Waldorf Curriculum Journey Part 1 - Kindergarten

Sunlight playfully streams through treetops swaying in the gentle spring breeze, illuminating a meadow alive with the joyful play of children. If only we could step into this world and see it through the eyes of a kindergartener, we would rediscover wonders that often elude us as adults. Young children absorb their environment with heightened senses, fully attuned to the world around them.

In these early years, a child reaches significant developmental milestones primarily through imitation, modeling the behavior and actions of the adults in their lives. Until their first set of teeth change, children are natural imitators, learning more from what they see than from what they hear. Words alone hold little sway over them compared to actions.

Rudolf Steiner (1996) put it best: 

“Only the actions performed in the child’s vicinity will speak. To express it somewhat paradoxically, the child will ignore words, moral admonitions, and even the parents’ attitudes, just as the human eye will ignore something that is colorless. Until the change of teeth, the child is an imitator through and through.” 

The child's surroundings thus become the most influential part of early childhood development. A nurturing environment, filled with love and positive actions, helps form a foundation of goodness and devotion, nourishing the child's entire being.

The Waldorf kindergarten curriculum is rooted in this understanding. It is designed to provide experiences that immerse the child in a world full of love and wonder. Teachers create a space that mirrors a warm, homely atmosphere, enhanced by rhythmic activities, songs, verses, and rhymes.

This structured environment supports imagination and integrates purposeful work with play. The classroom feels like a safe and nourishing home, with natural toys, fresh foods, and sensory-rich materials like wool, silk, and wood. Children engage in rhythmic circle time filled with stories, songs, and movements, which lay the groundwork for literacy, speech, and memory. Purposeful work, such as kitchen tasks, develops their will, while imaginative play fuels creativity. Children may pretend to be animals, create with mud, or build sand structures, all contributing to their developmental journey.

Ms. Daniela 

Learn more about our Kindergarten class HERE.