Waldorf in the Home

A mother asked about why Waldorf waits until first grade to teach the letters.
Rahima replies:
In the Waldorf approach, reading and writing are introduced in first grade, starting with the letters; then children learn to read at the end of first grade, from what they have written. The letters are introduced imaginatively, through a story and a drawing in which the letter can be found in one of the figures that starts with that sound (for example, the letter "k" might be illustrated by a King who is standing sideways, with scepter raised, blessing his subjects.). [See the DVD of Kelly Morrow teaching "Teaching Reading and Writing the Waldorf Way."]

What a pleasure to make felted wool puppets to illustrate an autumn story for your child! Suzanne Down of Juniper Tree School of Story and Puppetry Arts makes it easy with her wonderful new "Feltng Needle Magic" Story Kit. Suzanne writes:

What is the "Waldorf view" about clay projects with children from ages 2-6?
Rahima replies:

In Waldorf schools, clay isn't introduced until after the "nine-year change" in third grade. Up until that time we do modelling with colored beeswax with the children.

CREATING SPECIAL MOMENTS
Part I, The Dragon/Heater Celebration
from Esther Leisher
Family life, and life in general, is enormously enriched if we remember to create special moments. Those moments can be festivals or holidays that much of the world is celebrating, or they can be unique to your family. Some may be so simple that you hardly know what to call them. Here are some of the ideas I had for the celebration of everyday things--turning on the heater for winter, the first hike of spring, pulling the first carrot out of the garden, celebrating an abundance of sunflowers.

Nancy Foster answers a question about Barbie Dolls in a "Waldorf home." Excerpted from her book In A Nutshell, available from www.waldorfearlychildhood.org. Please share your thoughts and experiences in the "Comments" section!
Question:
My daughter is persistent in asking me to buy her a Barbie doll; some of her friends have them and she sees them sometimes when we are at the store. She says, "Why can't we just buy one?!" I feel she is so young to have a doll like that, and Barbie is not a role model I want for her. I had one when I was eight or ten, but by then I was able to take care of it, dressing it and arranging its hair. When I see little girls carrying a Barbie doll around, it is usually a mess, hair disarranged, no clothes on... I have been telling her she can have one when she is eight, but this does not satisfy her. What else can I say to her?