Print this pageEarly Childhood Years in Boongaiai Preschool and the Kindergarten
we give the child...
perceptions, ideas and feeling,
which are capable of metamorphosis,
which can grow together with the soul
simply because the soul is growing.
RUDOLF STEINER
In the early childhood years, with the child absorbing all sensory perceptions from the world about them, the environment and approach are the most significant aspects of the curriculum. Both Boongaiai Preschool and the Armidale Waldorf School Kindergarten nurture the young child's developing senses by enfolding them in a mantle of rhythm, security, and healthy, meaningful house and garden activities. Discipline and harmony are maintained by the rhythmic nature of the days activities, whilst gratitude, reverence, awe and wonder are the feelings fostered by the teacher. The classroom environment supports this process with careful choices of subtle colours, lovingly handmade and naturally occurring playthings and simple, beautiful and practical furnishings.
Creative play and imitation of adult activities are the focus in early childhood. The Preschool and Kindergarten years are a time of activity - they form a community of “doers”. The healthy vigour of kneading the dough, washing the dishes, polishing the shoes, gardening, acting, modelling, hearing tales and nature stories, puppet plays plus the development of fine motor skills through the various crafts all contribute to the healthy growth and development of the young child during these formative years laying the foundation for future academic learning.
Creative play for the young child is serious business and demands their full application. They are developing physical skills and their faculties are developing and differentiating. The activity itself supports the gradual development of the individual children. By allowing this stage of development to be unrushed and to complete itself fully, the young child will genuinely be prepared for what the more formal aspects of schooling will shortly ask of them.
The Early Childhood faculty also coordinate a weekly playgroup offering a beautiful morning of warmth and activity – bread making, play and song - for children and adults alike.