Failed our steiner toddler group

[Orangeflower7]

I was looking for a smaller more relaxed kind of toddler group for my ds (2.5). Got a bit fed up with the big busy groups lots of ride ons etc..so tried the steiner group. Just met one of the mums from it today who is 'sad it didn't work out for me' and am feeling a bit of a failure.

I'll explain a bit. It went on for ages and we all had to sit round the table and make a woolen spider which to be honest the children were to young to do- ds got frustrated and threw it away. It seemed that it was for the mums really, (craft) I found it stressful as I had to help make the activity so much whereas ds wanted to go play, and there was no choice of activity, all the mums were sat doing the craft activity so the children who were playing didn't have much input really.

The routine was like this (over 2 hrs) Craft-then (adults make snack which children couldn't eat just yet) -singing-then wash hands (line up) then-sit up and eat snack- then story.

I just found it too much direction and sitting down stuff for a 2 year old..although the (mostly little girls) other children seemed very obedient

It is a shame as it would have been a nice change...didn't find it very child centred though. Please tell me it's not just my ds is it, I do know a little about early years and the emphasis is a lot on play, (adult led and child initiated, choice and independence, how does that sit then with steiner?

So back to the big groups we go.

Love that idea skiing. We all pop some fruit shoots and pom bears onto the craft table to keep us going during the art time. Whilst humming the tune from the Hobbycraft advert under our breath. One of us has to make the obligatory clay cock and balls....

Then during song time we'll get our precious souls to stand up and sing "Is this the way to Amarillo..." with all the actions!

yay! I'm loving the idea of a Steiner coach trip!

i love this thread!

this has made I laff--thank you

i fecking hate wooden toys and all they stand for

I'm actually leaning towards a song from the funerals thread -

"oh What An Atmosphere!
i Love A Party With A Happy Atmosphere..."

hold up!! ive just read Maggots post about 'black souls'! whats that all about? who sez that? Steinerers?

We could bring "one we'd done earlier" and run around the room during craft bopping each other on the heads with wooly dolls. We would need to coach the DC's in unsuitable songs too.

I have to go to bed
I am going to miss the fun aren't I
on MN all flipping day and I'll miss the good bit
gaaaaaaaaaaaarn

Can't stop laughing at this thread. Half my bacon sandwich is on the laptop screen. :)

I've never heard of this lot but I like skiing's idea I vote for singing 'School's Out'.

Agree with the suggestion of Surestart groups.

If we are having a Steiner Visit, can I suggest that the DC's are all logo'd up to the max? I'm thinking Addidas, characters and mildly innappropriate statements on t-shirts.

Yep Gerald i agree Ben 10 and Power Rangers to the max for the boys, Hannah Montanananana and High School Musical for the girls.....

hair gel mohicans (boys) hair extensions (girls)

And a good dose of Lelli Kelly shoes or light up trainers....

I'm happy to do the girls make up if someone can take care of the boys Hubba Bubba lick n stick tattoos.....

Are we ready to go....TV character lunch boxes at the ready?

the steiners didn't show up last night!

what happened????????

Be glad you failed. You would have doomed your little girl to a life of washing vegetables otherwise!!

Y'know I'm really scared I've 'lost' one of mates to Steiner. She lives too far away for me to check on her regularly but the last text I has was all about needing to send her DS to the homeopath to try and sort out his 'behaviour'. He's nearly 4, and he's lovely :(

When she said she was going to the toddler group and thinking of sending him to the school I talked to her about all of the things I discovered back when I thought Steiner was a great thing, and she was in agreement that if any of that stuff started then she would get out. Her husband is a rational chap too. She will be ok won't she? She won't turn into a Steinerbot will she?

Wow, I am learning about all this Steiner malarky through this, I've just discovered this:

The sessions in school are for parents and their children aged 0-3. Each session begins with the children working bread dough which will be baked and eaten for their snack. The toys in the toddler room are simple natural objects such as baskets of shells and wood which encourage imaginative play. The emphasis in the toddler group is on creating a homely atmosphere, with special attention given to the rhythm of the session so that transitions from one activity to another occur in a calm mindful way. There is also a simple blessing sung at snack time that brings a spiritual focus for the children and parents before sharing the food together.

Hmmm, sounds like a joyless morning, sprinkled liberally with a heap of judgeyness for those 'uncalm' children and a smattering of slave labour...great.

Also found a photo stream, the spring table is a triumph, but my particular fave is this photo. The ONLY alternative to Lelli Kelli is cleary scraps of felt stitched together by the arthritic stumps of children.

Steer well clear.

Oooh same as TiredLady! We went to one and got totally freaked out! Scary stuff!

We were actually scared by the Mother HUbbard leader and by the children of the corn kids who never spoke or moved.

DD as looking round at the bowls of faceless gnomes like this

BTW am well up for the gatecrashing visit - will get DS to bring his sonic screwdriver :o

it sounds like a non-parents idea of what a toddler group should be like, all quiet and tasteful etc. i.e. in practice completely non-child centre and largely unrealistic.

Oh how I wish I had known about MN when my ds1 was little. He 'failed' a steiner test too. Friends had made toy baskets for their dcs who were less than 1yo, filled with natural objects for them to touch, hold, encounter. I thought that I should try it too - as you do - so did the same. DS1 tipped out the contents of his in seconds, then grinned hugely, having discovered some piece of brightly coloured plastic tat, which had mysteriously found its way into the basket! He waved it about in sheer joy. Of course, whenever he came across the baskets of natural fibres again, he did the same - threw away the rubbishy stuff and hunted for the plastic! I didn't know about Steiner then either, but we were not cut out for it either, were we?!

Love this photo
m.flickr.com/%23/photos/56841553@N04/5245984499/
Don't know if I would be happy about pics of my child at school being so easily accessible. Thought Steiner didn't like photos & Internet etc.

fearnelinen What the actual fuck??

You are WELL clear OP.

Steiner survivor checking in here. My mum was even a Steiner teacher.

Happy to dish the dirt if anyone wants a rundown on what it's like being a kid in a Steiner school

Sounds like they're intent on taking the 'play' out of playgroup. My DS would have demolished the place - we were at playgroup this morning, and the highlight of the session for him was wrestling two other little boys while their mums cleared up biscuit crumbs.

Oh my fucking god - that sounds hideous. I was always under the impression toddler groups were about the adults sitting around eating cake and gossiping and, every now and again, if one of the children screams, administering a quick cuddle and reminding them to share nicely...

fearnelinen - that's made my day, that has . Calm and mindful hahahahahahaha

yes please manatee! interested to know if you are normal from child's perspective

"The toys in the toddler room are simple natural objects such as baskets of shells and wood which encourage imaginative play"

As long as that's imaginative play determined by the imaginations of those who have set out the shells and wood. Any attempts to encourage imagination through other means, like running around pretending to be a super hero, will be highly discouraged .