The
Chennai
Waldorf School

“If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses”
- Johann Wolfgang Von Geothe

Goodness: The pillar of our Kindergarten programs

 

Waldorf Education is based on three pillars: goodness, beauty, and truth. In Early Childhood, we help children hold on to the sense that the world is good.  Children enter the world with a sense of wonder and trust, which inspires our teachers to meet them with reverence, joy, and a deep interest in discovering who they are. Working from wisdom steeped in research and years of child observation, we seek the individuality of each child.

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AKSHAR integrates the following activities in the kindergarten:

1. YOGA:

The day begins with the silent time where children sit in deep silence with closed eyes and meditate. This is followed by YOGA. It enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness; besides their concentration and sense of calmness improves.

2. GARDENING AND NATURE STUDY:

Children relate to nature in unique ways. Children are often taken for nature walks where they enjoy collecting sticks, flowers, leaves, feeding pets and birds. On such walks, they ask several questions that reveal a natural receptivity for the well-being of the Earth and a general concern for the world around them. By deepening their sense of connection with nature, they engage in gardening and
nurturing the immediate environment.

3. MUSIC AND MOVEMENT:

Music and Movement experiences help to develop both sides of the brain and contribute to children’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development. They work on gross motor development and explore the many ways their bodies can move.

4. LANGUAGE ARTS:

At the Kindergarten the children are exposed to five languages: Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, English and French. English is the medium of instruction and they learn simple songs, poems, stories and words in the other languages. Children of this age are particularly receptive to the sounds of other languages; if they learn to reproduce those sounds when their vocal organs are most plastic, they can come to fluency more readily when they are older.

5. PERCEPTUAL MOTOR PROGRAMME:

“Perception” deals with obtaining information and “Motor” refers to the outcome of movement. Thus perceptual-motor activities require children to use their brain and body together to accomplish tasks. In fact, all communication skills - reading, writing, speaking and gesturing are motor-based abilities. To perform well, children must do many things that require their mind and muscles to work together as a team. PMP activities include laterality, balance, body image, tracking, spatial relations, locomotive skills, etc. Perceptual-Motor experiences build a strong base to support future academic learning. Early intervention is crucial.

6. FREE PLAY:

It was Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) who first used the word “kindergarten” to refer to a place of play for children, where they were encouraged to play out of their own nature. Play is a learning activity through which the children first experience co operation, risk and creativity and begin to discover the physical law and structure of the world. Play helps their cognitive and kinetic development and enhances their problem-solving abilities, aesthetic sensitivity and linguistic skills. Play brings together head, hand and heart. At AKSHAR, play is seen as a foundation for later learning so sufficient time is allotted for free and creative play.

7. UNDER THE SKY:

The great child-educator and philosopher Margaret McMillan said, “The best classroom and richest cupboard is roofed by the sky”. Research says that working and playing beneath the sky is important to all learning. Children develop a direct relationship to the Earth. The rich diversity of weather and the rhythms between rain and sun, wind and calm have an enlivening effect on the children. Children at AKSHAR get multitude of opportunities for nature walks and field trips where they observe the wonders of nature and engage in many purposeful work and play.

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8. OUTDOOR GAMES:

The complete education of the mind is not enough without the education of the body. Games time is an important part of the daily routine. Children are given activities which develop their age – appropriate physical skills. Through the physical activities, children also develop inner qualities like determination,
confidence and social skills as well as an appreciation of the beauty in physical culture.
 

9. ACTIVITIES IN THE KINDERGARTEN INCLUDE:

 

•  Art: Watercolour painting, drawing and craft

•  Eurythmy (movement).

•  Circle time with rhymes, songs, finger plays and movement games.

•  Storytelling accompanied by table puppets to provide concrete visual experience and rich
  language models.

• A nutritious home snack prepared daily

•  Regular field trips

•  Special activities such as a birthday story and celebration for each child.

 

 Thoughts on Evaluation:

AKSHAR does not conduct conventional tests and exams at any stage. Therefore, there is no question of grading or categorizing the child. We firmly believe that the child is not an object to be labelled or graded. Every term, the process and growth of the child in all aspects of his/her being is sent to the parents and the parents are then invited for detailed discussion. The stress is always on non-judgmental, child-centered evaluation. The style is descriptive, personalized and wholesome.

KINDERGARTEN TIMINGS: 9.00 am to 2.45 pm (Monday to Friday)