The Multi-Age Preschool & Kindergarten program at Lake Champlain Waldorf School builds on the natural wonder and curiosity of young children. Our experienced teachers create a sanctuary where imagination—the first tool of problem solving—thrives.
In a Waldorf Early Childhood program, a guiding principle is a deep reverence for childhood. Our teachers hold an extensive understanding of child development and use this knowledge to inform their approach.
The daily rhythm provides structure and security, and plenty of time for free play and exploration.
Our campus is on 22 acres of forested land, and children spend time outside every day. Outdoor education is an essential part of our program and children build strength and dexterity as they walk, run, balance, and play in the woods. Inside, classrooms are warm and inviting, and toys are made from natural materials and designed for open-ended expression.
A community for learning
Throughout the day, teachers carefully attend to each child, while creating a healthy social community for the class. Our students often stay with the same teacher for more than one year, which allows for a strong partnership to develop between the teacher and the whole family. Children are supported in learning social skills—developing confidence, empathy and healthy conflict resolution skills. A predictable and consistent rhythm provides children with the freedom to be present without being unsure of what comes next. They are then free to explore, take risks and be creative.
Practical mathematics and science unfold
Young children learn through imitation and our teachers strive to be worthy of imitation. They model hard work, treat others with kindness, and bring joy and humor to each day! Through cooking, baking, and setting the table for snack, children count, classify, and measure. Gardening and observing nature through the seasons, children practice the keen observation skills necessary for scientific inquiry.
Building a love for language arts
Through song and story, teachers articulate their words with care. Children hear and repeat complex sentence structures and rich vocabulary, building strong oral literacy skills which lay the foundation for future reading and writing.
Our young students gain confidence, build a sense of community, and engage in meaningful work.
The foundations of academics—the ability to wonder and invent, to stay focused on a task, to experience different perspectives, and to solve problems independently and with others—saturate each day. Children emerge ready to follow their curiosity and pursue their enthusiasm for learning.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Days: 5-Day program, Monday through Friday Times: Full Days: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (Half-day option ends at 12:00 pm, and optional extended day ends at 5:30 pm) Mixed-Age Preschool & Kindergarten: Ages 3 to 6 by September 1
Our program provides a nourishing, homelike environment that supports the development of early social skills. Under the loving and gentle guidance of our warm Early Childhood teachers, our days are filled with songs, games, stories, movement and activities, and plenty of unstructured outdoor play and exploration.
ADMISSIONS: Our admissions process is an opportunity for parents and children to get to know our program, and for families and our faculty to learn about one another. Priority for placement is given to families enrolled in our Parent & Child classes or with a sibling enrolled at our school.
