Eco Parenting

Interview with Lydia Nielsen

What is a Waldorf school?

A school with the vision to honor the spirit in every human being throughout the educational curriculum: Spirit, body and emotional.
There is a nature alter in every classroom, natural fiber toys, and a kindergarten year full of play. They really foster imagination play.

What about the education standards and demands?

It turns out that children do better if allowed to remain in the dreamy state until it becomes academically and developmentally appropriate for them to move on. In the long run, these kids become more self directed in high school, because it hasn't been forced on them far before they were developmentally ready.

Waldorf kids aren't taught to read until 2nd or 3rd grade?

By the time you're sixteen years old, it doesn't matter if you learned to read at age 5 or age 12. It doesn't appear to benefit a child to read any earlier.

Mr. Waldorf also brought about Bio-Dynamic gardening. What is it?

Awareness that energy is coming to earth from the stars at all times. Plants, however, are much more susceptible to the forces of the cosmos. As a gardener this can be kind of overwhelming, so refer to the Stella Natura planting calendar.

Thanks Lydia for sharing your insights with us today!

As always, thanks to the community for listening!

Olana