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Hey all. I'm looking to chat to other parents who have (or plan to have) their kids in Steiner schools / kinder... or people who have worked in these schools. I'm particularly interested in what you do with your child in the early years to encourage / support their development that fits with Steiner philosophy.
Anyone?!
the best thing I can suggest is check out the Anthroposophy web sites in australia. The philosophoy of anthroposophy is beautiful - but sometimes isn't always adhered to. which i guess comes because of the dynamics of different individuals and personalities. Good luck.
Hi Santosha,
I would like to send DD to Steiner school(yes Im planning early lol) but DP dosnt want to as he thinks she will turn into a hippie or whatever :rolleyes:
I like the idea of focusing on different aspects of each childs potential talent ie not just maths and english. As for DDs develompent, we dont have the tv on during the day, we have mots of musical toys for her and I read to her at least 3 times a day.
Will be interested to hear other peoples experiences.
Peach - enrol her now. I couldn't get DS into Steiner and was told it would have been a good idea to enrol 15 mins after conception :rolleyes:
i would like to send DD to waldorf school but doubt it as i could never afford it.
main reason is cause id like her to go to a private school but seems to be the only non religious one in perth.
check it out - might not be as exxy as you think
lul- will wait til the next open day. its near her dads house which could be handy.
but already stuffed up on the no tv thing!!!
Thanks for the heads up Lulu, will look into it.
Tattoo Mama- I think its about 2-5 grand a year... which is way cheaper than most other private schools.
we are looking into this option as well.
there is a state primary school that is offering duel education - 2 streams, tradition and steiner... you can elect which your child attends, however if the teaching staff think that they would be better suited to tradition they are switched over. Dont know if it would work, but it is local, so i am looking into it more.
A friend had her daughter in steiner kindy, then they spent a year OS where she went to traditional shool as it was not an option where they went, she had a place for prep/grade 1 in the steiner school, but her daughter prefered the traditional school system. So i guess the childs learning needs to be considered too.
We do similar things to Peach, but also go walking and talk about the environment and surrounds, garden and shop together and turn all these into a learning activity.
We also sing songs EVERY day - she has a book and she chooses her favourites and is now begining to join in.
In the bath we have letters and we choose the letter and give it a name (D for Daddy, M or Mumma etc) she is learning in such a fun enviroment, thats she doesnt know that she is learning... i dont think that she actually understands about the letters yet but can recognise A (Alex) B (balloon) D (daddy) E (elmo) F (fish) H (house) M (Mumma, Molly or Max) N (nina or Nanna) T (tea or tic toc - her name for my dad).
and basically we keep a running commentary on all that goes on in the day. she helps cook - tears lettuce or mixes things or pretend she is cooking.
there is learning with pretty much everything that we do...
Thanks for your replies girls.
Lulu, you're right about enrolment!! The reason I've started thinking about it so early is that we heard that the Steiner in Warranwood has a huuuuge wait-list and we pretty much have to enrol now even though DD is only 6 months. Even then, she may miss out as siblings of kids already enrolled are given priority.
The fees at the private one (Warranwood) are similar to many private schools - abt 3 grand for prep and then 5-7 grand for primary. GULP! I don't know if we'll be able to afford it but I'm putting her name down so at least we have the option when it comes to the crunch.
There's also a Steiner stream in a school in Kilsyth (SJ I wonder if that's the one you're referring to) which is far less exxy but I haven't checked it out yet. We went to the open day at Warranwood and it's BEAUTIFUL but missed the other one's open day.
As far as early influences go... I'm trying to find more natural objects (pine-cones, stones, sand, leaves etc.) for DD to explore and reduce the amount of plastic, electronic toys and TV she is exposed to. I'm trying to get her to the park to play in the grass, let her explore water and earth and the elements - like taking her out when it's raining lightly or windy. I try to sing to her every day and hope to be able to foster her imagination through stories and imaginative play...
But it's hard! It's hard to find safe natural toys. It's hard not to just get lazy and turn on the TV or go with readily available and cheap toys. My friend who is a Steiner teacher says it's very important for young children to have rhythm and routine in their days. But I'm so spontaneous and thoroughly disorganised that apart from a few habits, every day is a bit random. I also find that although I hold certain values such as living in tune with nature or practicing patience and persistence, the reality is that I end up too lazy/busy to maintain my vegie garden or end up modelling a more erratic, slap-dash approach to tasks.
I feel like if I'm going to follow the ideals of a Steiner education, or what's more, if I'm going to teach DD the values that I hold dear, I need to pull my finger out and start living it more. I guess I've turned to BB (again!) as I'm looking for peers to give me that accountability and inspiration that comes from being a part of a like-minded community.
Yeah, Ghilgai - packed to the max.
At Warranwood they go to year 12! I was told they do a 2nd intake at yr 7 so I'm hoping DS will have a chance there too.
Thanks to the wonderful Olive I found another school. Not Steiner though, apparently some Steiner/Montessori teachers 'broke away' and founded their own school. Google The Village - you will LOVE it and it's good to know Steiner isn't the only option apart from mainstream.
