Educational Approach Spotlight: Waldorf Education
Why We Chose a Waldorf-Inspired Homeschool - After Starting with Montessori!
If you had asked me before becoming a mom—or even during my first two years of motherhood—I would have told you I was all in on Montessori. I loved the emphasis on independence, hands-on learning, and child-led exploration. My daughter even attended a Montessori school for daycare, and we thrived in that environment.
Then, something shifted.
Our realtor insisted we tour the Austin Waldorf School as we were looking at potential homes. We fell in love immediately with the thoughtful approach to every detail and how each lesson was interwoven with all the other lessons. Once we started our Waldorf journey at the Austin Waldorf School, I noticed the deep sense of rhythm, storytelling, and creativity that infused every part of the learning process. At home, I found fewer struggles with transitions and just more magic in the everyday. When we later chose to homeschool, I found myself naturally drawn to a Waldorf-inspired approach that blends structure with freedom, academics with artistry, and head learning with hands and heart.
If you're curious about Waldorf homeschooling or wondering how it differs from Montessori, let's dive in!
What Is Waldorf Education?
Founded by Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900s, "Waldorf education is based on a holistic approach that nurtures the head (thinking), heart (feeling), and hands (doing)." Rather than pushing academics early, Waldorf education focuses on imaginative play, storytelling, music, movement, and a deep connection to nature.
Some core principles of Waldorf education include:
🌿 Rhythm Over Rigid Schedules – Daily and seasonal rhythms provide predictability, flow, and flexibility for the nights you didn't sleep as well or when your child needs a slower pace.
🎨 Art & Handwork as Learning Tools – Painting, knitting, and crafting are integral, not extras, and often linked directly to what the child is learning in other lessons.
📖 Storytelling First, Textbooks Later – Lessons begin with rich oral storytelling, poems, or songs before introducing written materials. There's also a lot of movement built into the songs and even stories, which is fantastic for more active children.
🌱 Connection to Nature – Learning is woven into seasonal changes, gardening, and outdoor exploration. Similar to Montessori, there is an emphasis on natural materials being used.
📆 Delayed Academics – Formal reading and writing aren't rushed but are introduced when the child is developmentally ready. There's been some really great research here on the benefits of delaying formal lessons until age 7.
Montessori vs. Waldorf: Why We Shifted
I still love Montessori and incorporate elements of it into our homeschool, mostly with the letter tiles for my youngest, but here's why Waldorf felt like the right fit for our family:
Less Focus on Materials, More Focus on Imagination – While Montessori provides beautiful hands-on learning tools, Waldorf emphasizes imaginative play and storytelling, which I've found deeply engages my kids who could spend countless hours playing each day.
A Stronger Connection to Nature & Seasons – Montessori encourages outdoor time, but Waldorf weaves nature into learning, from seasonal songs to herbal tea-making and seasonal foods.
A Slower Approach to Academics – Montessori encourages early reading, but Waldorf allows for a gentle, play-based transition into formal learning.
Creative Arts as Core Learning – My children thrive on creativity and music, and in Waldorf, things like watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, cello practice, and form drawing aren't just "extras"—they're key parts of learning.
Movement is Encouraged. Movement is woven into songs and rhymes, helping little ones build focus, memory, and coordination—all while having fun! They have a dedicated Eurythmy class focused on building coordination and motor skills. Crossing the midline in these movements also strengthens fine motor skills, laying the foundation for future writing success.
How to Bring Waldorf Into Your Home (Without Overhauling Everything!)
If you're curious about Waldorf homeschooling but don't want to make a complete switch, here are five simple ways to bring Waldorf principles into your home:
1️⃣ Create a Daily Rhythm: Rather than a strict schedule, set up predictable anchors in your day—morning songs, outdoor time, storytime, and meal preparation together. Try to think of it as breathing in and breathing out, something active followed by something restorative.
2️⃣ Tell Stories Instead of Just Reading: Instead of always reading from books, try telling a favorite story from memory or acting it out with puppets.
3️⃣ Incorporate Handwork & Creative Arts: Simple crafts like finger knitting, wet-on-wet watercolor painting, or modeling with beeswax can be calming and educational.
4️⃣ Slow Down on Academics (If Your Child Needs It): If your young child isn't interested in reading yet, focus on oral stories, poetry, and drawing. Literacy develops in many forms!
5️⃣ Spend More Time Outdoors (In All Weather!): Waldorf encourages deep nature connection—whether it's building fairy houses, making mud pies, or simply watching the clouds.
Weekly Waldorf Rhythm
🌿 Monday – Painting & Storytelling
Watercolor painting inspired by a nature story or fairy tale
Storytelling & movement (seasonal verse, fingerplay, puppet show put on by older children for younger)
Science lesson tied to story and painting
Nature walk to collect treasures for a seasonal nature table
🎶 Tuesday – Music & Baking
Singing & instrument play (flute/lyre/cello/)
Handwriting and spelling
Baking bread or seasonal treats (practical life + math skills)
Outdoor free play and gardening
🧵 Wednesday – Handwork & Nature Exploration
Finger knitting, simple sewing, or beeswax modeling
Nature study: observing seasonal changes, nature journaling
Math tied to the handwork of the morning
History and geography
🍂 Thursday – Movement & Seasonal Crafts
Eurythmy-inspired movement or yoga
Seasonal crafting (leaf rubbing, lantern-making, wool felting)
Nature story + themed drawing
Literature lessons and handwriting
📖 Friday – Literacy & Outdoor Adventure
Storytelling with reenactment and analysis
Math lesson
Forest school day or a longer nature outing
Our Favorite Waldorf-Inspired Books & Resources
📖 For Parents:
Simplicity Parenting – Kim John Payne
You Are Your Child's First Teacher – Rahima Baldwin Dancy
The Education of The Child – Rudolf Steiner
📚 For Young Children (3-6):
The Story of the Root Children – Sibylle von Olfers
A Child’s Seasonal Treasury – Elsa Beskow
Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie the Pooh – A. A. Milne
📚 For Elementary (6-9):
King Maximo and The Number Knights – Howard Schrager
Earth Schooling Curriculum (if you're looking for a guided Waldorf homeschool curriculum, this is what we use)
What are the drawbacks of Waldorf?
The emphasis on no screens or tech for children under age seven can be tough for some families.
As a parent, you need to be heavily involved in your child's and your own education. Similar to Montessori, it is a lifestyle commitment.
I have found that I need to supplement the curriculum with All About Reading as the Waldorf approach works fantastic for romance languages, but it's a bit more of a challenge for some children in the English language.
Final Thoughts: Finding What Works for You
If you're drawn to Waldorf but love elements of other educational philosophies—that's okay! Homeschooling allows for flexibility and a blend of approaches that work for your family.
For us, Waldorf has brought more creativity, rhythm, and connection into our home, and I love seeing my kids flourish with a slower, nature-inspired approach.
💬 What about you? Do you incorporate Waldorf principles into your homeschool? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!