Book: Children at Play

by Heidi Britz-Crecelius

Similar to the book 'You Are Your Child's First Teacher', the author discusses how to use Waldorf principles to foster childhood development.

Waldorf is in a way quite basic. It advocates a return to simplicity, such as wooden toys (perhaps just a wooden block) and playing in the outdoors, as opposed to guided learning and mechanical toys. It does not teach the parent how to teach the child, rather, it reminds parents to just let children play, let them get in touch with nature, let them use their own imagination.

In particular, I enjoy pages 69 to 72, where the author wrote that it actually requires more effort from the caregivers to let the child 'conquer their surroundings through play', as 'it is much less troublesome and exciting to teach the poor things to read already at kindergarten age. One does not even need to get out of the armchair.'

This book is an interesting ead for those who are contemplating how to steer clear of the academic race and let your child have a childhood :p