Imaginative Play and Learning
A child’s wonder and delight are nurtured in the unhurried environment that is our Early Childhood classroom. They are warm and protective environments— rhythmically repetitive and secure programs in which your child will successfully make the transition from home to school.
The Early Childhood classes include creative play, singing, movement, puppet stories and lots of outdoor time. Families of young children begin relationships with other families and have the opportunity to learn about child development.
By creating a home-like environment, our Waldorf teachers form a classroom that holds the whole child and encourages imaginative free play and artistic activity. Daily rhythms are established, enabling children to feel secure and comfortable with the predictability of knowing “what comes next”.
At the heart of our Waldorf Early Childhood program is play. Through imagination, children develop social skills and the capacity for creative thinking and problem solving. Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills.
Balanced and structured activities such as watercolor painting, finger-knitting, feltwork, bread baking, and movement help shape and develop fine and gross motor skills.
Early Childhood Program: Ages 3-6
Our mixed-age Early Childhood Program cultivates in children curiosity, creative thinking, self-confidence, compassion, and an enthusiasm for learning.
Each child’s unique developmental path is supported by the relationships they form with their teachers and the other children and parents in the group. The mixed-age setting allows children to develop confidence and social skills through purposeful activities and imaginative play, and the program lays a solid foundation for the academic work awaiting them in grade school.
A typical day may include:
Practical activities such as vegetable-chopping, woodworking, flour-grinding, bread-baking, and care of our classroom and outdoor environment, which supports feelings of belonging, responsibility and accomplishment.
Creative play both inside and outside, which nurtures the development of a healthy imagination and strong social relationships.
Circle-time games, songs, and integrated movement that celebrates our day and season.
Daily stories told orally and through puppetry, which introduce a rich vocabulary and build a strong foundation for literacy and sequential thinking.
Extensive outdoor time every day and in all elements, including rhythmic walks through our neighborhood park and campus play yard, tree-climbing, jump-roping, building, sculpting, and hands-on sensory play, all of which builds strong bodies and a connection to the natural world.
Schedule Options:
3 half days/week or 3 full days/week
Monday – Wednesday.
8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
5 days half day or 5 full day classes/week class
Monday – Friday.
8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
enjoy our BWWS Early Childhood Blog
Coming Soon!
Parent Child Classes: Ages 1-3
The Parent & Child Program offers parents the opportunity to meet other parents of young children to learn about early childhood development while building a community of support for their child’s expanding world.
The day includes creative play, a craft activity, circle time with singing, finger games and movement, snack preparation and sharing, a puppet story, and outdoor time.
Open to children who are between the ages of one and three by the start of the class session.
Families are enrolled on a first come, first serve basis. Class is limited to 8 children and 8 adults. Parents may register for a single session or two consecutive sessions.
For more information and to be placed on a waitlist, please contact our Admissions and Enrollment Coordinator, Melissa Lang Lytle via email or call (206) 624-6176 with your questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
