by JAMIE MARTIN on APRIL 16, 2010 from Simple Homeschool
Overview: Waldorf education began in Germany in the early 1900′s. Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher, had written about three distinct phases of childhood development. He believed a healthy education should have these phases as its foundation.
Currently there are over 1,000 Waldorf schools worldwide, and many homeschooling families gain inspiration from Steiner’s ideas.
Waldorf educators seek to expose children to a wide variety of subjects and interests. There’s a determined effort to avoid gender stereotypes as well as a focus on setting the child up for success by introducing effective routines and habits. The goal is to provide a well-rounded education to aid the child’s development.
Three phases of childhood development provide the foundation to the Waldorf method.
To learn more and read the full post, visit here.
Further Reading (a list by Jamie which I highly recommend as well!):
- Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out
- Beyond the Rainbow Bridge : Nurturing our children from birth to seven
- You Are Your Child’s First Teacher: What Parents Can Do With and For Their Chlldren from Birth to Age Six
- Creative Play for Your Toddler: Steiner Waldorf Expertise and Toy Projects for 2 – 4s
- Seven Times the Sun: Guiding Your Child Through the Rhythms of the Day
- Waldorf Education: A Family Guide
