Waldorf Krisol Playgroup

The Playgroup Krisol Waldorf is a space made up of children between 3 and 6 years old. In this vital stage, the objectives of the Waldorf pedagogy focus on developing children’s senses through imitation and experimentation of community life marked by rhythm, in an environment that is respectful of others and the world that surrounds them.

Currently the Krisol Playgroup is made up of two groups, Arç and Roure, of approximately twenty children in each and without separation by age, thus favoring coexistence and mutual help between the children. The teacher, accompanied by an assistant and a volunteer, is dedicated to offering children a homely, safe, natural environment and an orderly dynamic in time and space, which gives them the security and confidence to express themselves in free play.

In this first stage, from 0 to 7 years old, the children find themselves in the fundamental task of building their house, their own body; they are shaping their internal organs and also developing the senses that are linked to this physical development: the touch sense, the vital sense, the sense of own movement and the sense of balance.

From this perspective, it is essential to preserve the essence of each child, without the interference of learning that which does not correspond to their maturational level, and that will allow an integral and harmonious development in each individual.

To encourage these senses to develop healthily, the environment of a Waldorf school takes great care of the atmosphere, the materials (all of natural origin), colours, sounds, shapes and textures. In addition the children experience hands-on activities and games, contact with nature, all of which allow these senses to be stimulated appropriately.

Young children basically learn by imitation; They identify with the environment that surrounds them and put all their will into imitating the adults that are within their reach. That is why in the Waldorf pedagogy the child is provided with an environment in which the adult is always doing meaningful activities that are worthy of being imitated, such as taking care of the garden or vegetable patch, doing domestic tasks such as sweeping, sewing , make bread, etc.

The main activity of children is to play, in the Waldorf pedagogy play is cultivated as a fundamental element of learning. Playing means being in a creative process. When children play they are continually creating and recreating scenes from everyday life and integrating them into their development.

All these elements are a way to care for and strengthen both the physical and emotional health of children, as well as to allow a better approach to learning and development before beginning the thought processes of a primary classroom.