Early Childhood
Young children are filled with wonder. They see beauty and purpose in
everything. They are curious about all that comes to meet them. It
is this natural sense of wonder that opens young children to the world
around them.
Children learn about life first by seeing and then by imitating what they see. Therefore, great care is taken to surround them with as many life-filled experiences as possible. Free play, singing games, stories, puppet shows, crafts, baking, gardening, eurythmy, painting, and beeswax modeling are natural activities for children from three to six. The foundation for later learning is firmly laid through imitative play.
The role of the Waldorf Early Childhood Educator and Kindergarten Teacher is to create beautiful environments in which to foster the child’s natural curiosity and wonder. At the Nelson Waldorf School, the purpose-built Cedar Forest Kinderhouse offers a variety of Early Childhood Programs intended to serve families with children from three months to school age:
- the parent and child Sweet Peas Program;
- the Marigolds Daycare; and
- the Kindergarten program.