Early Childhood Resources
The following articles have been selected for their relevance to Early Childhood, and are provided at no charge to all of our website users. In most cases, clicking on a "read more" link below will allow you to view and/or download a pdf copy of the article. You may need to refresh the web page after downloading.
Movement in Childhood
Dr. Frank, school physician at a Waldorf school in Vienna for 24 years, offers a very helpful look at the developmental movement progression from birth to adulthood. The article covers the topic of movement from every possible angle, and would be useful for parent education, as well as personal review.
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The Transforming Toybox
From the Museum of Play, describing this article: "Do technologically advanced toys make kids smarter? Probably not. According to a new article in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Play, research shows that so-called “brainy toys” and those typically marketed as “educational” often elicit fewer language interactions, fewer opportunities to engage caregivers, and fewer spatial skills than their traditional toy counterparts. Because of this, it’s incumbent upon toymakers to not be exploitative in their marketing—and for caregivers, particularly of children under the age of two, to be careful when making toy choices."
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Healthy Eating and Sleeping
Dr. Blanning's new book, Raising Sound Sleepers: Helping Children Use Their Senses to Rest and Self-Soothe, has just appeared. Listen to Dr. Blanning discussing the powerful effect of developing healthy rhythms for sleep and eating with this podcast from Waldorfy.
Challenges to the Incarnation of the Ego
Dr. Callegaro explicates the hindrances modern children face as they try to incarnate: they are "awake" earlier, yet are forced to overcome physical obstacles every step of the way...
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Strengthening the Four Lower Senses
The four lower senses lay the foundation for all the higher-level skills...read more
Fine Motor Skills and Subtle Thinking
Sebastian Suggate, professor of professor of Developmental Psychology and Early Years Education at Alanus University, discusses the importance of fine motor skills, and offers ways we can support their development in young children.......read more
Snacktime Observations
Snack time is an ideal observation time in the Early Childhood classroom. Betty Jane Enno, AHE Board member, offers teachers detailed guidance on the unobtrusive observation of young students, adding very useful lists of the skills we need to assess for each child....read more
At What Age are Children Ready for First Grade?
Joan Almon explores the wisdom of resisting societal norms and pressures as we set guidelines and cutoff dates for first grade readiness and admission...read more
A Therapeutic Kindergarten Class
Ann Pratt visited a special therapeutic kindergarten class, and carefully describes a number of very useful remedial/theraputic activities you can use with young children.
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For Kids, Self-Control Factors into Future Success
Nancy Shute explores the decisive role that the cultivation of self-control and impulse control play in the present and future years of a child's life...read more
Bringing the Educational Support Work into the Home
A good relationship with parents and families is absolutely necessary in order to be effective teachers... read more
Observations Based on The Lower Senses
At a remedial conference in the summer of 2000, Nettie Fabrie presented the following matrix to help teachers and parents strengthen their understanding of the four lower senses. The senses of Touch, Life, Movement and Balance - what are the qualities of each, how do we strengthen these qualities, what can get in the way, what does a need for development look like?... read more
Barefoot Babies
This helpful article, which can be shared with parents, reviews the vestibular and proprioceptive benefits of having babies and children play outdoors with bare feet. read more
Guidelines for Observing School Readiness
This exceptionally complete article offers a comprehensive look at the factors we must consider as we participate in the decision about the first-grade readiness of each child...read more
Factors Behind the Increase in Learning Challenges
Parents and teachers are finding that outstanding numbers of children and adolescents are facing academic and behavioral challenges. Labels such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Learning Disabled and ADD/ADHD are frequently used, yet underneath these diagnoses lies a more fundamental problem. The root causes of many challenges that lead to these common labels have less to do with learning issues and more to do with ... fread more
Blanket Wrap - Preparing for Sleep and for Centering/Calming During the Day
This activity is a wonderful way for the parent and child to spend time together. It is especially useful for children who are sensitive to touch or do not have a sense of their boundaries. They are often helped by... read more