Steiner schools, plastic presents and family meltdowns

[WutheringBites]

I’ve namechanged because it’s a bit spottable. Basically, I went to a lot of effort to buy really cute old style fisher price toys for my nieces (who live abroad) and have been told third hand that their parents have hidden them because the children (preschoolers) aren’t allowed to play with anything “plastic”. Apparently it’s against the rules of their nursery.

I’ve now been told, parents are upset because I got them something similar last year.

AIBU that

1. I feel really put out that the children aren’t getting the presents I went to quite a lot of expense and effort to get;
2. That no one bothered to tell me that they weren’t allowed anything except wood?
3. That they didn’t get last years presents either.

And is this rule about only wooden stuff something I should have known? Is it a general Steiner thing?

I’m also really sad that it puts an extra distance between me (as their Aunty) and my DC (as cousins) when we already live in a different country. Due to family pressures it’s really difficult for me to travel to see them; and they don’t come to us at all (but I’ve invited them lots). I feel so upset. I only have one sibling; and no cousins, etc. 😰 I feel I’ve messed up, but didn’t know; and I know I’ll just end up sitting sobbing if I try to phone and talk about it. Arrrgh. 😰

For what it’s worth . My Ds has one of the angry looking parsnips from Aldi. He looks menacing to me . My Ds is convinced he is misunderstood and very kind 🤣.

Point been his expression has clearly not stifled my ds’s imagination

They sound awfully rude. I know children who go to Steiner school and no, this is not a thing.You are denifitely not being unreasonable on any of the points you made.

Lego that is the people you know who send their kids to a Steiner /Waldorf school. My experience is very different. It is like judging all vegans on knowing one who is eating fish on the side.

Steiner children have toys made of natural materials. It's part of the Steiner system. I am sure you did your best but that is the fact.
It's a belief system by which people live whether those here agree or not. The Waldorf dolls are beautiful.

And how have you put any distance between your nieces and yourself? You did your best, tried and weren't told...

rainbowqueen believe it or not, books are even more tricky because last time I tried this I got told they weren’t learning English (their “mother tongue” is another language; and the language in their country isn’t English). I don’t seem to be able to get anything right.

It most definitely is a Steiner thing, along with restricted or no access to tech/tv/influences from the wider culture.

Don't send them books as an alternative unless they have lost their baby teeth. They will not be encouraged to read until that happens.

Send them watercolour paint sets, high quality natural bristle brushes, and high quality watercolour paper with rounded corners. But make sure the paint sets do not include the colour black. (

That's what the Fisher Price people I had looked like. Not cold, dead eyes. Plastic heads you could put in your mouth :)

Does your brother/parents speak English? If they do that’s hard on them if the dcs don’t.

David Weisner does beautifully illustrated children’s books with no words in them. Would they be ok or does Steiner day no?

*say no

I’m sorry OP. If it helps there are lots of lovely wooden toy brands around. Grimms, Grapat, Gluckskafer. Or you could start them a collection of Holztiger or Ostheimer animals.

Of course you’d be justified in not buying them any more presents! Just thought you might appreciate some brand names.

If they can't be arsed to let you know what presents would be suitable, then you might as well consider yourself off the hook for presents, next year.

Not creepy at all

If the features in the David Weisner illustrations have borders or if there are visible drawing lines then that might be a problem, FuckingYuleLog

Here is some blather about colour/healing/spiritual aspects of colour:
steiner.presswarehouse.com/books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=516332

Beautiful? Clearly pinprick eyes and cats bum mouths don’t influence the play choices of children.

*Wiesner

The two most fucked up people I have ever met in my entire life (I'm old and have met a lot of people) both went to Steiner schools. Just saying.

cult
/kʌlt/Submit
noun
1.
a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.
"the cult of St Olaf"
2.
a person or thing that is popular or fashionable among a particular group or section of society.
"the series has become a bit of a cult in the UK"
synonyms: craze, fashion, fad, vogue; informalthing
"the series has become a bit of a cult in the UK"

Nope my school was neither of those.

I would be interested in why you dislike Steiner /Waldorf education so much math

Oh God! The one above with the moustache 😂

All I can remember from my studies was that my lecturer said he was racist.

Steiner that is, not the dude with the moustache. I’m sure he’s lovely.

I'm past that stage now, but I used to read a lot of home ed blogs and lots of them were Steiner based. The general consensus was that although wooden toys were ideal, it wasn't healthy or practical to become too obsessed with having a perfect Steiner home.

However, although Steiner nurseries aren't that different to normal nurseries the theories do get increasingly odd as children get older. Basically Steiner was writing a hundred years ago and the 'science' reflects that.

Your relatives sound very set in their ways but there isn't much you can do about that. If I were you I'd just be honest and ask what present to give. There are websites that sell Steiner toys and art materials.

Nursery dictates what parents can do with their children at home and “‘make life very difficult” if parents aren’t adhering?!
Erm, I call “cult”.

The man was racist by most accounts but the system is not. Waldorf who put it into practice was not. It is poor logic to tar all people by one proponent's views.