Why Waldorf Kindergarten?: A parent’s reflection (part-1)

Juhi Anurag Mishra, An educator in search of true meaning of education

Being in education sector since last eight years and having worked in several states, schools and organisations, it was obvious for me to be worried about my child’s education who was still resting in my womb (Now my child is two though). I know it was too early to worry about it, but nothing can beat the anxiety of a first time mom :).

I didn’t want my child to be exposed to the pressure of memorising alphabets and rhymes the moment she starts speaking, I didn’t want her to acquire calligraphic skills even when her muscles are not developed enough to do so and I didn’t want her to be the part of the rat-race created by us adults. I went through all the literature about all the philosophies followed across the world for nurturing children. This was the time I came across Waldorf pedagogy and started connecting with like minded parents and parents-to-be.

Now the big question: Why Waldorf education? Finding an answer took me 2 years (well before the time my child is ready to be a part of the playgroup). Having settled in Ahmedabad, the answer came in the form of Shining Spiral, the first Waldorf kindergarten in Gujarat and the parent group leading the initiative.

I had some first hand thoughts based on my visits to the mentioned school. A Waldorf kindergarten is an extension of the family experience, an intermediate step that helps in smooth transition for the child between the home and formal schooling. One must visit a Waldorf kindergarten to experience the warmth and security created by ONLY natural materials: woods, cotton, wool used in the decor and the toys. It is like entering a “children’s garden”, where it is heavenly to breathe, relax and play. The absence of stimulating plastic toys, screens and too many instructions, makes it a place TO BE for children.

The children are given opportunities to innovate, think and create using the unfinished toys, cloth, shells, dried seeds, logs, tyres, etc. The unfolding of imagination, creativity, self-expression through free play, art, songs and finger rhymes, helps the children grow and learn on their own.

In the book, The Hurried Child by David Elkind (child psychologist and professor at Tufts university, discusses the problem of stress he finds in children who come to him. He points out that, in the great rush to bring children into academic work, we have ceased to ask if children are inwardly ready for such concentrated, worksheet-oriented work.

Leaving readers with the question to brainstorm over, till I pen down the thoughts of the parents I interacted with: Why has kindergarten (children’s garden full of free play) turned into a pre-first grade learning station (full of instructions and activities)?