Italians aren’t the only ones to introduce their unique educational philosophies to the United States; the Waldorf method, developed by Dr. Rudolph Steiner, is Germany’s contribution. Dr. Waldorf believed that education should involve not only the mind, but the body and spirit as well. A Waldorf-inspired preschool is designed to educate all of these elements together. It provides a very family-like atmosphere in which kids can learn without being in competition with each other. The arts play a big role in this philosophy, and everything is done with an emphasis on teamwork and togetherness. The Waldorf method is distinctive in that a child will have the same teacher from preschool through eighth grade, thus allowing for a close student-teacher bond; it also ensures that each child’s abilities and struggles will be understood. The teacher becomes like a second parent to the child. Everything in a Waldorf classroom is all-natural – literally – right down to the beeswax crayons the kids use. Academics aren’t really focused on until later in the child’s education; Waldorf preschools focus on imaginative play and creative, hands-on activities.
Summary: A Waldorf preschool will provide your child with a group-oriented atmosphere and a teacher who offers gentle guidance instead of being a strict authoritarian. Much emphasis is placed on creativity; academics are not the focus until later grades. The children stay with the same teacher and classmates for as long as they’re in a Waldorf school, up until eighth grade.
Is this right for my child? Because the Waldorf approach is gentle and nurturing, it’s great for kids who may be a little shy, and can also have a calming and balancing effect on aggressive children as well. They’ll develop their imaginations through creativity and play, so if you’re comfortable with a Waldorf preschool’s relative lack of focus on academics, this could be the right philosophy for you.