Why I would have loved a Waldorf childhood
When you become a parent, you’re sometimes drawn to what you wished for in your own childhood. For me, the Waldorf approach to learning and education is one of those things.
What let me here
My first encounter with the Waldorf approach to learning, came before I began studying to become a nurse. I spent a year working at an anthroposophical Waldorf school for children with disability's in 2012-2013. It was a place where hospital care plans were only part of the treatment - healing also came through play, nature walks, sound therapy, art, and the predictable rhythm of everyday life in a Waldorf environment.
As the daughter of an organic farmer, it all felt like home, so natural and intuitive. That year, I made myself a quiet promise: when I have children, I will offer them an environment like this. One where rhythm is sacred, nature sets the pace, and aesthetics is seen as essential nourishment for body, mind, and soul.
This summer is our 6th year in Waldorf education. Our biggest girls is entering 1 grade and our smaller daughter kindergarden. This is my thoughts along the way.
Where slower rhythms meet intentional learning and natural growth
When I say slower rhythms, I mean a way of living and learning that follows the child’s natural tempo. Where days are not packed with over-stimulation or rushed transitions, but shaped by repetition, ritual, play and time to simply be. Where learning unfolds rather than is pushed. This is one of the core principles in Waldorf education — and something I’ve come to deeply value as a parent.
Here are some of the foundations that speak to me in Waldorf:
A curriculum that honors the child’s natural pace and inner unfolding
Emphasis on nature, rhythm, and the seasons
Natural aesthetics — from the color of the walls to the tone of the teacher’s voice
Education of the whole human being — not just the brain, but the heart and the hands
Consistency in the daily and weekly schedule, which creates safety and presence
A childhood that is protected, not hurried
What I’m drawn to is learning to grow in tune with who we are and where we come from - and that begins with slowing down enough to listen
Educating the Whole Child
What I cherish in Waldorf education is its focus on the whole human being - physical, emotional, and intellectual. It’s an approach that nurtures not just the mind, but the heart and hands as well - helping children grow with balance, depth, and inner confidence.
Academic subjects are taught side by side with artistic and practical work. That blend supports creativity and independent thinking in a natural way. It’s not about pushing the child to perform - it’s about guiding them to unfold their potential.
Each day is shaped by dedicated rhythm and repetition, which brings a sense of safety and calm. That rhythm creates space for depth and presence. It supports the child’s well-being and ability to stand in themselves and shape their own future.
Letting Them Blossom
Magda Gerber once said:
A child who is allowed to develop at his own pace will blossom in the right time, just like a flower in the garden.
And that’s exactly what I aim to see in my children. I’m trying not focus on tests and scores or academic peaks. But protecting their spark - their wonder, their softness, their sense of self.
Is Waldorf education enough in today’s world?
That’s a question I’ve asked myself - and my husband - many times. In a world where everything is measured, compared, and tracked, it can feel vulnerable to choose something different. Something slower. Something rooted in trust.
But what we keep coming back to is this:
Is our child happy? Learning? Growing?
And if the answer ever becomes no - if something no longer feels right - we trust ourselves to adjust, to explore, and to find the path that fits. Whether that’s within Waldorf or beyond it.
Waldorf is not just an education.
It’s a whole worldview - from Rudolf Steiner’s approach to child development, to biodynamic farming, anthroposophy, rhythm, and reverence for nature.
But with any philosophy that runs deep, there can also be misunderstandings and critiques. Waldorf has its share of reputation - both good and complicated.
For me, it’s about taking what resonates and leaving the rest. I follow what feels true for our family, and I don’t feel the need to subscribe to it all. Just like with anything else, we’re allowed to choose with discernment and an open mind.
If a Waldorf school doesn’t feel like the right fit- but you still feel drawn to its essence - here are ways to bring the spirit into your daily rhythm.
These are some of the simple things we do at home that carry the essence of Waldorf into everyday life:
Choose toys in natural materials: silk, wood, wool, and organic cotton toys. They engage the senses and connect children to the earth.
Sort toys in baskets. This makes them easy to access and even easier to put away.
Make their room a soft place to land - a space that invites rest. Filled with warm light, soft rugs, big pillows, and a cozy corner just for them.
Keep art supplies available at all times. We always have beeswax crayons and paper out - children are naturally drawn to this space, and it’s often where the magic begins.
Add bits of magic: stones, crystals, shells on the windowsill — tiny altars of magic and light.
No one needs perfection, just little things that speak to the child’s inner spirit.
My curated list of flower remedies for transitions, parenting books I have read through the years and keep coming back to, podcast and inspiring kids stores
First Day of School Remedies
With the first day of school approaching, I like to support my children with gentle flower remedies for emotional balance during times of transition. For my school girl, I use Kids Magic Shield , and for my kindergarten girl, Dream Boat - both offering a little extra comfort as they step into a new chapter in life.
Books
Beyond the Rainbow Bridge – Barbara J. Patterson & Pamela Bradley
Barnets opdragelse og læringens metodik – Rudolf Steiner (Danish)
Jeg skuer ud i verden - En Antologi om steinerskoler (Danish)
Podcast
I love to listen to ´Respectful Parenting - Unruffled` by Janet Lansbury when feeling stuck in parenting and seeking advice and inspiration.
´Sundays with Sarah` on YouTube has lead me to lots of inspiration and thoughts.
Waldorf inspired Stores I love
Hope you all had a beautiful summer and that the transition into this next school year feels gentle and easeful
xx Amalie
I‘d loved reading your words, reminds me so much of myself and my decision to let my child have a waldorf education. she‘s now 16 and i‘m so grateful. 💚