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Preschool Prep Series
The Waldorf Method
By Tara Swords
"What we try to do is keep the children's imaginations alive," Johnson says. "That means we don't push academics in early childhood. We have the children play and do things with their hands, like making bread and puppets rather than putting a child in front of a computer and giving them intellectual concepts."
The arts play a role in everyday life at a Waldorf school. Zachary learned to play the wooden flute along with his first grade class. A few years later, they moved onto the recorder, followed by the violin. They molded clay, drew pictures, learned French and German, and recited poetry. But perhaps the most important part of the Waldorf formula: all of these things were done with a heavy emphasis on teamwork and togetherness.
"It's more like a family than a school," Klenn says. "How many people come to pick up their children at a traditional school and the child sees another parent and runs over and gives them a hug?"
The family-like atmosphere provides children the opportunity to learn without the pressures of competition. "Everything is so competitive in life," Klenn says. "They're going to have enough of that when they're adults. There's so much horrible stuff out there; they don't need to be [competing] when they're this young."
Klenn prouly says that atmosphere has helped Zachary blossom, and take on things he might not otherwise try. "He learned how to knit and crochet and needlepoint – and these are boys! And they love it," she says. "They don't look at it like it's a feminine thing."