Beginning Wednesday, January 14, 2026, we will be offering a weekly online Waldorf parenting class. Each class will have a different theme.
Understanding Parenting Struggles and Dilemmas Unique to Our Time with Kenneth Smith
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
These can be challenging times to be a parent. Our contemporary lifestyle, deeply intertwined with tech and moving at high speed, is out of sync with the needs of children. Let’s look at some of the unsupportive norms of our way of life and what adjustments can be made.
Ken is the Director of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. He has been teaching in Waldorf schools and adult education for over 30 years.
Bedtime Routines and Rituals, Stories and Songs with Diane David
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
What can we do to help children transition more easily and joyfully into sleep? Diane will offer practical advice to encourage peace and calm as well as support the regenerative forces of sleep.
Diane is the Early Childhood Director of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. She has taught Waldorf early childhood for over 40 years and is a member of the teacher education committee of WECAN .
Morning Time Before School: Waking, Moving, the Importance of Chores, and Anticipating the Day with Andrea Vander Pluym
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
What can we do to help children transition from the nighttime? How can we let them slowly awake in their bodies and dream into the start of their day? Andrea will offer some helpful routines and practices to help children “get up on the right side of the bed” and be prepared for a great day.
Andrea, founding board president of Berkeley Rose Waldorf School, taught as a grades teacher for over 15 years. She has authored three self-help books for young adults, including the bestseller, “Respect”, which has been translated in numerous languages.
Free and Undirected Play: A Time to Move Beyond Boredom and into the World of Creativity and Imagination with Diane David
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Children today have too much of their lives scheduled and planned out for them. Time for free play is essential for the development of the brain and imagination, allowing deep ideas and interests to rise to the surface. Free play in childhood is filled with the forces that enhance creativity, inventiveness, and problem-solving capacities later in life.
Diane is the Early Childhood Director of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. She has taught Waldorf early childhood for over 40 years and is a member of the teacher education committee of WECAN .
Games, Circles, and Songs with Anna Rainville
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
What to do when the electricity goes off? Imagine a time before electricity and digital devices. How have parents entertained their children for thousands of years? Discover some great ideas to engage with your kids and to bring joy and movement into your home.
Anna is a Waldorf early childhood and class teacher with over 40 years experience. She mentors and teaches Waldorf teachers worldwide. Anna is the author of “Singing Games for Families, Schools, and Communities”.
The Nature Table: Bringing the Sacred Life of Nature into Your Home and Your Children’s Lives with Kate Hammond
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Creating a nature table is a tradition in Waldorf kindergartens and early grades. It is a special artistic arrangement of natural materials where the life and rhythms of nature are observed and the seasons and festivals are gently celebrated. You can bring this activity into your home and engage with your children in connecting with the course of nature.
Kate is a Waldorf graduate and has taught early childhood and grades for over 30 years. She is a parent coach, an adult educator, and a Spacial Dynamics® trainer. Kate is the author of “Why Be Screen Free?”
Dealing with Devices: Getting a Grip on What and When Is Okay for Your Child with Kate Hammond
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Managing the digital world has become a monumental aspect of parenting in the 21st century. A number of countries have banned social media for children. This is a huge topic and new territory for many parents. Where can we get a grip and feel that we are taking a safe and sane approach to caring for our children’s exposure to the digital world?
Kate is a Waldorf graduate and has taught early childhood and grades for over 30 years. She is a parent coach, an adult educator, and a Spacial Dynamics® trainer. Kate is the author of “Why Be Screen Free?”
Sleep: Why Children Need So Much with Diane David
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
When we as parents look at our small, sleeping child, it fills our hearts with love. The deep satisfaction of watching one’s child sleep, safe and sound in their little bed, is perhaps universal. It is wonderful to get a good night’s sleep and to get the sleep you need. In our sleep, we charge up for the next day’s experiences, processing the day that has just passed and detoxing our brains. Being human, we are dependent on our sleep—and one could also say that having a good day is dependent upon having a good night’s sleep.
Diane is the Early Childhood Director of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. She has taught Waldorf early childhood for over 40 years and is a member of the teacher education committee of WECAN .
The Importance of Rhythm in Childhood with Aparajita Zutshi
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Children need routine and rhythm to flourish. The young child is busy growing their body and mind and discovering the world around them. They are full of life forces that need to be gently and wisely directed. Parents need a sense for the flow and cycles of time to be able to structure their child’s day to bring stability, predictability, and security as well as bodily and emotional health.
Aparajita is a Waldorf grades and high school teacher with over 12 years experience. She is the co-author of “Rhythmic Parenting: What Your Child Needs to Thrive in a Fast-Moving World”.
Use This Link to Register for January Classes
