Waldorf Early Childhood Education class 1

bensmommy | Dec 06, 2008 | 0 | Posted in Child Care

Hello!  My 2 1/2 year old boy and I are now taking our second "Observation" Class through the San Francisco Early Childhood Education program run by the SF Waldorf School.  I find myself bringing this up in conversation with many people and hoped to share bits of my experience with you every week, based on activities and discussions we have in class.  

This week was the first of 10 classes.  Every Friday, we meet (about 10 2-ish year olds and their moms and/or dads) up near the Marina.  We first come in, take off our shoes, wash our hands, and sit at the table to knead bread.  This class has extended into greater cooking so this week we were taught how to help our little 2 year olds how to chop vegetables with a knife.  After the food is ready to be cooked (the bread is put in the oven and the vegetables were put on the fire for a soup), we all make our way upstairs into a large playroom.  There are many toys, all made from natural materials - wood, metal, cloth, etc.  The children then are free to play while the parents discuss some 'issue' either brought up by a parent or by our teacher, Lalla.  We then convene again for songs in a circle, make our way back to the eating area, wash our hands, say a blessing for our food, and enjoy our bread, soup, cheese and some bread.  

This week, being the first week of this new group, the returning parents shared a positive experience that they had integrated after the last series.  I was most impressed by one mother who said she started staying home more with her son, as in, not planning a hundred and one activities and classes to keep him occupied.  Rather, making household life an activity in itself - to engage him in cooking, cleaning, playing in the home, resting in the home.  On top of that, these activities, by nature, follow a timely rhythm.  There is time to play, time to cook, time to clean, etc.  This rhythm provides confidence and reliability for the little children.  They are also participants in their life, not just being taken here, there and everywhere.  

That's my word for the week.  As more things pop up, I will share.  I really am finding this quite helpful and relaxing!

For more about these classes, visit http://www.sfwaldorf.org/gradeschool/earlychildhood/parentingtoddler.asp

The latest block just started but keep checking for the new schedule in the early spring!

Enjoy the weekend,
Jessie