A Place to Go, A Time to Grow
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility—these three forces are the very nerve of education.” ― Rudolf Steiner
Early Childhood: 3 – 6 years
The Waldorf School of St. Louis’ Early Childhood program provides a warm, nurturing foundation for young children, allowing unhurried time for their natural development. By nourishing the mind and the senses through a healthy, beauty-filled environment, our program ensures that cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills are accorded equal value. Each classroom, both indoors and out, is inviting, meticulously cared for, and intentionally filled with beautiful, natural elements. Simple items from nature—such as blocks of wood, seashells, and beeswax for modeling, alongside handcrafted dolls and toys—are thoughtfully provided to encourage children to create and form their own games and stories. Ultimately, our Early Childhood rooms serve as gentle, secure spaces where children can imagine and explore freely while feeling completely safe, comfortable, and supported
Foundations of Math and Science in Early Childhood
Counting games and rhythmic activities, alongside daily tasks like bread baking, cooking, and table setting, allow children to build a strong foundation for mathematical learning by introducing core concepts such as counting, measurement, and primitive geometry. True math takes place naturally when children are preparing snacks or setting the table for their friends, allowing them to grasp complex ideas like addition, subtraction, weight, quantity, and shape in a practical, hands-on manner. Through active movement games, children learn to recognize and recreate intricate mathematical patterns
While outdoors, children refine their large motor movements, sensory experiences, and social interactions while engaging in cooperative play, which develops critical decision-making skills essential for their overall growth and future success. Learning about the physical world firsthand by climbing, jumping, and digging under the open sky prepares children for the future study of the sciences, while spending time outdoors in all seasons and climate conditions strengthens a deep, lifelong connection with nature. Ultimately, all of these learning activities are held within consistent daily routines and comforting seasonal rhythms that lovingly connect the children to the world around them
“The task of the kindergarten teacher is to adapt the practical activities of daily life so that they are suitable for the child’s imitation through play. The activities of children in the kindergarten must be derived from life itself rather than being ‘thought out’ by the intellectualized culture of adults. In kindergarten, the most important thing is to give children the opportunity to directly imitate life itself.”
– Rudolf Steiner from “The Child’s Changing Consciousness”
Play and Literacy in Early Childhood
Play sits at the very heart of the Waldorf Early Childhood program, serving as the primary vehicle through which young children develop creative thinking, complex problem-solving, and essential social skills.
These foundational abilities blossom naturally within a joyful, unhurried environment that carefully balances child-led, imaginative play with structured, teacher-directed activities. As children regularly listen to rich fairy and folk tales, watch artistic puppet plays, and participate in spontaneous dramatic play, their capacities for memory, comprehension, and deep imagination are significantly strengthened. Furthermore, this immersive use of oral storytelling, poetry, and daily recitation provides a robust foundation for emerging literacy by naturally exposing children to the rhythmic building blocks of reading and language acquisition long before formal academic testing begins.
Children in Early Childhood will participate in:
Creative Play
Children are encouraged to follow their own initiative and vivid imaginations, utilizing a rich variety of natural, unformed toys and raw materials.
Outdoor Play
Embracing nature through all seasons and weather, children swing, dig, and build forts of their own free will. Outdoor time also introduces gardening, nature walks, and basic woodworking.
Circle Time
The entire class gathers as a community to experience storytelling, puppetry, group songs, verses, and rhythmic movement.
Forest Day
Students enrolled in our 5-day track participate in a Friday "Forest Day," spending the entire day in the woods to enhance their physical confidence and deep appreciation for nature.
Healthy, Organic Snacks
Children actively participate in preparing the table and baking or cooking, turning snack time into a communal activity focused on pleasant, shared eating habits.
Artistic Activity
Weekly rhythms include wet-on-wet watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, crayon drawing, and foundational handwork.
Program Schedules and Hours
Enrollment Tracks: Families can choose between a 3-day (Monday–Wednesday) or a 5-day (Monday–Friday) schedule. Please note that kindergarten applicants must apply for the 5-day program.
Daily Hours: Both the 3-day and 5-day tracks offer a Half-Day Morning option (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM) or a Full-Day option (8:30 AM – 3:00 PM).
Extended Care: Free morning drop-off before-care begins at 8:00 AM, and afternoon after-care is available for a fee to enrolled children aged 4 and up
Visit Us
The best way to experience Waldorf Education is to step onto our campus and feel it come alive around you. Breathe in the warm scent of freshly baked bread rising from an early childhood classroom, hear children singing as they gather in the morning circle and watch busy hands shaping beeswax and painting with watercolor. Stroll through our gardens where seasonal blossoms fill the air and visit our meadow where children spend their time building forts, balancing on logs, inventing imaginative worlds, and discovering the wonders of nature through active outdoor play. Please sign up for our Walk and Talk Tour and/or our Little Red Hen Playdate to learn more about our Early Childhood program.