The Waldorf Kindergarten

Abstract

This chapter presents the early childhood education in Waldorf kindergartens. It consists of three major parts. The first part presents the history of the Waldorf kindergarten, its conceptual background and roots in the thinking of Rudolf Steiner. It also gives an overview of the basic ideas of Waldorf pedagogy, focusing on the curriculum in relation to the view of the human being, in particular the child up to the age of six. The second part discusses the role of the teacher, who primarily is seen as a self-reflective, supportive and non-judgemental role model, inspiring and guiding the children through tasks and activities rather than through formal teaching. The third section focuses on the formal organization and practice of the Waldorf kindergartens today and connects this to the ideas of the pedagogy previously presented. The main topics presented are the following: the general structure consisting of daily, weekly and yearly repetitive rhythms that permeate the whole practice is highlighted. Furthermore, the overall design of the indoor and outdoor environment and the selection of toys and play materials are described and related to the idea of the educational importance of providing a space for sense impressions that stimulate children’s imagination and growth. Every day domestic chores as well as craft and artistic activities as a way of creating aesthetic experiences are discussed. Finally, some critical reflections upon the limitations and pitfalls of the Waldorf tradition are brought up.