Maturation of Thought

Posted by Christopherus

One of the exciting things about teaching at the Waldorf high school here in town is the opportunity to work with mixed age classes and to observe the differences between the students not only as individuals, but as young people…

Music Lessons

Posted by Christopherus

  One thing that it is of paramount importance when considering music lessons for a young child is not to bring under 7’s prematurely into their heads, into intellectual experiences. Little ones have a natural feel for rhythm – and…

A Lovely Day of Nothing

Posted by Christopherus

My 12 year came down the stairs this morning at around 10 am, hunted around for cereal and then joined me in the living room where I was sprawled on the couch. “What are we doing today, Mama?” he asked….

The Waldorf View on Teaching

Posted by Christopherus

(this is a response I gave to a question on my yahoo group Waldorf_At_Home)   I think a question could be asked "how does the child know to ask what she wants? How does she know what she wants?" This…

Fantasy and Imagination

Posted by Christopherus

(the following was written in response to a question I received many years ago on my old yahoo group…)   When working with questions around the existence of fairies, I guess it all depends on how one views the world,…

Star Wars and Lego

Posted by Christopherus

(this originally appeared in a slightly different form on my yahoo group, Waldorf_At_Home) I have always loved Star Wars and have always been moved by what I perceive as a modern day fairy tale. I have two boys – and…

Christmas with Older Children

Posted by Christopherus

Well, the holidays are over – today is Three Kings’ or Epiphany. It is the day that we take down our decorations and officially bring the Christmas season to a close in our family.   My sons are now 12…

“Working with Anxious, Nervous and Depressed Children”

Posted by Christopherus

(yet another article gleaned from my yahoo group Waldorf_At_Home – again, it has been slightly edited) I have been reading a wonderful book recently which deals with issues around the senses, movement, balance etc.  It is called "Working with Anxious,…

Discipline Questions

Posted by Christopherus

(this entry has been adapted from my Waldorf_At_Home yahoo group) The topic of discipline in Waldorf circles can seem elusive – this is mainly because discipline as such is rarely talked about. Rather, discipline is understood as something which arises…

Little Ones Who Chatter

Posted by Christopherus

(the following is adapted from a message I posted on my yahoo group “Waldorf-At_Home”) Fundamental to a Waldorf understanding of young children is therecognition that they are in  the imitative phase of their lives. Everything that goes on around them…