There are two great misconceptions I often come across when introducing families to Steiner's indications for education and development. The first is that the emphasis on play in the early years is strictly about delaying academics. The second is that the purpose of main lesson blocks in Steiner/Waldorf education serve only as a vehicle for … Continue reading Time and Space for Diving Deeply
Category: The Developing Child
Teens Need Compassion
There's been a lot of this happening recently... I wish I could say it was some fantastic technology maker unit we were doing, but alas, this keyboard has been taken apart (numerous times) because something has been spilled on it. Our 14 (almost 15) year old is growing. The balance of his stretching body and … Continue reading Teens Need Compassion
Geography – From here to there…
"You can see that a great deal must be incorporated into teaching geography, so that it can become a kind of summary of everything else we do with children." Rudolf Steiner Lecture 11, Practical Advice to Teachers. Planning our geography block has been such a rewarding experience. I thought that Norse Mythology was my favourite … Continue reading Geography – From here to there…
Purposeful Work
December 17. 2018 "Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility - these three forces are the very nerve of education." ~ Rudolf Steiner Purposeful work. It … Continue reading Purposeful Work
Preserving Childhood
This may not look like anything more than a mess of swords, shields and bows, but it is so much more. It is literally hours of play outdoors. Imaginative play. Deep rooted soul food. Uninterrupted exploration and world creation. My eldest had some friends and cousins over today, all within a year or two of … Continue reading Preserving Childhood
Phases of Childhood
"A complete change seems to have come over his feelings as though he has lost their protection of the imaginative world projected outside himself, as though he suddenly, seeing it's worst side, experiences the world as a hostile place. ... The child has become critical. The people he respected most and who had been placed … Continue reading Phases of Childhood
Soul Work In The Kitchen
The soul work continues! My son has a growing list of recipes he would like to learn. And I'm never going to say no to a child who wants to make me a meal! Working in the kitchen is such a wonderful way for children to build trust and belief in themselves. There is much … Continue reading Soul Work In The Kitchen
Soul Work, Not Grunt Work
https://videopress.com/v/bxLoTNZL?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true My newly-11 year old has changed so much over the last three months. His sleep rhythms have him up later and wanting to sleep in longer, he doesn't have the same energy throughout the day as he used to, yet he recognizes without any energy outlet he feels emotionally "squirrely' and unsettled. And he … Continue reading Soul Work, Not Grunt Work
