Morning Glory Children and Circle of Friends Parent Education Center is a Waldorf-inspired center designed to strengthen, support, and nurture young children from birth to age seven and their families so that they may set their own balanced, healthy course in our fast-paced world. Morning Glory's programs are designed to educate each child according to Rudolph Steiner's principles of child and human development. (Rudolf Steiner is an Austrian-born scientist, educator, and philosopher who founded Anthroposophy and Waldorf education).
Our children were born into a fast-paced world. Our primary goal is to encourage each child to unfold at the pace the child chooses. We believe in childhood, and we intend to build a strong foundation so that each child is equipped with the proper tools to go through many years of school and to develop into a well-balanced young adult who loves to learn.
During the early years children learn through imitation, so Morning Glory creates an environment that meets each child's developing needs by having a Waldorf-certified teacher with eleven years'
experience in the Waldorf Early Childhood classroom. The learning space is filled with items carefully selected to nourish and nurture the child's imagination, imbuing the child with a lifelong love of learning. Each activity, movement, and song; every verse, finger-play, and story; each craft material, toy, and meal prepared is chosen with an understanding of the importance of the child's age in his education.
The main principles of our programs are reverence, rhythm, and repetition: reverence for all that is alive and in our world; rhythm and repetition, because we know this is how a young child learns best. Our children learn to wash and iron; they cook, bake, and clean; they mend, garden, and sweep. They also do painting, coloring, and beeswax, with felting, weaving, and other crafts. Each activity falls on the same weekday. Knowing what to expect in their environment, children build confidence and security; their bodies and minds are free to develop at a healthy pace.
Care of the senses is important to us. Children and adults learn about the world through their senses, but a young child must learn to discern between a healthy and a harmful sense impression. At Morning Glory, the child experiences every impression in a manner suited to her or his age. Our curriculum enhances the young child’s sense of touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. In conventional education, developing a sense of the individual and an awareness of others is losing its importance. At Morning Glory, we build this awareness in one-on-one activities and group interactions.
Play is a child's work, so the day revolves around it. Indoor and outdoor play are central to a child’s physical and cognitive learning. In each playtime, the child practices fine and gross motor skills. During the year the teacher observes each child to be sure the child is progressing at the proper pace for his or her age.
During the imaginative play time, artistic activities such as painting, coloring, felting, and many other crafts are available because the teacher is working herself, creating an environment where the child feels willing to join in the practical or artistic activity on his or her own initiative.
