Parents who are adapting the approach Rudolf Steiner used in the Waldorf Schools to the home setting are finding that it not only increases their understanding of child development and how to teach in a lively, artistic manner, but it can also transform and enrich all of family life.
Steiner, an Austrian educator who opened the first Waldorf School in 1919, was one of the early proponents of educating the whole child, not just the intellect. His indications for "developmentally appropriate education" were supported by the later work of Piaget and Gisell and are being upheld by recent brain research. When parents understand how children develop and learn, they are better able to counteract society's tendency to treat and educate children as if they were little adults. For example, because young children learn primarily through movement and imitation, early childhood education in the home or Waldorf preschool/kindergarten needs to provide a program rich in imaginative play, music, rhythm, and artistic activities instead of teaching early reading and math or having the child sit in front of a computer. Studies have shown that the imaginative manipulation found in play-based programs provides the best foundation for later reading and math--and it can serve as a wellspring of life-long creativity.
Steiner's indications provide rich insights not only into what to introduce when, but how to teach children of various ages. Because children from 7-14 learn best when their imaginative and artistic faculties are engaged, Waldorf education helps parents/teachers present every subject in a lively and artistic way. Teachers in Waldorf schools stay with the same group of children from first through eighth grade-not only so they will know the child intimately, but so they will have to prepare each lesson fresh every night. Parents doing home schooling have both these advantages built in!
Parents who research Waldorf education and adapt it to the home setting often find that it has a beneficial effect on all of family life. For example, working with the Waldorf indications can enrich family life through experiencing the value of rhythm in both daily life and in celebrating the festivals of the year. And it can lead to an increased appreciation of the importance of the work of the mother in the home and the ways in which parents can encourage the unfolding of their children to their full potential.
In the past few years, many new resources have arisen for parents who want to explore Waldorf home schooling. These range from national conferences to local as well as national support groups, including:
- "Waldorf in the Home." A two-day conference held annually each fall in Fair Oaks, California and in Boulder, Colorado; spring conference in Fair Oaks, only. Contact Informed Family Life at (303) 546-0070 or www.waldorfhomeschooling.org [see Conference Information, on right]
- Waldorf Without Walls. Quarterly newsletter and advisory help from Barbara Dewey, 89900 Mill Hill Rd, Bowerston, OH 44695. (740) 269-3038 or www.waldorfwithoutwalls.com.
- Christopherus Homeschooling Resources. Consulting and publications from Donna Simmons, PO Box 231, Viroqua, WI 54665. (608) 637-8031 or www.christopherushomeschool.org.
- Live Education! P.O. Box 306, Aptos, CA 95001. Provides an excellent home-based Waldorf curriculum for K-8. (831) 457-4243 or www.live-education.com.
- Resources for Waldorf home schooling parents: www.waldorfresources.com and Waldorf Inspired Students at Home (WISH):
www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com.
- Rudolf Steiner College offers weekend and summer courses on all aspects of Waldorf teaching and parenting. Extensive bookstore and mailorder service. 9200 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628. College: (916) 961-8727; bookstore, (916) 961-8729 or www.steinercollege.edu.
