Increasingly, parents long for 90s summers, where young children are bored and play outside with neighborhood kids. There is a desire to eliminate, or at least decrease, the screen time arguments. And we’ve all seen the concerning reports about the effects of screen time on children. Who doesn’t want kids outside more, and engaged in play that is self-directed, cooperative, and full of sensory integration? At The Waldorf School of Baltimore, educators work with a deep understanding of child development and know that children learn primarily through imitation, movement, play, and direct human connection. The teachers and administration work in collaboration with families to share resources and suggestions for helping to navigate this complex struggle around media and screen time use for young children.
At The Waldorf School of Baltimore, it’s recommended that families eliminate or severely limit screen exposure for children under seven years old and avoid using media as entertainment, distraction, or reward. Teachers provide guidance on incorporating storytelling, music, nature, handwork, and open-ended play. The way your days start and end are helpful anchors. A predictable, screen-free morning routine will help your child enter the day calmly and confidently and ending the day with connection, warmth, stories, and quiet instead of screens lead to healthy sleep and emotional regulation.
In Waldorf education, teachers know that children thrive on real-world, sensory-rich experiences. Media often replaces direct experience with secondhand impressions.
The teachers give plenty of outdoor time, imaginative play, handcrafts, domestic activities, and relationship-based learning and strive to help families embrace these activities at home. The many wonderful community events, festivals, and classroom gatherings are also intended to be screen-free, which provides a refreshing breather from the screen creep that works its way into many occasions.
Above all, the pedagogy understands and works from the fact that children imitate adult behavior. As a community, there is a strong mindfulness of phone and screen use in children’s presence—and you can be sure their experience at school will be a safe haven from adults on screens. Full presence and connection are school values, and it shows in the close-knit community and relationships.
Rest assured there is no judgment, only collaboration. Each family’s unique context is acknowledged and the challenges related to media use are navigated together. Open dialogue with teachers is kind and supportive. The goal is to give a rich, play-filled childhood back to children, along with the myriad learning opportunities that arise out of the magic in an ordinary day!
– Jackie Beach
Jackie Beach is an early childhood educator at the Waldorf School of Baltimore of parent of three. She lives with her partner in Baltimore city. For more information on the Waldorf school of Baltimore, visit www.waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org
