KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD
a Steiner Waldorf School, Bangalore
a Steiner Waldorf School, Bangalore
A core principle of Waldorf education is the balanced development of thinking (head), feeling (heart) and willing (hands or action). Sports or physical education focuses on the "WILL" aspect of the education. It helps students develop willpower, discipline and the willingness to act.
At Kingdom Of Childhood, we have a dedicated Coach for Physical Education, Thejas Teacher, who has been working with the children of both Upanishad (Waldorf Grades) & Kalpataru (Curative Section) sections in both JP Nagar & Somanahalli campuses on a regular basis since the reopening of physical school post-covid lockdown.
Synchronisation of Mental, Emotional and Physical Actions
Under the guidance of internal & external mentors, the physical education has been designed to help children learn to synchronize mental, emotional and physical actions, which contributes to a sense of overall harmony between the mind, body and heart, according to the developmental stages of the students, ensuring that they meet their physical & mental needs. They are non-competitive games for children from Grade 01 to 04, competitive games for children above Grade 05 in our Upanishad section & Movements for Kalpataru section.
Movements:
The significance of movements for neurodivergent children not only supports motor skills but also contributes to cognitive, emotional and social development. The games activities are designed to develop balance and body awareness in a joyful and relaxed manner. Crawling, Walking on the knees (or Knee walking), Duck walking, Frog jumping, Mountain walking, Bean bag walking, Situps, Jumping towards all directions, Skipping, Blindfolding activities, Walking on the parfait wall, Bean bag activities, Ball catching, Jumping from a height - both forward & backward are some of the activities designed for the children in this section.
Non-competitive games:
In non-competitive games children participate with a possibility to learn to work together and appreciate each other’s strengths and differences. Without the pressure of competition, all students are encouraged to participate, regardless of their abilities. This promotes an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and contributes to the group’s success. Yet they also develop resilience, self-confidence and emotional regulation to handle both success and failure in a healthy way.
Competitive games:
In the higher grades, the competition gets introduced thoughtfully, with an emphasis on the process rather than the outcome. The competitive games in this balanced and healthy environment helps children with self-development & learn teamwork and develop emotional resilience while achieving physical well-being. The goal is always to develop a healthy relationship with competition, where personal growth, enjoyment and mutual respect are prioritized over winning.
A yearly Sports meet for Grade 05 children - in Waldorf schools is designed on this very aspect. It is a unique and meaningful event designed to foster personal growth, physical development and a sense of community rather than competition. It draws inspiration from the original spirit of the ancient Greek Olympics, which focuses on cooperation, celebration of the effort and reverence for the harmonious environment of the world.
The grade 05 children of all Waldorf schools in the region gather in a centre or school of that region that is hosting the games. These games often include symbolic and ceremonial elements, such as an opening ceremony where students may recite poems or carry torches, invoking a sense of honor and unity. The closing ceremony usually focuses on reflection and gratitude for the experience along with awarding medals.
The Waldorf Olympics are not just about physical activity, they also encourage students to develop moral and social values such as fairness, respect and integrity. Through the games, children learn to celebrate their own successes and those of their peers, fostering a sense of empathy and equality.
We celebrated SPORTS DAY for the first time on Saturday, 24th August 2024 at our Somanahalli campus. It was a highly anticipated event that emphasised the joy of participation, teamwork and individual performances over pure competition. This event was designed in alignment with our philosophy of a holistic approach to education, which focuses on students' physical, emotional, and social development.
It was our school's Games Teacher, Thejas sir's efforts in training children for over 2 years before this event and his incredible passion for Sports alone have added SPORTS DAY as an annual event to the school's calendar. Students from both our campuses
& all three disciplines have participated in this event through different categories with great enthusiasm.
SPORTS DAY began in the morning with a prayer, lighting of the lamp and a pledge from children for fair participation & followed by a series of competitive, non-competitive & fun games throughout the day. Roman March by Grade 5,6,7 Children, Dandiya Drill by Grade 3&4 Children & Holla Hoops Drill by Grade 1&2 Children were part of the opening ceremony.
Children of Grade sections (Upanishad) participated in the 100-meter and 200-meter race, Obstacle race, bean-bag balance-backward race, Javelin, Discus throw and Relay Race. Young children from Kindergarten (Veda) also participated in this event. They participated in a friendly Hurdle race. Later they took part in a speed walk sitting on the shoulders of their fathers on one way & shoulder hold of their mothers on the other. Children of different age groups from our Curative section (Kalpataru) participated in the Sack race, Fill the bucket, Musical chairs & other Fun games enthusiastically.
Waldorf school events reflect the core values of togetherness, creativity and respect for each other and foster a strong sense of connection among students, teachers, parents and the broader school community. These Community events are an integral part of the Waldorf education. Teaching, Non-teaching staff and Parents have all come together & conducted this event & participated in various games with great spirit.
SPORTS DAY reinforced the values of inclusion, cooperation and fair play while offering opportunities for students to participate and Teachers & Parents an experience of connecting with each other & working together.
