Waldorf Time
About
At Highland Hills, we aim to provide children a warm and nurturing childhood experience. In addition to our Montessori classroom, we also have periods of Waldorf-inspired time. We offer time for imaginative and open-ended play, lots of movement, a predictable daily rhythm and routines, a circle time with songs, poems, and stories, and seasonal crafts and celebrations to mark our days. You'll find our Waldorf play and art spaces to be inspiring, warm, and cozy. From wooden and handmade toys to handwork like finger knitting and painting or modeling with beeswax, your little one's childhood will be treasured.
Our Waldorf Time
Our Waldorf periods offer play, singing, seasonal activities, painting, puppetry, and storytelling. We create a secure environment for children to develop their body, imagination, and will. Our approach is based on imitation, repetition, and creative play, cultivating good habits and lifelong learning.
Circle Time
Children recite verses, sing songs, and play developmental games with the teacher to develop motor skills and imagination. Circle time integrates language-based activities with movement, spatial awareness, and social interaction.
Art/Handwork/Crafts
The children engage in group activities such as wet-on-wet watercolor, beeswax modeling, crayon drawing, finger knitting, braiding, sewing, and wood working. These activities foster the child's natural sense of beauty, color, and form, while also developing fine motor skills, sequencing, and spatial awareness. As their confidence and self-control grow they participate in more complex crafts such as woodworking, beading, candle dipping, and weaving.
Free Play
Free play is a child-led activity that promotes imagination, motor development, problem-solving, social and verbal skills. Teacher guidance may be needed initially for socializing skills. Children can choose to play alone or in groups with various materials. Adult-led activities are also available. Creative play in early years leads to effective thinking later on.
Practical Work
Our school encourages children to participate in various practical activities, following both Montessori and Waldorf approaches. They learn to set up the table for snack, chairs for story time and clean up after themselves Children also help with food preparation, table cleaning, sweeping, dish washing, and gardening. These activities help develop their observational, organizational, and social skills, while also fostering a sense of responsibility and self-worth Older children are given more challenging tasks and serve as role models for younger ones.
Stories
Every day, the children gather to listen to the teacher's imaginative and vocabulary-rich, which may include fairy tales folk tales, nature, or puppet shows. The stories are repeated and acted out over time, with older children often playing the characters. This helps the children learn the stories well and enhances their self-expression and reading comprehension skills. The scenarios often become the basis for creative play throughout the day.
Art
Celebrations are an integral part of Waldorf early childhood education as they provide a sense of rhythm and continuity to the children's daily lives. Celebrations help children to connect with the natural world and the changing seasons, fostering a deep appreciation for the world around them. They also provide opportunities for children to develop social skills, creativity and imagination. Through celebrations, children learn to value and respect cultural diversity, and to develop a of community and belonging
Music and Movement
Music is woven throughout the day and is often used for transitioning from one activity to the next. In addition to singing, the teacher and children often use simple instruments, such as chimes, harps, and wooden flutes. It is believed that music helps to develop a child's cognitive, emotional, and social skills. Through singing, playing instruments, and movement, children are able to express themselves creatively and develop a sense rhythm and harmony. Additionally, music is used to create a calming and nurturing environment, which is essential for a child's overall well-being.
Nature/Forest School
Our outdoor forest and garden supports their holistic development. Outdoor play helps children develop their gross motor skills, spatial awareness, coordination, while also their social and emotional growth. Additionally, spending time in nature fosters a sense of wonder and awe, which can inspire creativity and imagination in young children.
Mealtime
Children help with all aspects of this shared mealtime, from preparing the food (including natural whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, soups and homemade bread), and ironing napkins, to cleaning the dishes and tables. Baking and cooking activities, like kneading dough, and stirring the cake batter, serve to integrate reflexes and hand-eye coordination in the younger child. The children are asked to sit and wait with quiet, good manners while everyone is served. This is essential for impulse control, social skills, self-care skills, and fine motor control. They learn community building skills and to care for others.
