2025 BDANC Solstice Gathering
The Biodynamic Association of Northern California's solstice gathering at Summerfield explored warmth through farming, eurythmy and art.
Articles & Resources
Articles & Resources
Explore Waldorf education and mindful parenting through stories, research, and practical ideas for nurturing creativity, daily rhythms, and family life.
Whether you’re new to Waldorf or a seasoned parent, you’ll find articles on natural learning, child development, storytelling, and the arts. Browse the articles below to find something for your family.
Celebrating World Watercolor Month
Six principles of watercolor in Waldorf education explain how exploring color supports imagination, concentration and fine motor skills.
Using Arts Education to Help Other Lessons Stick
Research explores how songs, sketches and acting help children remember lessons, with ideas parents can use for homework and time together.
Our First Week at Farm Camp
Brushing goats, harvesting garlic and making snacks to share filled Summerfield's first week of Farm Camp with chores, food and friendship.
Grade 4: Human Beings and the Animal Kingdom
Grade 4 students compare animals with humans, study habitats and adaptations, and create clay or beeswax models with descriptive writing.
Rethinking Education
Rebecca Winthrop and Ezra Klein discuss AI in classrooms, student disengagement and why Winthrop recommends Waldorf for young children.
Music Man: Jonathan Beard, by Dan Taylor of The Press Democrat
Summerfield alumnus Jonathan Beard traces his path from playing cello to composing and orchestrating music for films, TV and video games.
The Art of Chalkboard Drawing in Waldorf Schools
Why Waldorf teachers draw the lesson on the board by hand, how the drawings are made, and how their style changes through the grades.
Theater Is Beneficial to Children's Development
Summerfield students stage a class play each year in grades 1–12, building empathy, confidence and teamwork through shared production work.
'Our Kids Are the Least Flourishing Generation We Know Of': The Power of Play
Jonathan Haidt talks with Ezra Klein about why children need play to develop their brains and practice social skills as they grow.
2024 Winter Faire Round-Up
Handmade goods, food and music at Summerfield's 41st Winter Faire — student fundraisers, crafts and a winter circus show.
BDANC at Summerfield Waldorf
BDANC's June gathering on the Summerfield farm included plant observations, pastel drawing and yarrow and nettle compost preparations.
The Rose Ceremony: A Waldorf School Tradition
Summerfield seniors welcome their first-grade buddies with a rose, marking a new stage of life and a shared journey through school.
What Makes for an Outstanding School System?
Finland's schools and Waldorf education share an emphasis on outdoor play, the arts and teacher freedom, with less focus on test preparation.
Grade 6 Knighting Project & Ceremony
Sixth graders choose projects to strengthen personal qualities, reflect in handmade journals and write a shared oath for their knighting ceremony.
Play-Based Early Childhood Builds Critical Skills
Why Waldorf early childhood emphasizes play before formal academics, using dolls, movement and art to build social and emotional skills.
Tips for Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
Everyday moments can help children grow kinder: explain why, give them meaningful work, and remind them how much they matter. Be patient as they learn.
The Benefits of Garden-Based Learning
Gardening connects math, science and nutrition with hands-on work, from turning compost to harvesting vegetables for soup at Summerfield.
The Role of the Arts in Waldorf Education
Waldorf students combine notes and illustrations in Main Lesson Books, using art to engage with academic subjects and remember what they learn.
The "Doll" in Waldorf Education
Why Waldorf dolls have such simple faces, what that leaves for a child to supply, and how they are made and used in our kindergartens.