One of the first posts I wrote on this blog was about How To Incorporate Montessori in Your Homeschool. Perhaps unsurprisingly, if you’ve read anything about early childhood education, the first response I got about it was, “What about Waldorf?” Both Montessori and Waldorf have gained popularity in homeschooling. So, to answer that question, join me as we explore the world of Waldorf education together and provide details on how to incorporate Waldorf into homeschooling today.
What is Waldorf?
Waldorf education is a holistic approach to education that focuses on intellectually, emotionally, and physically developing the child. Based on the teachings of Austrian philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner, its advocates believe that children learn best through hands-on experiences, imaginative play, and creativity.
“The heart of the Waldorf method is that education is an art-it must speak to the child’s experience. To educate the whole child, his heart and his will must be reached, as well as the mind.”
Rudolf Steiner
In Waldorf education, parents create a warm and nurturing learning environment. Natural materials and art are incorporated into all areas of education, and children are encouraged to participate in practical life activities like cooking, gardening, and handiwork. There are no textbooks or exams. Instead, a parent works with their child to develop a customized curriculum based on their strengths and interests. Each lesson is turned into illustrations, which helps your child process information.
Storytelling
One of the unique features of Waldorf homeschooling is the use of storytelling, puppetry, and drama. By engaging a child’s imagination and creativity, academic subjects are brought to life. Through storytelling, children learn about the world around them, fostering a love for learning and a sense of wonder.
In early education, stories are told to teach basic concepts. Fairy tales explain moral lessons, often with a hero and a villain. Nature stories teach children about plants and animals, creating an appreciation for the natural world. Fables help children understand complex ideas. Further, through telling stories, children work on language skills that carry them through life.
Eurythmy: The art of movement
Another unique aspect of Waldorf education is eurythmy, often called the art of movement. Eurythmy is based on rhythm, harmony, and gesture and encourages creativity and self-exploration. At a basic level, movement helps children develop coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. However, this higher-level form also helps connect children to themselves and the world around them, express ideas nonverbally, and get in touch with their emotions.
To see eurythmy in action, watch this video.
Benefits of Waldorf education
There are many benefits of Waldorf education, including:
- Reduced stress. Waldorf education is designed to be a stress-free environment. Studies go at the child’s pace, there is a lot of outdoor time in nature, and there are no exams or traditional grades.
- Better physical health: Waldorf students have significantly fewer physical ailments, such as headaches, stomach aches, or disrupted sleep. Some of this may be attributed to the slower pace of learning.
- Better social and emotional development. About 3/4 of graduates could envision positive environmental and human development changes. They focused on solving problems through improved communication and conflict resolution.
Getting started with Waldorf at home
Does Waldorf sound interesting? Here are four activities to try at home today:
- Take a nature walk and create art. Collect natural materials such as leaves, flowers, and sticks as you walk. When you get home, use these materials to make a piece of art, such as a mandala.
- Have a puppet show. Make puppets with your child, then encourage your child to make up a story with them and act it out.
- Build a dance routine to a favorite song. In Waldorf, movement and music go hand in hand. What better way to show your creativity than by coming up with a dance? Get involved with your child and have them teach you.
- Bake a cake. Not only does this focus on practical life skills, but it allows you to talk about math and science. It can be great to explain fractions or the chemistry of how the dough rises.