Early Childhood

When parents walk into one of our Early Childhood classrooms for the first time, they often remark that it feels “like a home away from home.” There is a palpable sense of calm, beauty, and warmth. Often the aroma of baking bread fills the air, and the children are busily engaged in active play. Toys are simple and natural; the whole room feels, at once, alive and serene.

In Early Childhood, our classrooms are homelike with a predictable daily rhythm to allow children to feel comfortable and secure. Children see their work in school as play, fostering wonder and possibility, thus strengthening them from within in a lasting way and building the foundation for future academic success. The day’s activities are rich with watercolor painting, sewing, beeswax modeling, singing, storytelling, and circle movement journeys: all enjoyable activities that also happen to develop small and gross motor skills, cultivate listening, concentration and language skills, and teach children how to cooperate in a group.

Our students go outside every day, in every kind of weather, to play and romp and sled and skip. This outdoor time is precious and has always been part of the Waldorf curriculum. We believe – and science now confirms – that free outdoor play, in rain or shine, is essential to good health and balanced brain development. It also connects children deeply to the world in which they live, helping them become not only better students but also more responsible global stewards.

Parent-Tot Classes (Birth to 3 year olds)

Our Outdoor Parent-Tot program invites young children and their caregivers to explore nature together. During fall and spring sessions, families gather once a week to be led through the beautiful woodland trails around Aurora Waldorf School and experience the wonder of a Waldorf approach to education.

3-Day Pre-K (3 to 4 year olds)

Your child’s earliest years at Aurora Waldorf School will nurture and protect the wonder of childhood in a structured and consistent environment. With a simple daily rhythm and the use of natural materials, children gain a sense of security in an environment that is beautiful, true, and good.

5-Day Pre-K / Kindergarten (4 to 6 year olds)

The multi-age Pre-K / Kindergarten program at Aurora Waldorf School meets children exactly where they are and grows them into the successful learners they are to become. Purposeful activities and imitating the work of adult role models develop gross and fine motor skills, self-confidence, and trust in the world.