10/3/2023 0 Comments Waldorf storytelling![]() ![]() Prince Ronduin is stuck in a castle surrounded by flood waters. I chose a medieval prince as a role model. So much has changed for children unexpectedly and all at once: daily routines, traditions, social lives, ways of playing and approaches to learning.Īs a former Waldorf teacher, my impulse was, of course, to create a story to help children adjust to their new normal. Today, children and many parents are stuck at home to protect public health. A study of Steiner's indications about the developmental journey of each age can help you make deep connections with your young listeners when you create healing stories. For instance, he saw that fantasy-rich first graders would be met by imaginative fairy tales and that fifth graders would appreciate the ancient Greek culture and other stories from Ancient Civilizations.Īs I moved through the grades with multiple classes I was continually amazed by the deep connections children made with the story curriculum Steiner prescribed. Steiner's story content for each grade level connects the central questions and strivings of each developmental age in childhood to the central questions and strivings of particular historical cultures. The inner journey of each child is akin to the journey of the history of civilization. As I moved through the grades with my students, I was continually amazed by the power by Rudolf Steiner's vision of a story-centered curriculum.Īll children go through similar developmental phases characterized by both behavioral tendencies and central questions and concerns.Ĭhildren can be supported through each stage by stories that shine a light on their inner journey. At the same time you can show the shy character slowly gaining enough confidence to speak with the main character who your child already knows well and is clearly a trustworthy person (or cat or hippo or whale.)Īs I mentioned earlier, Rudolf Steiner prescribed a story theme for each age level. Your story can show the beauty of life as an introvert. Is your child so shy that they rarely talk with others? You can introduce a secondary character who is also very shy. ![]() Is your little child afraid of bugs? You could show your ongoing character making friends with an insect. ![]() I had great fun making up these fantastical stories and I think my listeners enjoyed them as well.Īn ongoing story provides a setting for healing episodes. And then there was the set of stories for my daughter about Elfrie and Elfred, two elves who accompanied us on a cross country excursion. I also remember telling a story about animals from a zoo who would sneak out at night and take my son on adventures. It was about a tiny person who lived in a radio and was the source of the radio's voices. My first ongoing story was one I told as a live in summer babysitter when I was thirteen. He worked with Captain Obadelia, a reformed pirate who hunted for treasures which she donated to charities. I once told an ongoing story about a talking cat who had the ability to sniff out pirate treasures buried under sand. You can borrow a character from a book or make up your own characters. It helps to have an ongoing story that you add to almost every day. I encourage you to explore stories as a powerful way to relate with and support your children. Like many Waldorf parents and grandparents, I've also relied on stories as a source of connection with my own children and my grandchildren. As a class teacher I've told stories to help children process grief, to support self confidence and to deal with unexpected circumstances. Waldorf teachers also use stories to support the healing of individual children or the social life of a class. In fact, Rudolf Steiner designed the grades curriculum around a set of stories for each grade level. ![]() Class teachers teach history through biographies and math through engaging stories that illustrate a concept. Physical education teachers often base games on imagery from a story. A language teacher tells a story in French while illustrating the tale with puppets. A eurythmy teacher skips around a circle with a class while telling a story about a squirrel. ![]()
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