What is the curriculum like in the Mixed-Age Kindergarten?
Pre-kindergarden and kindergarden children learn primarily through imitation and imagination. Seaside Playgarden is a Waldorf-inspired mixed-age kindergarden for children ages 3 to 6. (The value of mixed-age kindergardens is addressed in a subsequent question.) The goal of the kindergarden is to develop a sense of wonder in the young child and reverence for all living things. While conventional educational practices move steadily toward increasingly more academic experiences in early childhood, Waldorf kindergardens worldwide have remained focused on the original intent of the term “kindergarden”, or “children’s garden”, which suggests a delightful experience rich in natural beauty. The Waldorf early childhood curriculum includes the following sensory experiences, watercoloring, breadbaking, sculpting, gardening, woodworking, handwork, music and storytelling. The Seaside Playgarden incorporates each of these aspects into a weekly “rhythm”, taking into account the seasons. A daily rhyth
Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children learn primarily through imitation and imagination. Seaside Playgarden is a Waldorf-inspired mixed-age kindergarten for children ages 3 to 6. (The value of mixed-age kindergartens is addressed in a subsequent question.) The goal of the kindergarten is to develop a sense of wonder in the young child and reverence for all living things. While conventional educational practices move steadily toward increasingly more academic experiences in early childhood, Waldorf kindergartens worldwide have remained focused on the original intent of the term “kindergarten”, or “children’s garden”, which suggests a delightful experience rich in natural beauty. The Seaside Playgarden early childhood curriculum includes the following sensory experiences, watercolor painting, bread baking, sculpting, gardening, woodworking, handwork, music and storytelling. The Seaside Playgarden incorporates each of these aspects into a weekly rhythm, taking into account the season
