Parent-Child classes offer a gentle introduction to the group setting in a welcoming home-like space. The classroom, located in the Swedenborgian Church’s beautiful Arts and Crafts Parish House, looks out onto a lovely walled garden and is located at 2107 Lyon Street at Washington, three blocks from the Grade School Campus. Our play space includes open ended toys made of natural materials that offer many opportunities for imaginative play, safe climbing, and movement. Here, parents and their children experience a calm rhythm that supports play, healthy self-initiated movement, imagination, and imitation.
Themes related to child development, Waldorf education, and parenting the young child are explored through readings and facilitated discussions. Classes are led by experienced Waldorf early childhood educators who care deeply about supporting each parent and child on their own individual path.
Discussion themes include:We offer classes in two sessions:
We welcome expectant parents, parents, grandparents and/or caregivers and children of these ages:
Families may repeat classes as many times as they wish. Registration is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Babies-in-arms may accompany older siblings in Toddler classes.
“Racism, specifically, is the state-sanctioned or extralegal production and exploitation of group-differentiated vulnerability to premature death.”
Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Director of the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics at the City University of New York
“This class gave us a sense of groundedness and confidence in meeting the constantly changing landscape of parenting. It is rare and valuable to have experiential learning as parents, alongside other parents who care deeply, and held with skillful facilitation.”
- Eli Brown-Stevenson and Cat Li Stevenson
Diana Marshall Mei attended UC Berkeley and Rudolf Steiner College Waldorf Teacher Training. A fluent signer and mother of a deaf daughter, Diana taught sign language in a Berkeley public school then Waldorf kindergarten in the East Bay for 16 years. Diana grew up in a large Italian family where food and festivals were an important part of her childhood. She spends her free time hiking in nature, reading, knitting, sewing, crafting, and cooking.
