Be aware of wonder.

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten - Robert Fulghum

One of the important things about a Steiner Early Childhood education is the opportunity for the children to be children.  Children are allowed time to be themselves rather than taking on the cares and expectations of society to get ahead or to be doing prescribed activities.  In our kindergarten, days are spent learning about ourselves and how to get along with others though playing, singing, painting, cooking and gardening.  A wealth of social and emotional experiences, language and cognitive development and problem solving skills abound. Thankfully the Australian Steiner Curriculum recognises this and we are able to offer this environment to the children.

This term we have been following the life of the farmer in our morning circle, as we milk the cows, feed the chickens and ride the pony through verse and movement.  ‘Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley’ are the crops the farmer grows as we sow, water and harvest the seeds.  In our own garden the parsley and silver beet have been harvested to add to our seasonal vegetable soup.  We all have our cutting boards and knives to join in preparing the vegetables for the pot! 

We have also enjoyed the traditional tale of ‘Stone Soup’ and this story has given our own soup making days a touch of magic.  In our story some hungry travellers arrive at a village where the villagers do not want to share.  The travellers set a pot of water to boil on a cooking fire in the middle of the village.  The villagers are intrigued to find stones boiling away.  The travellers are happy to share their ‘stone soup’ with everyone, especially if they can contribute a little something from their pantry… to bring out the flavour of the stones!