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Early Childhood Programs
- Kindergarten
- Preschool
- Parent/Toddler
Play is the work of the young child; imitation is his special talent and natural way of learning. The Waldorf teacher creates an environment where natural beauty and reverence for life abound, bringing warmth, security and cooperation to the child's world of constructive fantasy and imagination.
The Kindergarten meets five mornings per week. The teacher participates in practical and artistic activities which the children imitate -- baking, drawing, modeling, and handcrafts. The children wholeheartedly re-enact these guided activities in their free, creative play. With joy and devotion they express wonder for life and enthusiasm for work, building a strong bridge to later academic learning:
- Songs and nursery rhymes cultivate intimacy with language.
- Listening to stories, watching puppet shows and engaging in dramatic play strengthen the powers of memory and imagination.
- Counting games and rhythmic activities build a solid foundation for arithmetic and number skills.
- Practical work activities develop coordination and the ability to concentrate.
One of the fundamental elements of Waldorf education is rhythm. Through rhythm a feeling of security is developed in the children so that they can move through the complex world in which they live feeling more confident and at ease. In bringing a flexible and creative rhythm into daily activities, our children are given a gift for their entire lives. A typical daily rhythm in the Kindergarten includes circle time, free play, clean-up, rest, snack, group activity such as painting or a puppet show, and a good-bye circle. In addition, a sense of seasonal rhythm is built throughout the year by integrating festivals and seasonal stories into the curriculum, inspiring a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature. The Kindergarten welcomes children who are 4 1/2 to 6 years old.
The Rose Garden Preschool provides a warm, home-like environment which can be the bridge from home to school for the child. The program is designed for children who are 3 to 4 1/2 and who are ready for a three morning program without the parent. Rose Garden meets from Monday- Tuesday-Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The Parent/Toddler Program seeks to create a warm, supportive environment in which parents and children can enjoy each other. We hope that parents gather ideas that they can use at home. This weekly two-hour class (Thursday or Friday morning) is a time for parents or other caregivers and the youngest children to gather for a rhythmic morning of play, song and verse, and movement. After a walk in the garden and a short puppet show the morning finishes with a goodbye song.