Sophia Institute
  • Home
  • Info
    • About Rudolf Steiner
    • Blog
    • Enrollment
    • Faculty/Staff
    • FAQ
    • Feedback
    • History
    • Newsletter
    • Promotions
    • Support
    • Tuition Info
  • Courses
    • online Foundation Studies Program
    • online Waldorf Certificate Program
    • Local Facilitated Group Courses Program
    • Group Leader/Mentor Certification Program
    • online Biography Program
    • online Anthroposophy Courses
    • online Art Courses
    • Waldorf/Steiner Community Courses and Programs
    • Waldorf Teacher Training Individual Courses
    • Waldorf Teacher Training Art of Teaching Courses
  • Publications
    • Germans are Funny
    • A Maypole Dream
    • Holy Nights Journal
    • The Threefold Diary
    • Three Tales
    • Foundation Courses in Anthroposophy
    • Meditation and Initiation
    • The Ultimate Meeting Notebook
    • In The Garden
    • A Child's Seasonal Treasury
  • Contact

Let ‘Em Out! The Many Benefits of Outdoor Play In Kindergarten

8/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
For the typical American kindergartner, unstructured free play during the school day consists of 20 to 30 minutes of recess, and perhaps some time at indoor “stations” — perhaps creating with building blocks, costumes, or musical instruments. But what if there was more? What if the answer to “what did you do in school today?” was, “I climbed a tree, played in the mud, built a fire”?

That is exactly the kind of learning going on in the Swiss Waldkindergartens, or forest kindergartens, where children ages four to seven spend all of their school days playing outdoors, no matter the weather. With no explicit math or literacy taught until first grade, the Swiss have no set goals for kindergartners beyond a few measurements, like using scissors and writing one’s own name. They instead have chosen to focus on the social interaction and emotional well-being found in free play.

More ... 


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Sophia Institute offers a variety of programs, courses, publications and other resources to anyone interested in Anthroposophy and Waldorf/Steiner inspired education. Currently there are students from all over the world enrolled in the Sophia Institute online courses. Sophia Institute publications are available worldwide. The Sophia Institute newsletter and blog provide insights and information concerning the work of Anthroposophical initiatives, Waldorf/Steiner Schools, the Camphill Movement, and related endeavors. More ...
Copyright by Sophia Institute
Photos used under Creative Commons from Philms, rosmary