The teaching process that follows the Waldorf Homeschool process is set up to benefit children in this program by allowing them to grow and develop in a natural and healthy manner. This type of program is taught throughout the United States and in many other countries as well including Israel, Egypt and several European counties like France and Germany. There are over one thousand schools that use this method and thousands of homeschool programs that do as well. It is a program that looks at the development of the children as the basis of learning.
The first seven years of a child’s life are viewed as their most active time. This is the time they most explore their surroundings. This learning system teaches that during these years a child should be active, but as well they need balance and so they need quiet time as well. Therefore their days should be filled with story times for quiet, a small meal and then active times. These times need not be exercise per say but can be things that are done around the home like working in the garden with a parent or helping in the house. This age is the one where the toys need only be simple ones to promote a child using their imagination. Wooden blocks, kitchen implements or sandboxes are great for playtime. At this stage no formal education is suggested.
The next stage in the Waldorf homeschooling system occurs with ages seven to fourteen. This stage is referred to as their feeling life. The best method of teaching them then is through things that will bring their feelings to the surface through imaginative and artistic teaching. This includes everything from teaching the myths and legends of the world to discussing explores, and moral issues to the struggles of the average person throughout history. The approach to teaching uses stories through drawing, drama, painting or other methods that give a child the opportunity to find their inner artist. The children make a special book where they write their work for each topic they are learning. These books are to be handled with care and are used to teach a child that that they do can be something with great beauty. One lesson the Waldorf homeschooling system tries to teach here is that everyone can be creative.
Once children are nine years old they are learning to separate from their parents and have a sense of independence. Electronic media, including television, computers and video games, are believed to be detrimental to the children’s ability to learn and see the world in its true form. Religious teachings begin to come into the program. Right and wrong is taught. The aim is that by twelve years of age the students are able to clearly see the facts of an issue and are more down to earth than others in regular programs. Once they are of high school age these children are supposed to have turned out well rounded with an artistic approach to the things that interest them. The goal of the Waldorf homeschooling system is to have made them into adults who are ready to think for themselves and to function in a variety of roles while still remembering that their morals are what make them strong.
