{"id":38562,"date":"2015-05-14T06:30:54","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T10:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplehomeschl.wpengine.com\/?p=38562"},"modified":"2026-02-11T14:46:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T19:46:48","slug":"waldorf-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplehomeschool.net\/waldorf-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the basics of Waldorf education"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"donna4picmo2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Written by Donna Ashton of The Waldorf Connection<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

W<\/span>aldorf is a living, breathing form of education<\/a> that Rudolph Steiner, its founder, wanted to provide as an antidote to modern times.<\/p>\n

Waldorf honors the whole child \u2013 body, mind and spirit \u2013 through music, arts, handwork, sculpture, stories and movement.<\/strong> It educates the child’s mind, nourishes their soul and meets their spirit at developmentally appropriate stages.<\/p>\n

Through these arts, a child first experiences information physically and soulfully. The morning lesson incorporates many different subjects all based around the same theme. Children learn their letters through movement, first by walking the shape of the letter before writing or painting the letter strokes.<\/p>\n

The letter is then reinforced through rhymes with actions, stories, and music. By first doing, children come to a concrete, tangible understanding of a concept before they are expected to apply it intellectually.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t that your child copies only your outer movements, but that they also experience your inner attitude of devotion, care, focus, sense of purpose, and creative spirit.<\/p>\n

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Make everything into a picture<\/h4>\n

There is great power in using imagery with your child. It enables the child to see or imagine concretely the topic at hand. For every concept taught let there be imagery.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example, when teaching the letter \u201cT\u201d you might have your child draw it in the shape of a tree in their lesson book. When teaching multiplication, you can tell a story about a gnome who is saving apples for winter. Each of his storage sheds holds four apples, so our gnome will need four storage sheds for his 16 apples.<\/p>\n

Rudolf Steiner suggests that we use images to grow on. It\u2019s important that the imagery we\u2019re teaching inspires the imagination and sparks the joy and adventure in learning.<\/strong> Static imagery produces static thinking.<\/p>\n

\"donna1\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

Photo by Renaud Photo<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Relate everything to practical life<\/h4>\n

In Waldorf education learning is applied to \u201creal\u201d life. Each day unfolds in a predictable, rhythmic manner.<\/p>\n

In the pre-school\/kindergarten years, the child is learning primarily through imitation.<\/strong> Most of the child\u2019s day consists of meaningful work and activities with a purpose such as cooking, baking, gardening, doing laundry, cleaning and taking care of art supplies and the homeschool learning area.<\/p>\n

Learning through stories<\/h4>\n

Storytelling seems to be a lost art, but you\u2019ll soon recognize the life it brings back into teaching and your relationship with your child.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to look into your child’s eyes and gauge their feelings and reactions by watching as your story unfolds is amazing!<\/strong> It brings an essential part of you into the mix, which is the key to Waldorf- inspired homeschooling.<\/p>\n

Waldorf \u2019s lack of pre-made textbooks doesn\u2019t mean your child will not get a full rich dose of literature. Children create Main Lesson Books to document their progress through drawing, painting, writing and form drawing.<\/p>\n

Natural toys and materials<\/h4>\n

Waldorf encourages natural materials and beautiful surroundings. Wooden toys, silks, pinecones, acorns and other items from nature are preferred for a child to get the feel of real materials.<\/p>\n

Art and school supplies are also high quality to give the best and truest experience.<\/strong> While these may cost more up front, the quality and value of these items is well worth it. We still have crayons from when my girls were four! The materials last and the wooden toys can be fixed instead of discarded. And they feel and look amazing.<\/p>\n

It may seem daunting to acquire everything you need, but start small and work items in as you go. Make a wish list for birthdays or holidays.<\/p>\n

Waiting for academics<\/h4>\n

Steiner felt that academics should not be taught until the change of teeth. A child is born with a set of teeth, but now that he is making something of his own (permanent teeth), he becomes a more grownup human being. He\u2019s on the path.<\/p>\n

There are many physical factors that indicate a child might be ready for academics.<\/strong> Examples include:<\/p>\n