Parents, parents-to-be, care givers and educators are invited to a free series of talks being held by Cedar Valley Waldorf School on Tuesday nights through October. The Community Parenting Education Series kicked off this week on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with a talk on Child Development From Birth to 21 by CVWS principal Christine Martin.聽
鈥淕etting a solid foundation of understanding for the way children develop is really helpful for parents,鈥� explained Martin. 鈥淥f course the benefits are obvious for parents and caregivers of really young children 鈥� who tend to do more reading and education on parenting, but for older children it can be equally beneficial, it just gets harder to fit into the busy schedules as they grow and have more activities and demands of their own.鈥�
On Oct. 7, preschool teacher Astrid Lackner will discuss The Importance of Play and The Great Outdoors.聽
In the 90-minute session, Lackner will explore how free, imaginative and unstructured play is the foundation for growth and development, and reveal how purposeful play and access to nature can help set your child up for success. 聽
鈥淎lbert Einstein said 鈥榩lay is the highest form of research,鈥欌�� illustrated Martin. 鈥淐hildren, particularly in the first seven years, thrive in all aspects when given the chance to develop their cognitive skills in a play-based environment. There is more and more evidence of this available now showing that children who play with natural materials, who play in nature, and who have a true connection to their natural environment are less anxious and stressed, are able to better concentrate, and improved health and physical fitness.鈥�
It has also been demonstrated that children with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other behavioural challenges flourish when given a daily dose of nature, added Lackner, a preschool teacher with over a decade of experience in Waldorf education.
鈥淲e really try to encourage parents to promote free, imaginative play times for their children in an unstructured way. Little ones still at home can use common items found in the house 鈥� like wooden cooking spoons, small pots, and small, but real tools to learn and experiment with,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen they are preschool and kindergarten age they will now be growing out of parallel play and seeking friendships where they can collectively create scenarios and play them out 鈥� perhaps a mother dog and her pups traversing a stream to get to safety, or simply playing out things they see in their home life.
鈥淧lay is an excellent way of processing emotions and new experiences,鈥� she noted, adding it can help children access their creativity and powers of observation.聽
Play has also been shown to foster language development and collaboration skills. Lackner also suggested that experiencing natural environments helps benefit cognitive development around awareness, reasoning and observational skills. Children may also get sick less often and demonstrate improved gross motor skills, balance and agility.
Preeminent child development author Richard Louv states in his book Childhood鈥檚 Future that early experiences with the natural world have been positively linked with the development of imagination and the sense of wonder. According to Ruth Wilson in her book The Wonders of Nature - Honouring Children鈥檚 Ways of Knowing, 鈥渨onder is an important motivator for life long learning.鈥�
Join The 小蓝视频鈥檚 Millennial Mom columnist Kirsten Andrews for a talk on Building Independence Within the Context of Attachment on Oct. 14. On Oct. 21 teachers Lauren Baldwin and Shannon Johnson will offer Media, Screens and Your Child鈥檚 Brain.聽
All talks take place at 7:30 p.m. at 38265 Westway Ave. and are free. Cedar Valley offers Waldorf education for preschool through Grade 7 (Grade 8 by 2015). For more information visit www.CedarValleySchool.com or call the office at (604) 898-3287.
