Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach: Early Years Education in Practice

by Janni Nicol, Jill Taplin

This fully revised edition of Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Steiner Waldorf early childhood approach. It enables the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Covering all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment, this new edition has been updated to reflect recent curriculum changes and explore the influence of media and technology. Including a new chapter on expanding the Steiner Waldorf approach to work with children from birth to three, the Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this text is essential reading for students, practitioners, leaders, managers and all those wanting to improve their early years practice.

Genres: Parenting

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Alexandra Cross]

So I grabbed this book at random at my library. I had heard of Montessori and more recently, Waldorf. Having photographed a Montessori school five years ago, I was (in general) shocked to learn that there were different curriculums and theories behind early childhood education. I’m coming into this blind and open minded ok?

Anyway, an influencer online definitely raises her kids this way. Now that I understand the methods behind it, it makes way more sense. I thought she pulled her kids activities out of thin air.

I will say, the beautiful thing about all these methods, specifically Waldorf and Suzuki teachings, is that they were born out of a post war need and hope for a violent free future. The creators were hopeful to create pleasant community experiences for kids that they could create people who had no desire for war. And I love that, above everything else.

As for the book? It was a good briefing on Steiner topics. I’m not an educator, mother or anything kid related but I enjoyed it enough to finish it. I do wish it were a little more specific in ways and a little less repetitive in others.