Nursery World - Steiner Approach

How Steiner parent-and-child groups support families in the first three years and introduce them to the education and care approach. By Dorothy Marlen

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One of the treasures of Steiner early childhood education is our parent-and-child groups. Since the 1980s, these groups have been offering support to parents and their children up to kindergarten age at three and a half years old. They emerged in response to the recognition that many elements of Steiner practice could be helpful not only for pre-kindergarten children, but also as gentle nourishing support for parents.

This movement has gradually expanded into a strong, flourishing, professional and valued aspect of Steiner early childhood provision. Most Steiner schools and kindergartens have parent-and-child groups and there are independent groups. At the last count, there were more than 170 of these groups in the UK. York Steiner School has 12 groups each week, including four parent-and-baby groups.

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