ABSTRACT
This chapter gives an initial introduction to the essential principles that stand behind Steiner Waldorf early-childhood education. Rudolf Steiner spoke in detail in many of his lectures about the experiences essential for the healthy development of the young child. He also spoke about the role of the adult, both parent and teacher, and what they should provide to enable this healthy development to take place. The role of the educator is therefore seen as shaping and influencing the child's environment, not only through the equipment, activities and rhythms of the day but also through the attitudes of the educators, relationships with each other (children, parents and colleagues) and personal self-development. The purpose and direction which adults bring to their lives as free human beings is based in the healthy development of personal will activity. Continuous self-education could be through meditating on each individual child every day, preparing the activities and learning the stories, studying child development and creating the environment.
