Held at Holy Trinity Cathedral
(1530 Green Street @ Van Ness)
These classes introduce new participants to Waldorf parenting principles and to the practice of mindful observation. Parents need to take one of these classes before enrolling in Work&Play classes or the Family Life Series.
BABIES
Tuesday 12:00 to 1:30
For parents and babies from pregnancy through 12 months.
Class Fee: $250
Babies lie on a soft rug where they watch what interests them or move around to reach the beautiful objects in the room. Their little bodies are busy at work following “nature’s agenda.” Moms and dads sit around in a circle and observe calmly for fifteen minutes or more. What do our children need from us? What do they not need? Insights are then shared and a variety of topics are explored. Among them are: Attachment; the Daily Rhythm; Motor Development; Care and Protection of the Senses; The Path of Parenthood. The class begins and ends with singing. Weekly readings support the class discussions. The class is open to pregnant mothers as well.
YOUNG TODDLERS
Thursday 9:00 to 10:30
For parents and toddlers 1 to 2 years.
Class Fee: $250
Parents of toddlers spend most of their days attempting to keep up with the almost constant motion and energy that marks this stage of development. Moms and dads enjoy a break when they form a circle around the perimeter of the room and bring their calm and focused attention to the children. The children play and bring their joyful discoveries and challenges to their parents. A conversation follows the observation time. Then we all clean-up together, play singing games and traditional rhymes and enjoy a snack “picnic style”. Topics supported by weekly readings include: From Baby to Toddler, Rhythms for Waking, Eating and Sleeping; Communication and Boundaries; Self-Renewal.
TERRIFIC TWOS
Friday 9:00 to 11:00
For parents and toddlers 2 years and up.
Class Fee: $350 - Includes supplies.
Two year olds can be demanding in their exhuberance and need to assert their individuality. The answers to their needs lie in more structure and greater clarity from the adults around them. This class starts with baking. The parents work silently and observe the children. The children work the dough and then joyfully help to clean up. While the bread is baking the children play freely under the guidance of their own teacher, and the parents enjoy a conversation. Then everyone plays singing games in a circle, shares the warm snack, washes dishes and sings goodbye. Topics supported by weekly readings include: Rhythms in Work and Play, Creative Discipline, the Rise of Fantasy and Imagination, Healthy Stimulation.
Held at Holy Trinity Cathedral (
1530 Green Street @ Van Ness)
Tuesday 9:00 to 11:00
For parents with toddlers 20 months to 3 ½ years.
Class Fee: $380 - Includes most supplies.
Parents and children in this class greet each other with singing and then begin preparing a nutritious meal of soup and bread that will be shared during class. The children imitate the adults’ motions at work, the parents learn how to include and guide them. While the food is cooking the children play under the guidance of their own teacher. The parents gather in a corner for their own conversation time. After clean-up, everyone gathers in a circle for seasonal songs and nursery rhymes. Then the meal is ready to be eaten. Topics arise out of the group’s needs and interests.
Class is limited to 11 parent/child pairs.
Wednesday 10:45 to 12:45 (This class is not being offered in Fall 08)
SONGS & RHYMES
Held at Holy Trinity Cathedral
(1530 Green Street @ Van Ness)
Wednesday 9:00 to 10:30
For parents with children 10 months to 2 years old. With Lalla Carini & Lisa Sargent.
Class Fee: $295
In the same format of our observation classes, this class includes a deeper exploration of music and the wisdom of traditional nursery rhymes for the very young. Our music teacher, Lisa Sargeant, joins part of the time to offer parents an experience of healing tones that sooth and support the young child’s dreamy consciousness. All parents come out of this class with lots of rhymes for work and play and with beautiful singing voices!!! As always, we end with a snack “pic-nic style”.
Held at SFWS Grade School Campus
2938 Washington Street @ Divisadero
TOYMAKING (FULL)
Wednesday 9:00 to 11:00
For parents with children 1 to 3 years.
Class Fee: $395 -
Includes all supplies and snack.
This is an ideal introduction to our parenting handwork program. Basic sewing and knitting instructions are taught and simple first toys are made. We will discuss the importance of having toys in your home that are made of wood and other natural materials.
Our fall toymaking class begins with each parent creating their own set of wooden tree blocks: sanding and rubbing the blocks with beeswax is something your children will also enjoy doing! We will continue with sewing a needle case, soaring bird and shooting star bean bags, a beautiful felt ball, and knitting assorted barn yard animals. This is a happy class where children play while their parents work quietly or enjoy conversation with other moms and dads. We sing, we play outside and we enjoy a healthy snack together.
Class is limited to 10 parent/child pairs.
**New Class! For parents only**
CREATE A FAIRY TALE
Thursday 8:30- 10am
With Marianne Alsop & Heather Mitchell
Class Fee: $315 -
Includes supplies and tea time.
This class is for parents who now have children in school but wish to continue to develop their handwork skills.
Reading the fairy tale, Snow White and Rose Red, we will begin by dying silks for the different scenes in the story; needle felt two lovely 10” table puppet figures; sew a big brown bear, create a whimsical dwarf and build a sturdy hut. Then, when all the pieces of the fairy tale are complete we will learn to tell the story and present it to one another in class. We sing, we converse and we enjoy tea time.
Limited to 12 parent participants.
THE NATURE CORNER
Thursday 10:30 to noon
For parents with children 2 to 4 ½ years.
Class Fee: $315 -
Includes supplies and snack.
This craft class inspires parents to bring nature into the home by creating a display table that changes with the passing of the seasons.
The Fall session will include making a needle felted Earth Mother figure who watches over the leaf children as they prepare for winter; weaving a pine needle basket in which to gather acorns and autumn treasures; and a needle felted pumpkin home for a family of little mice.
