Early Years… (3-6 years)  Kindergarten or ‘Kindy’

The young child between the ages of 3 1/2 and 7 years loves to imitate the adults around her and this healthy imitation is recognised by the Waldorf Kindergarten teacher as the focus for the child’s learning during these early years. The young child, as she grows into her body, lives particularly in her will activity and learns enthusiastically through doing.

A clear daily and weekly rhythm blending into the wider rhythms of Festivals and Seasons brings a sense of belonging and security to each child;

• Each morning when the children arrive they are invited to join the activity of the day. This may be painting, craft, bread making, or drawing.
• Alongside this activity children are free to play (facilitated but not led by the teacher).
• Then the children all help to tidy up.
• This is followed by circle time, in which the teacher leads the children in an activity which can include poetry, music, movement, and singing.
• After circle time, the children and teachers enjoy a snack which they have prepared together earlier.
• Then the children play outside for an hour.
• The morning usually ends with story-time around a lighted candle before the children greet their parents.

We strive for a warm, homely atmosphere in the Kindergartens, and natural rather than synthetic materials are chosen for the children’s play and use.

The environment created in the kindergarten is as far as possible a beautiful one, within which the children can explore the richness of their own imagination.

It is for this reason that finished or mechanical toys are perceived as inappropriate, and the use of tape recorded or televised material is counter-productive to the healthy imitation we wish to foster in the children.