What makes Steiner based childcare different?

What makes a Steiner based centre different from other childcare centres? (Summarised and adapted from Dot Male - The Parent and Child Group Handbook – A Steiner/Waldorf approach)

The main principles underlying Steiner based education stem from the understanding that:

• In the first seven years children are in the process of growing healthy bodies and developing the skills of every day living.  In order for this process to be carried out fully, the focus at a Steiner day care is on every day activities rather than stimulation of the intellect.
• Children’s developmental progress varies from one child to another.  In order to accomplish the huge task of gaining control and agility of the physical body they require time, and in a Steiner day care children are not rushed in their development just for the sake of moving to the next stage.  When children are allowed to move at their own pace it sets a strong foundation for later in life.
• Children need play.  Large amounts of time during the day are set aside for free creative play.  This is vital for all healthy development.
• Children “soak-in” every thing in their environment.  The child needs to experience the world as beautiful and full of goodness, and to know that we care for our everyday surroundings, for nature and each other.  This is modelled to the children, rather than dictated. The adults/staff involved in a Steiner day care will constantly be striving to be worthy of imitation by the child.  The physical environment at the centre is very carefully attended to, ensuring an atmosphere of inviting warmth.
• Rhythm and repetition are fundamental qualities in a young child’s life.  They bring security and containment and help to build a strong physical body.  Celebrating cycles and rhythms of the season, the month, the week, the day, the activity helps to create a sense of wonder and reverence.  In a Steiner based setting this is done through seasonal crafts, songs and festivals, and activity in the centre is accompanied with songs, verse and storytelling.
• Children are nourished by real interactions with other human beings.  At a Steiner based centre the meals are shared, just like a big family.