfect place to see all that has been learned.
• Children rarely go back to their old textbooks, but often go back to their main lesson books because they are so beautiful and meaningful.
A Focus on Festivals and Celebrations
• We can celebrate and make memories throughout the year with festivals. It is a way to celebrate and recognize the progression of time.
• Waldorf schools celebrate festivals like Candlemas Day, May Day, Easter, Michealmas, Martinmas, Advent, and Christmas.
• These festivals and traditions are simple ways to bring joy and comfort to your family.
Educating the Hands, Heart, and Head
A Focus on Rhythm
• There are natural rhythms in our years (winter, spring, summer, fall), weeks, and in our days (day and night). Embrace these rhythms in your life because they are there for a reason.
• Rhythm is a gentle and familiar flow.
• Children feel safe and secure; they thrive on knowing what comes next.
• Have daily rhythmic tasks the children can be a part of like washing dishes by hand and sweeping the floor.
• Have a rhythm of the day so children always know what comes next.
• Use morning rituals and bedtime rituals like bath time, a story, and prayers with a bed time candle.
• Waldorf schools use colors of the day and grains of the day for snack to help children know the rhythm.
A Focus on Purposeful, Joyful Work
• Children learn what they see; they imitate everything in their environment. So we need to always be worthy of imitation.
• Parents/teachers should bring joy into their everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, washing, and ironing by truly loving and valuing the work that is done.
• Children are encouraged to help with the work.
• Sing as you work.
• In Waldorf Education children take part in bread baking and soup day. They help with the kneading, the peeling, and the chopping. They get to contribute and feel pride in their work.
A Focus on a Beautiful and Calm Home Environment
• Children flourish in a calm and soothing environment that is free of stress and “hurry, hurry”.
• The atmosphere we create in our home is the most powerful influence over a young child.
A Focus on Play
• The child is given so much time to play and use the imagination.
• Academics are not rushed. Learning through play is the focus in early childhood and kindergarten.
• Play is a young child’s “work”.
• Children naturally create and imagine, let them be in their own world of play and they will be able to entertain themselves for hours!
A Focus on Natural Toys
• Waldorf toys are made of natural materials like wood, silk, wool, and cotton.
• Waldorf toys are a rich sensory experience because children take in everything; they experience everything, through their senses.
• Waldorf toys are pleasing to the touch. Imagine what it feels like to a toddler holding a hard, cold, plastic doll compared to a doll made of warm and soft cloth and wool…much more pleasing to the senses.
• Toys should be beautiful to behold because the sense of sight is just as important as the sense of touch.
• Waldorf toys inspire imagination. They are simple so children are free to create their own play any way they would like. Waldorf toys are open-ended and can be used many ways. Toys with lights and sounds and toys that only do one thing take all the imagination away.
A Focus on Nature and Outdoor Play
• Waldorf education is inspired by nature. Children are just coming to know this world of ours. They delight in the beauty and wonder of nature.
• Gardening is one of the best ways to teach a child the wonders of nature.
• Children should take slow nature walks to experience nature daily.
• Children play outside every day in all kinds of weather. They are able to run and jump, swing and slide, play in the dirt and sand, splash in the puddles, and play in the snow.
A Focus on Music
• Singing songs is a huge part of Waldorf education. Songs are sung throughout the day, during circle time, and during special festivals and celebrations.
• In Waldorf education, children learn to play the pentatonic flute in first grade and a string instrument in fourth grade.
A Focus on Movement
• Children take part in movement games during circle time.
• Children are involved in active kinesthetic learning to teach and master skills, especially in math.
• Children take a special dance class in movement.
A Focus on Stories and Storytelling
• Rich oral language experiences that nourish the head and heart.
• Children are told stories every day for pure enjoyment.
• Children are taught academics through stories.
• Children enjoy puppet shows and put on plays of the stories they are experiencing.
A Focus on Art
• Chalkboard drawings are created to bring art and beauty into a story or lesson. They help the children really live into and fully experience the story or lesson.
• Beginning in early childhood, children use beeswax crayons. They are a delight to the senses. The colors are so vivid and blend beautifully. They smell sweet.
• Children learn drawing and coloring techniques that they then use in their main lesson books.
• Beginning in early childhood, children do wet-on-wet watercolor paintings. This is a beautiful way to paint and learn about color. The colors shine and dance on the paper.
• Children do beeswax modeling; another sensory experience. The beeswax is so brightly colored. It warms up and softens in the children’s hands.
• Children also do clay modeling.
A Focus on Crafts
• Handwork is a critical part of the curriculum. This builds the brain and exercises the fingers. It also teaches pride in work.
• Beginning in Kindergarten, children learn to finger knit. They learn how to knit in first grade.
• Children also learn sewing, crocheting, and cross stitch.
• Children do wet felting and needle felting which improves spatial awareness and fine motor skills.
• In the older grades, children learn wood working.
A Focus on Main Lessons and Main Lesson Books
• Children are taught in main lesson blocks which allows for more time to deepen understanding of the material.
• Children create their own main lesson books instead of using textbooks. Their own words and drawings go into their main lesson books. This makes their learning that much more meaningful. It also is the perfect place to see all that has been learned.
• Children rarely go back to their old textbooks, but often go back to their main lesson books because they are so beautiful and meaningful.
A Focus on Festivals and Celebrations
• We can celebrate and make memories throughout the year with festivals. It is a way to celebrate and recognize the progression of time.
• Waldorf schools celebrate festivals like Candlemas Day, May Day, Easter, Michealmas, Martinmas, Advent, and Christmas.
• These festivals and traditions are simple ways to bring joy and comfort to your family.