Early Childhood Curriculum

EC Overview | The EC Environment | A Strong Foundation |
Morning Garden Music | Parents and Tots | Nursery & Kindergarten

Early Childhood Overview

The early childhood years are a transition between the security of home and the coming grade school years. At this time in life, it is important that young children feel secure in their surroundings. It is this sense of safety that allows them to explore their environment, to let their natural curiosity develop, and to begin the life-long process of engagement with the world.  

Young children are filled with wonder. They see beauty and purpose in everything. They are curious about all that comes to meet them. Early childhood teachers create an environment and rhythm in which this natural curiosity and wonder is fostered.

The foundation of the early childhood program is the deep understanding that young children learn primarily through imitation and imagination. It is very important that what children see, hear, and inevitably imitate is worthy of imitation. The teachers themselves, in their attitudes, feelings, and gestures, strive to be worthy of that imitation.

The Early Childhood Environment

The specially trained Waldorf Early Childhood teacher takes great care in creating activities and a warm, homelike setting in which children may blossom. Since young children experience their world primarily through the physical senses, they learn most readily in an environment that nourishes the senses through movement, artistic forms, and a rhythmic daily schedule. The classroom is warm, colorful, cared for, and filled with nature's beauty and variety—a place where children can let their imaginations roam while feeling reassured and safe.

The Foundation for a Love of Learning

Waldorf education consciously builds a strong foundation during the Early Childhood years for the later intellectual growth of the child. The Early Childhood curriculum lays the foundations for:

• Language Arts: Established through broad and fundamental work in listening and speaking skills, including singing, proper pronunciation, and rhymes. These form the later basis of word families and the comprehension of stories and poems, which also provide vocabulary enrichment.
• Mathematics: Accomplished through imaginative play with simple objects, which provides a concrete basis for abstract manipulation of symbols in grade school. Activities requiring counting provide concrete experience with numbers. In addition, gross motor activity, the graceful movement of Eurythmy (rhythmic movement), balancing, coordination, spatial orientation, and dexterity in fingers and limbs builds an internal framework matching the nature of mathematics.
• Science: The use in imaginative play of natural materials such as cloth and wooden toys as well as shells, rocks, water, and sand stimulate curiosity about, and a familiarity with, the natural world. Seasonal festivities and nature walks foster a meaningful connection with the world outside and lay the groundwork for future scientific studies.
• Artistic Practice: Gained through painting, coloring, music, singing, Eurythmy (movement), and simple dramatizations. The children learn that art is not a separate subject, but is woven naturally into all of life. Artistic practice develops the ability to think creatively, problem-solve, and focus, as well as fostering self-discipline.
• Social Skills: Fostered by providing a safe environment for the children, who are learning to live, work, and play in a group. The sharing of practical activities such as snack preparation, bread baking, clean-up, and plant care starts the child on the path toward personal responsibility, the ability to cooperate, and respect for others.
• Good Work Habits are formed. Children must put things away in the same place after using them, and are encouraged to complete tasks, working within the gentle structure provided by daily rhythms and the larger rhythms of the week, month, and year.

CWS Morning Garden Music Program

For parents/caregivers and their children 3-16 months on our Derby Avenue campus and 4-36 months at our Meshewa campus. <add links to maps>

This one-hour program brings a Waldorf experience to infants and their parents as a music circle time. The embracing connection of baby to parent is honored with songs, rhymes, chants, finger games, rhythms, and movement. Parents and babies alike will experience the wonderful sound and feel of rattles, rhythm sticks, scarves and drums. In an atmosphere of fun and beauty for babies and parents, there is always much to take home and enjoy many times over. Music uses all of the brain, develops connections and integrates both hemispheres in the youngest child—a gift that lasts throughout life. Parents are enriched by the opportunities to share parenting experiences and skills and to learn about Waldorf education.

This program is offered at our Spring Grove Village Campus and at the new Meshewa Center for Early Childhood Development in Indian Hill Village.

Contact the CWS Enrollment Director for more information on the Morning Garden Music programs at both of our locations.

CWS Parents and Tots Program

For parents/caregivers and their children ages 1-3 years, this program is specially designed to nourish the mind, body, and spirit of toddlers and their parents/caregivers. The natural outcomes include fostering brain development, the deepening of the parent-child attachment, and support for the toddler's budding social consciousness.

This two and half hour program which meets one morning per week for a ten-week term, gives toddlers a Waldorf experience in the security of their parent's presence, a place where parents and children come together to explore the wonders of life. As parents informally socialize and engage in guided reading and discussions about parenting and education, they become familiar with the educational principles of Waldorf education and are supported in their parenting. Parents also engage in seasonal handwork projects or make simple toys while the children weave in and out, helping or enjoying imaginative play. A healthy snack is served.

Circle and story time reflect the world of nature and seasonal festivals. Circle time provides a rich learning experience through music and rhyme, games, and movements, which engage both large and fine motor coordination. Stories and puppet plays nourish the child's imagination and provide rich material for creative play.

Contact the CWS Enrollment Director for more information on the Parents and Tots programs at the Spring Grove Village campus.

You can also view/download the brochure for the Parent and Tots & Morning Garden Music (large file)

CWS Nursery and Kindergarten Program

Nursery and Kindergarten classes are offered two, three or five mornings per week from 8:30-noon.
Extended Day is available.

Nursery for children 3-4 and Kindergarten for children 4-5.

Waldorf education consciously builds a strong foundation during the early childhood years for the later intellectual growth of the child, but avoids the actual teaching of academic subjects at this time. The purposeful activities provide the first steps in the evolution of the cognitive, social, and emotional processes that continue in the academic work of the elementary school.

The Early Childhood faculty builds this foundation by filling the day with carefully crafted and artfully executed activities. Eurythmy (rhythmic movement), nature walks, and healthy outdoor play build physical strength, agility, and grace. Other purposeful activities include watercolor painting, drawing, handcrafts, beeswax modeling, and baking. Imaginative play, poems, stories, puppetry, music, and circle games all open the youngster to the wonders of creativity.

The rhythmic repetition of these activities strengthens and nourishes the children, imbuing them with a sense of order and harmony.

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