“Children who live in an atmosphere of love and warmth and who have around them truly good examples to imitate, are living in their proper element.” – Rudolf Steiner

Wondergarten

Learning Through Imitation

Young children from birth to age seven, learn primarily through imitation and purposeful play. At Taproots Schoolhouse children work, play and learn in a sensory rich environment where we strive to be worthy of imitation in all they do, nurturing the young child’s sense of wonder for the world. We provide a warm, respectful and caring, Early Childhood environment where a sense of gratitude, love, reverence and a pervading mood of goodness in the world is cultivated. 

At Taproots Schoolhouse, our task is to create a learning space where children can fully engage in the present and enrich the possibilities of creative, imaginative, self-directed play. The Early Childhood environment educates and develops the senses of touch, wellbeing, movement and balance. Once confidence in their physical capacities has been established, children are ready to commence the more formal learning of Primary School. 

Curriculum Themes 

Baking, painting, drawing, modelling and craft activities create a rhythmical week of learning activity, coloured by seasonal moods and festival celebrations. 

Songs, nursery rhymes, stories, puppet plays and the children’s own dramatic play nourish their feeling life, cultivate language skills and strengthen the power of imagination. 

Counting games, finger plays, rhythmic movement games and active physical play, help build a strong foundation for mathematics and number skills and develop coordination and the ability to concentrate. 

Natural, beautiful materials, shells, seeds, stones, simple dolls, wooden toys, coloured cloths and play frames encourage a rich fantasy life, creative thinking and opportunities for constructive, co-operative play. 

Children are encouraged to feel at home in their body and the environment  through building, swinging, climbing, balancing, digging, water play, gardening and exploring nature.