Early Childhood Specialization

Our Early Childhood Program is a developing member of WECAN. A completed Foundation Studies Course is the prerequisite to enter our two year Early Childhood Program. Specialization in Waldorf Early Childhood Education is offered for those students who wish to focus on the young child in the first 7 years. The students will engage in such courses as the study of Early Childhood Development from a Waldorf perspective; practice in story-telling, circle work, handwork, puppetry, and child observation; the role  of meaningful adult activity in imitation and play, the 12 senses, and healthy movement development.

For the small child before the change of teeth, the most important thing in education is the teacher's own being.
— Rudolf Steiner

In addition to the above coursework, participants also explore practices for inner work that help support the future teacher's own self-development and foster in the teacher the essential qualities that contribute to the healthy development of the children. Students in the Early Childhood Specialization also join with those who are studying class teaching for an overview of Waldorf pedagogy and curriculum in order to see their own work in the context of the whole school.

Prior study and/or experience in Early Childhood Education is helpful but not required. To graduate, students will accumulate many hours in Waldorf Kindergartens in order to observe and participate in the living experience with the children. Extensive classroom experience through internships or assistant teaching is necessary to be fully prepared to lead a class. This work is completed outside of regularly scheduled Alkion classes.