DS is IN! I'm thrilled to the maximum. Fees are exxy but if a single mumma like me can do it, you can too.
I'd probably be stuffed at Steiner now I look at it. DS watches telly :o and all that horrible bad stuff! However with my lifestyle (broke), we find that creating things out of nothing and investigating all thing natural (and free :rolleyes:) are along the same lines.
Steiner toys can be exxy. We make out own fun out of containers, timber off-cuts etc and I can't see it's much different.
Santosha- you may be interested in the Montessori Kinder in Mt Evelyn too. I've enrolled ds1 there for next year. lots of lovely wooden toys.pm me if you'd like details.
Lulu - The Village is just down the street from me. I'm keen on that too and will probably also enrol there so when it comes to the time, I have the options open and can choose what best suits DD (and our budget). Spoilt for choice really!!
Ginger - I haven't really looked into Montessori. I have to confess that I've turned a blind eye to it simply because my parents put me in a Montessori kinder when I was little and apparently I HATED it ... hmmm not really worth holding on to a 25 year prejudice that I can't even remember the reasons for eh?! I shall investigate furthur! Thanks for the suggestion.
jeez i wish i had that much choice we have 2 schools here a catholic and a public school and it looks like the catholic school isnt different except for the RE and the public school is literaly a 2 minute walk
Just though I'd add, my DH went to a Steiner school for the whole of his school career and he LOVED it. He talks about his school days with great fondness. He didn't learn to read until he was 12, he was way too busy playing in the dirt. We have his school books from his early years there and they are absolutely beautiful, full of the most amazing and colorful drawings (but there are little dirty finger marks everywhere :lol: ). And he knows all his myths and legends. He did very well in his HSC and got the marks he need to get into is chosen course at uni.
When people meet my DH and get to know him, they are often very surprised if/when they find out that he went to a Steiner school. He is the most unSteinerish person you will ever meet. His older sister and younger brother both went there too but didn't have as good an experience as my DH. DH's younger brother definitely needed a school with more structure and discipline and ended up doing his HSC again at TAFE after he finished school. I do think sometimes different kids in the same family need different schools to suit their individual personally types and requirements (my sister and I went to different high schools).
Rachel it's so lovely reading that your DH had such a wonderful experience. And that it didn't just turn him into a hippy as Peach's DH fears (my family fear the same thing but don't seem to grasp that having good strong values and living them is quite different from just wearing the bohemian outfit!!).
I also totally agree that it comes down to the individual child as to whether this style of education is suitable. As much as I'd love to see DD embrace the Steiner mindset, I don't expect it and will willingly send her to mainstream, home-school... whatever suits her needs best. I am determined to not make the same mistake my parents made - sent me to a very conservative private school because it was the 'best' that they could afford. Suited my siblings very well and they really benefited from it. Just made me rebel and be even more angsty and 'hippyish' that I otherwise would have been!!
can i send DS to live with u when he has to go to school? lol at least i'll get a choice :)
J - your gorgeous little man can come stay whenever he wants. He's such a cutie! But I think he'd miss his Mummy terribly... so you'll have to come and hang out too!!
The school that offers 2 streams is in East Bentleigh... if you google steiner schools there is an alphabetical listing of all the schools available in Aust... lots of normal primary schools offer it too.
My sisters DP was a scout leader for many many years and he has always wanted to send their kids (when they get round to having them :rolleyes:) to Steiner as all the kids that he met through scouts that went to steiner schools have such a great perspective on life, are intellegent in a different way and are basically well rounded kids...
There is one in Mitcham too.
Although I don't agree with not reading till alot later - I spent most of my childhood with my nose stuck in a book.
Santoosha
have a look at some "steiner toy" type sites, to get ideas of toys for your child
winterwood, dragonflytoys, ecotoys.
some steiner sites also sell craft books, to make toys out of felt. i am getting the drift that in STeiner schools, in primary school, the kids are taught knitting, handsewing etc, to make basic projects. anyhoo, i reckon an adult (maybe you) could make those early primary projects too.
i'm trying it, i buy squares of felt at spotlight (some are synthetic, some are wool blends, some are wool, read the little stickers), and am having a go at making some myself. i got some patterns for felt fruit and veg off ETSY, but if you are crafty enough, i'm sure you could draft your own. All you need to be able to do (skill wise) is cut up felt and do blanket stitch. I've got no embroidery skills but blanket stitch is something i can manage.
Buy a few metres of muslin at spotlight, dye one metre green - you have a green playcloth for your child. that can be a pretend lawn for their toys, it can be a pretend forest.
Next time you have a big box, help your child turn it into a toy. add wheels, cut out holes to peer thru.
Make a cubby house by putting a blanket over a table.
dye one metre blue, you have a blue playcloth for your child, that can be a pretend river (scrunched up), it can be a pretend sea.
