Under the Stars

The Foundations of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education

by Renate Long-Breipohl

Under the Stars is a profound and practical anthology on the principles and methods of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education. The purpose is to help early years educators deepen their insights into Steiner’s inspiring, holistic understanding of children. Rather than recipes, here are the author’s thought provoking insights and principles derived from lifelong work in kindergarten education. They will free up educators to transform their observation of children, their practice and their self development.

Contents include:

• Recognizing and nurturing the life forces of the young child.
• Thinking and the consciousness of the young child.
• The development and the education of the will, including an appendix on moral education in early childhood.
• Relationships in early childhood: attachment, separation, individualisation. Children in the modern world.
• Supporting movement development in the early years.
• Self-directed play in early childhood.
• Art experiences in early childhood education.
• Self development and child observation.
• Incarnation as a guide to self development.

Softcover, 240 pages.

Hawthorn Press, 2012.

About the Author:

Dr Renate Long-Breipohl taught kindergarten for many years. She now advises and lectures around the world in early childhood education and with the Sydney Rudolf Steiner College. This book originated as much from her own experience and research with young children as from Rudolf Steiner, though she believes that engaging with his thinking is a crucial foundation for educators.

Reviews:

“This book is an important addition at a time when the tremendous international growth of Waldorf early childhood education requires research and consideration of the quality that it offers.” –Jill Tina Taplin, Gateways || Fall 2012, Issue #63