Early Childhood Development: National Certificate Waldorf Programme (Level 4)

Early childhood – the first six or seven years of a child’s life – is marked by a sense of wonder and natural curiosity. In these crucial years a child learns many vital life skills, develops human relationships and attitudes to learning that inform the rest of their life. 

Realising the tremendous importance of early childhood development, the Centre for Creative Education (CCE) embarked on training carers and teachers working at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres (educares/kindergartens/preschools) in township communities. We train more than 100 women each year. The training we offer equips ECD carers and teachers to nurture and guide children with loving confidence through these vital formative years.

In our training programme you will learn:

• How children’s senses are awakened to the world around them, and how to meet their developmental needs at each stage, equipping them for life and learning.

• How to establish a loving and creative atmosphere in which to nourish the children’s natural reverence for the goodness of life.

• How to guide children to become individual, thinking, independent human beings in society.   

Our training focuses on child development, as well how teachers can establish their own programmes for creative and holistic teaching. We explore the wonders of childhood through art, movement, music, story-making and -telling, handwork and crafts. This empowers teachers to share their enthusiasm with the children in their care.

The participants in our ECD training are typically already working in an ECD centre. When they come to CCE they bring a wealth of experience to bear on some of the more abstract concepts of the programme.

Understanding ourselves as human beings is taught alongside learning to tell stories, good nutrition and creating a safe and wholesome physical space.

Every module of this course (as well as the Level 5 Higher Certificate) includes songs, verses and games with appropriate gestures. Artistic work consisting of painting, drawing, clay modelling, and eurythmy (movement) is included in each module of both programmes, as well as handwork and craft projects such as making toys and books. 

Students learn how to present these wonderfully exciting experiences to the children in their care as enjoyable, developmentally valuable activities. The modules are as follows:

Foundation Knowledge for the Education of Preschool Children (the “three golden rules” of Waldorf child education, a study of the human being as the starting point for holistic education, creating a nurturing environment for the child).

Play as a Primary Learning Activity (nature as basis for play equipment, child play and child development, puppetry to enhance play and language, promoting and managing safe, healthy play).

Creating a Healthy, Healing, Harmonious Learning Environment (what makes a good day for the children? Daily rhythms and routines, health and nutrition, assisting with basic administration and management).

Planning the Year – Seasons and Festivals (curriculum planning based on the seasons, seasonal activities using stories, nature tables and decoration, designing and celebrating festivals for each season).

The Importance and Purpose of a Well-planned Morning Ring for Each Day (plan and compile creative, imaginative ring times, weaving movement, song and rich language, seasonal themes, with developmentally appropriate content, present the morning ring as a lively and joy-filled learning experience). 

The Art of Storytelling and the Development of Early Literacy Skills (from memories of the stories of childhood to types of stories to tell children appropriate to their age, telling stories, and making stories, dramatisation and puppets, the importance of books for children, choosing suitable books, using books in the classroom).