Education with this approach  is based on the idea that the human being is a being of body, mind and spirit.   The methods used are based on the premise that the child develops over a number of stages from the childhood to adulthood; the curriculum is designed specifically to work with the child through these stages;   The Waldorf philosophy brings beauty and a depth to education, as well as a time scale for introducing certain subjects at certain ages based on the development of the consciousness of the child.

The Waldorf method was developed by Rudolf Steiner, an Australian philosopher and educator, who created an education system consistent with Anthroposophy (from the Greek "antropos-sephia" or human wisdom), which holds that the human being is fundamentally spiritual and deserves respect as a personification of this spiritual nature.

In educational terms, this means that the aim is to develop the innate skills and talents of the child, not the government or economic forces, promoting creativity and freedom of thought.     

While Anthroposophy creates the theoretical basis of the Waldorf Method, it is not taught to students.   The curriculum is as extensive or broad as time allows it to be and it keeps a balance between academic and artistic activities. Through the free use of art and activities at the service of teaching academics, an internal motivation to learn is developed in the student, discarding the need of competition, test and grades.   It strongly discourages the use of electronics, especially television.

Distinguishing features:

1.  Academics are not emphasize during the first few years –  The Kinder academic content is not used, is minimum in first grade; in second grade letters are introduced but in an artistic way, they learn to read from their own drafting between second and third grade;

2. Art, music and gardening are central, not merely secondary or extracurricular, given that kids respond best to art and music than dry speeches and memorization.   All children learn to play the flute and weaving or knitting;  

3.  No use of textbooks in the first grades.   The children have their own books of lessons which are their own notebooks in which they keep a record of what they have learned and experienced-essentially they create their own "text book."    Textbooks are used in higher grades to provide work for the main subjects. 

Pros:

• Fosters creativity and fun in the early years/grades
• Stimulates personal questioning and reasoning
• Develops sensitivity and sensibility

Cons:

• Requires time and preparation on the part of the parent during the earlier years/grades
• Materials can be costly

Resources:

A to Z Home's Cool Homeschool: Waldorf

Waldorf Answers

Rudolf Steiner

Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out, by Jack Petrash

Beyond the Rainbow Bridge: Nurturing Our Children from Birth to Seven, by Barbara J. Patterson, Pamela Bradley, Jean Riordan (illustrator)

Children at Play: Using Waldorf Principles to Foster Childhood Development, by Heidi Britz-Crecelius

Free to Learn: Introducing Steiner Waldorf Earkt Childhood Education, by Lynne Oldfield

Rythms of Learning: What Waldorf Education Offers Children, Parents & Teachers, by Rudolf Steiner, Roberto Trosti