So these are some cheap steiner toy ideas.
and cheap BOUGHT toys, Like wooden handmade cars at the bonsai palace site.
here are some more sites with lots of natural toys (even if you just use the ideas, it's worth it).
row of ducks
artiwood toys
tree frog toys
bonsai palace
ecotoys
bumblebee
dragonfly
gofairtrading
sendatoy
winterwood
sarah's silks
anklebiters
the toy bug
growing up green
join their newsletters, then you get sent an email when they have a sale on.
some are mainstream toy sites, with a good range of natural toys
some are pure natural toy focussed
What i'm doing with my child, who is now 3, and on the list to start at a dual stream STeiner school in 2012 (it's only $100 more per year, than the normal primary school fees):
- limiting her exposure to tv (we still have tv)
- not giving her access to remotes
- not having battery operated toys in our home
- have donated most of her plastic toys to charity
- make a conscious effort to buy wooden, cloth, tin toys at birthday/xmas (quality not quantity)
- i've just started MAKING felt toys for her, she loves them to my surprise, she's very impressed that mummy made them
- i'm really failing in the natural environment part, we have no backyard for her to play in, so i'm sending her to a childcare cnetre that has real grass, chickens, wooden play equipment, lots of opportunities for messy play.
- dressing her as much as i can, in natural fibres.
- avoiding franchised stuff, so her clothing/bedding etc is plain (to foster her imagination)
- dressing her in clothes that are easy to move in, easy to play in,
- we put on cd's and play along on basic percussion instruments
- any free musical events i find out about, i try to take her along to expose her to live music
- avoiding giving her fast food and fizzy drinks, trying to avoid additives and food colorings. i meet steiner parents who make all their families food "from scratch", bake the bread and all that. i am nowhere near that stage, but would love to be.
- lots of reading. Steiner schools teach actual reading later, but they have alot of storybooks, especially ones about fairies it seems, encouraging that sense of magic and wonder in a child (i'm just a beginner at finding out all about STeiner)
- bought a bag of old macrame beads in an opshop, kept some old shoe laces from her dad's boots - great threading game for her
- like any parent, love them, delight in them, play with them as much as possible, your child will flourish with your love. i have to keep reminding myself about this one!
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i have found natural toys that i don't think are exxy, you just have to keep looking.
Wow Gigi, thanks for lots of awesome suggestions. DD is only 7 months so we're yet to get into any imaginative play, but I can always start collecting stuff now. I'm thinking I can also buy/make good toys that are not yet age appropriate as I find them or the time to get crafty!
Will check out some of those sites. Thanks again.
Those felt toys rock my socks off!
I have started making felt foods. i have made strawberry, carrot, kiwi fruit halves, apple in quarters, ice cream in a cone, donut, sausage, eggs, tea bags, wonky eggplant, watermelon slices.
i have drawn plans to make slices of bread and things to make a sandwich, and trying to make a banana (not as easy as you think).
it's fun, and great when the kids actually name them all correctly!
I just wanted to say thanks for this great thread.... I've been thinking about all this recently too.
We have a Montessori school just around the corner, and Montmorency South primary (I think... it is one of the Montmorency ones anyway) has the Steiner stream..... but I am just not sure of the difference between the styles. Was going to hijack this thread but changed my mind and have started my own if anyone can help me with the differences between these different styles of education
My thread is here
I love the look of the Village school too.... just a touch too far from Diamond Creek I fear!! But it looks so awesome I want to go there!!! :lol:
i think 7 months old is perfect time to be thinking about all this.
i didn't know ANYTHING about Steiner when my child was 7 months old.
then i met STeiner mums who used Steiner colours for swaddling, bedding, clothing etc for their bubs from newborn age.
and the toys for bubs.
you can get organic cotton teething toys (perfect for 7 month old bubs) like those made by Under the Nile (brand)
taggy blankets
natural fabric rugs for her to have tummy time on (we used a sheepskin rug)
wooden teething toys on the steiner toy sites
playsilks (or playmuslins) - babies love the feel of fabric. that grabbing reflex.
the felt fruit toys - i had a one year old gumming them the other day - getting so much fun out of them.
so 7 months old is a great time to start getting into steiner toys IMO, i wish i had.
when babies are more mobile, it's harder to get the time and space to sew, so in retrospect, i wish i had gotten into these felt toys EARLIER and done the cutting and sewing while my child was asleep and non-mobile when she was awake.
i've only started doing the felt toys now she's just turned three, and i worry i've left it too late.
i did get her a steiner rainbow silk mobile (when i was pregnant) and i dyed some cloths in rainbow stripes, but sewing back then, was beyond me.
So many things i could have made for her, whilst pregnant, if only i had known about steiner stuff then.
7 months old, perfect time to start all this.
you can spend the same amount of money, buying lots of cheap plastic stuff, or have a bit less, and make it non-plastic stuff. took me a while to get my head around that one, but it's true.
like I previously posted if you really want to understand the steiner approach its important to understand the premise behind it.... the rest will come when you understand where it comes from.