Outdoor play time will begin at 10:15am and everyone will come in together for snack at 10:30, after which parents will begin their handwork while the children sing and play indoors.
Limited to 10 parent-child pairs.
WARM WEARABLES (FULL)
Friday 9:00 to 11:00
For parents with children 2 to 4 ½ years.
Class Fee: $395 -
Includes supplies and snack.
This class will focus on the importance of warm clothing for the young child. Parents taking this class should be able to sew by hand and be familiar with simple knit and purl stitches.
Our fall projects include: learning to knit a hat (both basic and more advanced are possible) and a child-size sleeveless vest on circular needles, sew slippers made from recycled wool garments and wet-felt decorative embellishments for your knit hats and sewn slippers. Knit colorful mittens for those cold winter days! Sew a felt neck pouch in the shape of a favorite animal friend.
Parents and children enjoy singing, circle time and a healthy snack, children enjoy playing both inside and outside with Brenda.
Limited to 10 parent-child pairs.
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Held at SFWS Grade School Campus
(2938 Washington @ Divisadero)
This series of six three-to-five-week long classes is an opportunities for parents to explore different topics that will give a strong foundation to their parenting journey. Parenting Program teachers and guest professionals will join together to provide an in-depth exploration of: Child and Human Development, Health and Nutrition, Communication, The Four Temperaments, Life Rhythms and Art. Priority is given to parents enrolling for more than one class.
Mondays 9:00 to 11:00
Parents attend a two hour class while their children play in a Waldorf environment under the care of a trained Waldorf early childhood teacher.
Childcare Fee: $9 per hour Open to children 2 to 4 ½ years old.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
With Lalla Carini and guests
September 15, 22, 29 and October 6
(Please note this was incorrectly listed as starting on September 8 in earlier publications)
Class fee: $95
What if the boundless joy and energy of the early years were entirely transformed into an adult’s enthusiastic determination for the tasks of being human on earth?
This class is an introduction to Steiner’s revealing view of child development through your own recollections. Through the mediums of storytelling, inner picturing, drawing and collage we will recall phases of our own life’s journey and in this way learn to understand, respect and guide our children as they move through the stages of consciousness that precede the full awakening of the adult self.
FEEDING THE FAMILY
With Chef Nicole LoBue and Lalla Carini
October 20 and 27, November 3 and 17
Class fee: $160
An introduction to time-honored principles of good nutrition for all types of diets and many recipes, suggestions and advice specific to feeding children. Baking with whole grains, making lacto-fermented foods, the use of nutrient rich foods in your recipes, menu planning and healthy lunch-boxes.
Nicole LoBue is a nutritionist and chef working in San Francisco with a passion for food that is good for you and delicious at the same time.
LISTEN TO ME!
With Lynda Smith
December 1, 8 and 15
Class fee: $95
Our children are so important to us, yet we sometimes struggle to have the quality of connection we want with them and to parent in ways we feel truly good about. In this three part series on empathic listening and Non-Violent Communication, we’ll explore how to:
- Move from judgement to understanding
- Tune into the needs behind anyone’s behavior, child or adult
- Establish a quality of connection that will sustain your family through the challenges of life
Lynda Smith is a former editor and former Waldorf teacher. She works as a trained instructor in Non-Violent Communication with a passion for spreading the language of empathy.
HEALING AT HOME
With Lyn Farrugia CCHP and TBA
January 5, 12 and 26
Class fee: $160
An introduction to anthroposophic medicine followed by a description of common ailments and their treatment through natural treatments and homeopathic medicines, to stimulate the body’s natural impulse to heal. Colds and flu, ear infections, how to apply compresses, how to make an oil dispersion bath.
LIFE RHYTHMS
With Marianne Alsop, Patricia Ardjewski, Nancy Poer and others
February 2, 9, 23 and March 2
Class fee: $160
Explore the important rhythms of the day, the seasons and the major transitions in our lives. We will converse about creating order and life affirming rhythms; caring for our living spaces and creating community; how to discuss and answer our child’s questions about life and death. Special guest Nancy Poer is the mother of six and the author of “Living into Dying”. She is a long time activist and pacifist.
***New Class This Year!****
ART WITH CHILDREN
With Lalla Carini and Marianne Alsop
March 9, 16, 23 and 30
Class Fee: $95
Painting, drawing, modeling and nature crafts directly from the Waldorf tradition. This class will include hands on experience with watercolor, beeswax modeling, wax crayons and pencils, plus resources for books and materials and advice on how to guide children in doing art so that they are not stifled but inspired in their creative impulses.
PARENTING BY TEMPERAMENT
With Lalla Carini and Astrid Thiersch
April 20 and 27, May 4, 11 and 18
Class Fee: $120
Temperaments are the stuff of comedy and laughing at ourselves is the perfect starting point for achieving the family mood that children most need. In this class we will learn about the four classic temperaments and how they are used in Waldorf education. We will look at ourselves, our children, our families, and learn the secrets of meeting each temperament with the right stroke. Through the movement art of eurythmy, with master eurythmy teacher Astrid Thiersch, we will explore each temperament as it lives in our own bodily gestures and soul moods.
Some of the Family Life Series Classes will be offered as evening or week-end workshops based on number of requests. Please let our office know of your need, indicating the class and preferred format.
Private Parenting Consultations
Waldorf Educator and Parenting Program Director Lalla Carini is available for private consultations, including home visits and mentoring on issues such as sleep, home and play space organizing, feeding, sibling relationships and discipline.
Fee: $ 65/hr.
All proceeds benefit the SFWS Scholarship Fund. |