What is Waldorf Education? (Take 2)

One of the first questions people ask after hearing about our upcoming adventure is "What is Waldorf education?" We usually reply that it is an alternative method of education that uses the arts to teach. Our friends and family nod their head and say "That sounds wonderful,"  but we never feel totally satisfied with our answer. The educator in us wants to make our reply clear, meaningful and memorable, but this is not an easy task. We plan on returning to the question of  “What is Waldorf Education?” several times over the course of this year and see how our understanding and explanation evolves. Here is what we have for you today. Thanks for reading!

Waldorf education is a holistic way of teaching children based on their developmental needs. Think about a little seed that will grow into an enormous tree. You do not prune the seed’s leaves to help it grow. You give the seed what it needs -- soil, sun, water and nutrients. In the same way, you don't treat children like little adults.  Children need comfort, consistency, understanding and appropriate/meaningful challenges. To provide this, Waldorf teaches to the head, heart, and hands. By thinking, feeling, and doing in equal measure students are able to grow in a balanced way.

Here is an example: To learn something you first need to care about it. Let’s say you enjoy cakes. “I like cake. Cake is good. I want to learn about it.“ You look at some pictures. Better yet, you get a cake and check it out. “Icing, layers. Smells sweet. Tastes good.” You like cake so much that after devouring the one you were studying and you want more (feeling). 

You get a recipe and read how to make it (thinking). “Flour, eggs, sugar, butter, flavoring, baking powder, baking pan, hot oven. Check!” 

Finally, you take what you know and you create a cake with the ingredients (doing). It may take several tries, but over time you get better and better until one day you make a cake as delicious as the that first tasty one.   

Often education focuses on one part of the learning process. For example, maybe you just like cake, and you eat and eat them (too much feeling -- and a stomach ache). Maybe you are fascinated by the ingredients and spend your life reading cake recipes from around the world (too much thinking -- and a head ache). Or maybe you just start mixing random things together in the kitchen and hope you would wind up with a cake (too much doing -- and a mess to clean up). 

Waldorf education attempts to provide learning experiences that are balanced in the hopes that children will grow up to be balanced individuals. 

(with happy, full bellies!)