 Early Childhood
A Gentle Beginning
- In the Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, imaginative play is the most essential activity.
The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara’s programs for the young child were
developed with two basic tenets: that the child, before the age of
seven, learns through imitation; and that play is the work of the young
child.
With these as a foundation, we create an environment worthy of a
child’s imitation, in which the child feels secure enough to explore
the many possibilities for creative free play.
Teachers strive to understand each child’s uniqueness and work toward
achieving a healthy balance of large and small motor skills, social
skills, and appreciation of one another and the world around them.
Soft colors, fresh flowers, and natural toys welcome younger students
to the kindergarten classroom. An atmosphere of warmth and calm sets
the stage for a rhythmical cycle of activities, including:
- Storytelling
- to stimulate visualization, vocabulary, and memory.
- Free Play and Drama
- to ignite imagination and social relationships.
- Counting Games
- to develop an awareness of numbers.
- Artistic Activities
- to explore color and motivate expression.
- Outdoor Play and Walks
- to foster an appreciation of the natural world.
- Practical Activities
- to
encourage an appreciation of practical life skills, such as:
woodworking, baking and cooking, sweeping, planting and watering the
garden.
In all
of these activities children develop the curiosity, verbal capacities,
social skills, and motor skills that are essential for later learning.
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Early Childhood
