Parent and Child - 0 to 3 years old

Nurturing Connections

Our Parent & Child groups are for children up to 4 years of age and their parents/carers.

Each of our groups hosts up to 8 families who gather weekly, where new and often lasting friendships are made.

A Haven for Parent and Child

Supportive activities are based on observation of the stages that children go through as they grow, and their needs at each stage.

Our groups work out of the understanding of the young child through the work of Rudolf Steiner and enhanced by Emmi Pikler. With this in mind, we aim to provide a supportive environment for parents and carers of young children and a nurturing one for the children themselves; this is reflected in the different groups we facilitate.

Where to Find Us

Parent & Child groups meet at our school gardens next to Hanworth Park on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday.

Our Friday group meets in Twickenham 10am to 11:30am at The Crossway Centre, located behind St Stephen’s Church, a short walk from Richmond High Street.

Finding Balance

Our most important task at our Parent & Child Group sessions is to support you while you raise and care for your children. We know that during this joyful, fulfilling stage of family life, parents/carers of young children can sometimes also feel exhausted and isolated. There is an enormous, ever-growing body of information and advice which can be very helpful, positive, and practical, but sometimes also contradictory, overwhelming and, at its worst, consumerism/competition-driven.

In our Parent and Child Groups, we strive to offer balance, the opportunity to relax in nature, meet other parents, perhaps dabble in a simple seasonal craft or help with a little gardening, peruse the books and pamphlets on offer, while your children play and explore our garden or cosy hut.

If you have questions, our group leaders are happy to talk about Steiner Waldorf Education, Emmi Pikler’s Self-Initiated Physical Development /Respectful Care, or any other parenting issues.

Rhythm

Rhythm is natural and nourishing for young children and helps them feel secure and happy. It follows that each of our groups has a consciously chosen basic form.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning family groups last for two hours, from 10 am to 12 noon. They begin in the garden where children can play freely with natural materials, dig in our sandpit, ‘cook’ in the sand kitchen, climb or roll up and down our ‘hill’, and play on the swings. The hut is available for those who may need a quieter cosy indoor time with their parents at some point. Here they can enjoy the large floor cushions, the sofa and a basket of picture books, or the home corner with ‘residential doll children’ and woollen animals.

Around halfway through the session, we will wash hands and gather for a healthy shared snack (gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan apple crumble) and herb tea in the ‘barn’. The children then have the opportunity for a last outdoor play while we slowly tidy up the garden together. Before the session ends, we gather on the grass area for a short ‘circle time’, which includes two or three seasonal songs/games in movement/verses and puppets. We end our time together with a goodbye song at the gate.

A Quiet Atmosphere

 City children are often surrounded by noise and busy activity, and they need a break from it even more than their parents do. We try as much as possible to provide a quiet, peaceful space in the garden and hut where the children can get lost in their play, where they can experience joy in simple wooden toys, soft dolls and gentle colours. Because our own lives are so full of technology, strong images, background music and constant chatter, these things have become normal for us and we can block them out when we need to. Small children can’t do this, and, as adults, we have to create a simpler environment for them. This can be hard work. When you come into the Parent and Child Sessions, we hope you will find that much of the work has been done for you.

The school is a phone-free zone, and we try to be mindful of our topics of conversation and the language and tone of voice we use.

Young children learn by imitating what people do around them rather than through being instructed. We ask you to participate in songs and games as the children will benefit from watching your musicality, rhythmic movement, playfulness and sociability, so that they often cannot resist joining in themselves.

We look forward to meeting you and your children and welcoming you into our School Community.

The Early Childhood Team