5 reasons why millennial parents choose Waldorf Education

1. Holistic approach to education: Parents who themselves are products of a highly competitive education system with disproportionate focus on outcomes, realise the one sidedness of such an approach. While this system has led us to high achieving careers, we learnt life skills the hard way. Every parent now sees the need for a practical, real world approach to education that is holistic and wholesome. In a rapidly changing world, as careers and businesses become unpredictable, parents would like their children to be equipped to find their way through life. With its focus on the child’s needs at every age and an integrated doing-feeling-thinking approach, Waldorf shapes children into confident and capable individuals.
2. An understanding of the child's needs: Increased access to information has also brought in a better understanding of child development. Parents now look for an education that focuses on what the child needs instead of what an adult decides. Waldorf education, with its child-centric approach, brings a deep understanding of a child’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth at each age. The age appropriate curriculum meets the needs of the growing child. Parents find this approach refreshing and valuable.
3. Love for learning: No parent wishes for their child to suffer or be burdened at school. Yet, joyful learning seems elusive. As they constantly strive for their child’s wellbeing, parents seek an education that inculcates joy of learning. Waldorf education focuses on preserving a child’s natural wonder and allowing children to explore the world. Unburdened by artificial outcomes like test scores, children discover for themselves concepts and phenomena while making connections across subjects. Parents value the inherent problem-solving outlook and the love for life-long learning Waldorf education fosters.
4. Creativity as a way of life: Despite high academic achievements and deep expertise, adults today struggle with creativity and out-of-the-box thinking when confronted with wicked problems. Organisations also emphasise and invest in innovation. Innovation and creativity, however, are seldom acquired through training. In a Waldorf school, children are encouraged to solve problems in all possible ways forcing children to come up with creative solutions. This approach heartens parents wishing to build creativity in their children from a young age.
5. Values of reverence and compassion: Children today have early and increased exposure to radical and violent happenings around them. This makes it extremely challenging for parents to inculcate in them values of respect and kindness. They need an education that develops reverence, sensitivity and compassion in children. Waldorf teachers role model behaviours and gestures that children imitate every day. Where moral preaching fails, imitation and consistent rhythms succeed in building values. Washing, scrubbing, wiping, folding and arranging are gestures that bring a sense of reverence towards every task they do. Parents witness the changes within a few days of school – Children care better for their toys, avoid hurting others, keep the space clean and treasure every stone or leaf they pick up.