Mansfield Steiner Kindergarten

"I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core." Henry David Thoreau
Kindergarten


	In Kindergarten and Prep we are welcoming children into their school life and helping to form basic attitudes and feelings towards school and learning for the future. To keep children eager to learn and excited about what the future holds we place great value in learning to wait and ensuring that the child is ready for the capable and ready for the activities and concepts we present to them. The pressure to give children things before they are ready is always there, but we need to remember that just because a child asks to do something, it does not mean he or she is actually ready to do it. When activities are delayed until the children are the right age and level of development there is a great deal of excitement and anticipation. They are able to achieve and feel satisfied. By simply saying ’I will teach you how to so that when you are ready’ in a way we are saying, ’Who you are and what you are doing right now is more important. Those other things I will leave for you to look forward to.’ Working this way, children absorb that there is no hurry and any anxiety about missing out begins to fade away. They are able to stay focused on a task and develop will power. They have time to consolidate their skills. They are allowed the time to grow and develop fully at each level before moving on. By trying to be aware of what is developmentally appropriate, both as teachers and parents, we are respecting the intrinsic value of childhood and supporting our children to develop fully as well rounded, confident human beings.

Rudolf Steiner School Mansfield Victoria