Programs
An Introduction to the World of Waldorf
Ages 15 months – 3 years · Caregiver attends with child · Small groups
About the Program
It's not often that we get to be a part of gently transitioning our little ones into nursery school and kindergarten. Our Parent-Child program offers a rare peek into your child's development, their interactions in a group setting, as well as providing strong community connections and valuable insight into loving, effective ways to parent.
If you have a child between 15 months and 3 years of age and are looking for a nurturing, home-like environment to play and connect with other families for a few hours each week, please consider joining one of our Parent-Child groups.
The Parent-Child group serves as an extended family as children gradually become ready to interact more with their peers outside of the home. The class rhythm includes nursery rhymes, puppet plays, simple songs, and the opportunity to imitate adults engaged in meaningful activity. Children in our program enjoy simply made toys from the natural world that allow and encourage the use of fantasy.
Sanderling's Parent-Child program provides a model of a rhythmic, structured morning — along with songs, puppets, art, and storytelling — that can be incorporated into one's life while simultaneously enriching the experience at home. These activities are not only fun for the children, but an important step in creating a lifelong foundation for learning. The program is a valuable introduction to the Waldorf philosophy and provides many opportunities, not only for the child, but for parent education as well.
What We Offer
The Parent-Child program offers a rare peek into your child's development and their interactions in a group setting — gently preparing them for nursery school and kindergarten at their own pace.
The group serves as an extended family. Parents and caregivers build meaningful connections with one another while children gradually become ready to interact more with their peers outside the home.
Each class includes nursery rhymes, simple songs, and puppet plays — rich oral traditions that nourish language, memory, and imagination in the earliest years of childhood.
Children enjoy simply made toys from the natural world that allow and encourage the use of fantasy. Open-ended, sensory-rich play is at the heart of every session.
At this young age, children learn by imitating the adults around them. The class rhythm provides opportunities for children to imitate adults engaged in purposeful, meaningful activity.
The program provides a model of a rhythmic, structured morning — with art, storytelling, and organic snack — that families can carry into their own homes to enrich daily life.
A Typical Morning
Every session follows a gentle, predictable rhythm that children quickly come to love and anticipate.
01
Free Play
Open-ended exploration with natural toys in a warm, home-like space.
02
Circle Time
Songs, nursery rhymes, and movement — children imitate at their own pace.
03
Puppet Play
Simple, beautifully crafted puppet stories that speak to the young child's imagination.
04
Craft & Art
Adults work on handmade crafts — simple toys, beeswax modeling — while children observe and imitate.
05
Organic Snack
The group gathers to share a simple, wholesome snack prepared together.
06
Closing Song
A gentle, predictable closing ritual that signals the end of the morning.
For Parents Too
The Parent-Child program is as much for the parent as it is for the child. Alongside the morning rhythm, parents and caregivers gain insight into child development, observe their child in a group setting, and connect with a community of like-minded families.
Adults may work on craft projects — such as making simple handmade toys for the children — while the children play and observe. This purposeful adult activity is itself a form of teaching: children learn most deeply by watching the people they love engaged in meaningful work.
Join us as we form a community of like-minded individuals looking for the village to support your growth as a family.
At a Glance
Ages
15 months – 3 years
Attendance
Caregiver attends with child
Group size
Up to 8 families per class
Setting
Home-like, screen-free classroom
Philosophy
Waldorf — imitation, rhythm & play
Ready to Begin?
We are currently enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year. Schedule a tour to visit our campus and learn more about the program.