KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD
a Steiner Waldorf School, Bangalore
a Steiner Waldorf School, Bangalore
Waldorf Kindergarten
at both our JP Nagar & Somanahalli
(off Kanakapura Road) campuses in Bangalore
Waldorf Kindergarten children would come home sharing the stories of imaginative games, puppet shows, outdoor activities or proudly mention helping with tasks like cutting fruits and watering plants, because the
age - appropriate environment emphasizes play-based learning and teacher modelling.
In the first seven years, children learn to become comfortable in their physical body, develop spatial orientation, acquire upright posture, speech, thought and an understanding of the complexity of their mother tongue. This is achieved through imitation and example set by adults, imprinting habits on the child's will as well as through experiential learning, creative self-directed play, and social interaction, rather than didactic teaching.
The “daily Rhythm” is structured between in breathing - times of focused activity, providing boundaries and out breathing - times of indoor free play & outdoor nature walks, creating a harmonious balance. This helps children find their place in the world and understand the past, present and future.
Repetition helps create predictability, ensuring a sense of security, reducing anxiety and developing rhythmic memory in children. “Reverence” instils appreciation and acknowledgment for the world around them. This is fostered through thanksgiving during fruit time and lunch and by respecting people and materials used in the classroom. Soft & melodious voices build an environment of trust, care and mutual respect. Learning to share and work as a team becomes a daily experience. Challenging behaviours are addressed with creative tools like healing stories, imaginative games, art and other purposeful activities.
The child learns from life itself. Domestic tasks such as baking, cooking, cleaning and caring for the environment and toys form the foundation of the daily rhythm. From birth until the second dentition, the kindergarten is a community of ‘doers’ engaged in meaningful work. Regular activities structure the kindergarten year, week and day.
Seasonal activities like floating paper boats in monsoon puddles or cutting grain during harvest season are reinforced through thematic songs, stories and poems. Instructions are often sung creating a repertoire of songs for various activities such as calling, ending, cleaning up, baking or painting. Traditional fairy tales, nature stories and festival celebrations provide rich local & cultural experiences and awaken joy and wonder in the little ones.
The teacher creates an environment for little children in which she is an integral part. Emphasis is placed on the colours of the walls and curtains and the use of natural materials like wooden toys, shells, pebbles and pinecones. The classroom is thoughtfully prepared with a nature table reflecting the changing seasons a story table to bring puppets to life, a dollhouse with cloth or woollen dolls, an animal farm with wooden or knitted animals, a kitchen with child-sized utensils and a crafts corner with baskets of wool and fabric. Additionally, cubbies and holes that form hiding spaces and cozy corners contribute to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for the children.
Healthy and peaceful teachers, who are worthy of imitation, create the essential inner environment required for kindergarten children. The primary objective of our Kindergarten is to foster the development of vocabulary, body awareness, a sense of movement and balance, curiosity, eye-hand coordination, cognitive and social skills and the habit-body of the growing child.
A typical day in our Kindergarten is for about 6hrs to 6.5hrs
Welcome & Good Morning hug
10 minutes
Circle Time/Ring time
30 minutes
Sand Play / Nature Walk
60 minutes
Toilet Break
15 minutes
Fruit Cutting, Eating and Clearing up
30 minutes
Indoor Free Play / Clearing up
90 minutes
Lunch Time
45 minutes
Finger Play
10 minutes
Activity Time
30 minutes
Painting, Free Hand Drawing, Washing, Cooking, Beeswax Modelling
30 minutes
Toilet Break
15 minutes
Story / Puppetry
15 minutes
Close the day with a Good-bye Hug
10 minutes
