Experienced Waldorf early childhood educators often long for opportunities to deepen and renew their work while also making a real contribution to others out of their years of experience with young children. The needs of children today are changing, the needs of families are changing, and the needs and roles of educators are also changing. As our Waldorf early childhood movement expands and our approaches to the care and education of the young child diversify, many questions arise that demand our attention.

Those who choose to focus on early childhood education in this new program may be interested in pursuing questions such as the following:

How can I deepen my understanding of the development young child through research into the physiological foundations for later learning?
How can I develop the "voice" to advocate for the protection of childhood in the broader debate around early education?
How can I more deeply understand and articulate the importance of free creative play in early childhood as a foundation for the development of cognitive, social, psychological, and moral/spiritual capacities in later life?
How can we cultivate communities of care and support around young children today? What do parents truly need to support them in raising their young children?
How can I deepen my understanding of the role of the adult as a model for the child's imitation in such areas as the development of speech and language, the role of gesture and movement, and moral development?
What qualities and experiences outdoors and in nature are essential for healthy child development? How can these be developed in our kindergartens?
What is the role of the arts in early childhood education? How can an artistic approach to life be cultivated in our kindergartens?
What is the relationship between early childhood education and care? How can we unite the two in meaningful ways that support healthy development?

Exploring such questions will involve study and action research, and can lead to insights and contributions that will serve as resources for other colleagues in our movement.

Susan Howard is the coordinator of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) and co-coordinator of the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE). She has been engaged in Waldorf early childhood training since 1984, as director of certificate and master's programs at Sunbridge College. Co-founder of the Research Institute for Waldorf Education, she currently serves on its board. Susan has edited a number of books published by WECAN, including The Young Child in the World Today, The Developing Child- The First Seven Years, and Working with the Angels- The Young Child and the Spiritual World. She is the author of What Young Children Really Need - the Essentials of Waldorf Early Childhood Education recently published in Renewal, the Journal for Waldorf Education. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Last Updated: 11/10/08