Educationing with Toys

The philosophy of Waldorf education goes beyond the classroom walls and into the everyday lives of children. A big part of their lives revolves around the toys and activities with which they play. Waldorf toys, also called Waldorf-inspired toys, encourage an approach to education and play that stimulates activity, imagination, and creativity.
Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy: Brief Overview
Rudolf Steiner gave birth to the Waldorf philosophy of education following World War I. He championed a method of learning that embraced the “whole child.” Waldorf education acknowledges the unique physical, academic, behavioral, emotional, and spiritual needs of children. Lovingly and gently, Waldorf education cultivates those needs through activity and imagination. Steiner said, “Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings, who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.” (AWSNA) Read the rest of this entry »

Most wooden toys that you remember being popular years ago are still common today, just with some added improvements. This means that you will likely be quite familiar with some of the toys your child enjoys, allowing you to locate their favorites quickly. Learn about some of the best wooden toys on the market before you make any decisions on what to get for your child.

Hollow Wooden Blocks

Building blocks are still as popular as ever, and they are known for keeping children of a wide range of ages entertained for hours. These simple wooden toys come in different amounts, so you can start with a basic set of building blocks for young children, and progress to larger amounts for older kids that clearly enjoy these toys. Some also come in sets that are meant to build specific objects, such as a castle. Most building blocks available today range in size, meaning that even younger children can play safely with these wooden toys, as long as they are larger than the usual blocks. Additionally, some come in different colors, taking a break from the basic wood appearance.

Lock Box Memory Toy

Another type of wooden toy strives to teach children the basics of shapes, color, and hand-eye coordination. Wooden shape sorters have been popular for years, and feature a wooden tray with several colored shapes that must be placed in the corresponding space. Young children can usually spend hours playing with toys like this one, and are likely to learn from them, too. A similar product is made of the same features, but comes with a small mallet to allow children to pound the shapes into the correct slots. This is great for kids with lots of energy to burn.

Geometric Wooden Stacker Toy

The same concepts are often learned when children play with stack and sort boards. This type of toy not only demands that kids focus on the different shapes and colors, but also requires them to organize and stack them properly. These wooden toys can provide hours of fun for young children while teaching them color and shape recognition, as well as organizational skills.
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