ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at how parents, educators, support staff and others can work together to support the children in our care. Working with parents is of particular importance, and the chapter shows how through study, research, education and observation both the family and the children can be supported and included in the life of the kindergarten and beyond. Parents are children's primary attachment figures, even if they spend much of the time in childcare. It is vital that the Steiner practitioner can share with the parents the picture they have of the child as a special individual, a child bearing gift. In the majority of Steiner settings, parents either bring their child into the kindergarten via the school's parent and child group or apply directly to the kindergarten without any previous experience or understanding of Steiner early-childhood care and education.