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never really been in it, never known the seasons, or known through your own experience
that a bud will become a leaf, a fruit or food for eating?
-Helle Heckman,
Nokken, A Garden for Children
6:1. The maximum number of students we will accept is 5. My
own preschooler accounts for number 6. The number we
ultimately decide on is dependant upon the temperament of the
children we enroll. A smaller number may be necessary to meet
the needs of all the children.
What does Waldorf- inspired mean?
Waldorf-inspired means that we follow many of the methods of
the Waldorf approach such as the daily, weekly and seasonal
rhythms, the infusion of artistic activity throughout the day, the
inclusion of the "practical arts", and the inclusion of movement
activities. Because the preschool child learns primarily through
imitation and exploration, teachers in the Waldorf-inspired
classroom seek to provide positive and encouraging role models.
As Freya Jafke writes, we seek to guide "children gently into life,
by allowing them to learn from life for life."
What is Reggio Emilia?
Reggio Emilia is an education philosophy which emphasizes
respect, responsibility and community. This approach encourages
children to have input into their learning experience and to be
self-guided. Reggio Emilia, like Waldorf and Montessori,
encourages experiential education, rather than learning by rote.
Children become immersed not only in their learning
environment, but also in their learning relationships with teachers
and fellow students.
Why do you choose wooden toys over plastic or electronic
toys?
We have two reasons for offering natural toys in our preschool.
Because the preschool child learns primarily through imitation
and exploration, we make available to him toys which are simple
and ordinary: blocks cut from trees with the bark still attached
rather than squared off blocks sanded to perfection, dolls made
from cotton and wool, rather than plastic and polyester. The
warmth and softness of natural toys creates an environment that
is worthy of imitation. Secondly, simple toys require the child to
create details with her imagination. A handmade doll with few
facial details allows the child to create a variety of scenes: the doll
is happy because she has just been fed and is snuggling up for a
nap or the doll is sad because she has dropped her favorite toy.
The possibilities are endless with such open-ended playthings. A
simple silk play cloth in the hands of a three year old can become a
prince's cape, a campfire, a sling for carrying his baby doll or hot
lava pouring down from an erupting volcano. Young children
need to exercise their imagination "muscle" in order for it to grow
and flourish and for them to feel grounded in their world. We
have found that simple toys which provide a rich connection to
nature are best for exercising this "muscle".
What do you mean by "practical arts"?
Activities such as baking bread, finger or spool knitting, dipping
beeswax candles, weaving and "naturecrafting" are what we call
the practical arts. These activities both ground the child in the
natural world and prepare her for later academic activities. (For
example, finger knitting is one way to prepare a child's
hand/finger muscles for writing.)
Why do you celebrate so many holidays throughout the
school year?
As any parent of a preschooler knows, time is an incomprehensible
topic for young children. They simply don't understand
tomorrow, next week, five minutes from now. Seasonal and
holiday celebrations allow young children to slowly and gently
become connected with time and changes in the natural world.
In May, for example, we celebrate May Day: spring is here,
warmth has returned, school is almost out! In the fall, we
celebrate generosity and courage by holding a potluck and
donating jackets for those in need. We tell stories of generosity
and carry lanterns during the lantern walk, a reminder of the
power of our own light. In December, we have the beautiful
Spiral of Lights Celebration (my personal favorite) to remember
that even though the cold darkness of winter is upon us, we
always hold within us the light of love and kindness.
In addition to these celebrations, we have a nature table in the
preschool which reflects seasonal changes throughout the years.
newly sprouted.
filling their bellies with yummy oats!