A parent's guide to Waldorf play

Waldorf education began in 1919, when Rudolf Steiner opened a school in Stuttgart, Germany, for the children of workers at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory. Waldorf early childhood classrooms centre on imaginative play, rhythm and nature.

The ideas behind it

• Open-ended toys. Simple shapes and plain faces leave room for a child's imagination. A play silk can be a river, a cape or a tent.
• Natural materials. Wood, wool, cotton, silk and beeswax give a child varied textures and weights to handle.
• Rhythm. A steady daily and weekly routine, and a seasonal table that changes through the year.
• Art and handwork. Block crayons, watercolour painting, modelling beeswax and simple sewing.

Setting up at home

• A basket of play silks and a few wooden figures or peg dolls.
• A rainbow stacker or set of arches for building.
• A playstand or play kitchen for pretend play.
• Block crayons and paper on a low table.
• A small seasonal table with items from walks outside.

Waldorf and Montessori together

Many families use both. Montessori pieces support practical skills and independence. Waldorf pieces support pretend play and imagination. The two fit on the same shelf.

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