Foundations of the First Three Years
A 9-Month Online Course
Are you seeking deeper learning about the first three years? Choose our 9-month intensive course.
Foundations of the First Three Years is an immersive 9-month live online course that offers lectures, interactive learning, and development of your creative impulses.
The first three years of life are a special period of human development, often overlooked and misunderstood in a culture and time that place great emphasis on achievement and moving ahead. This course is designed especially for parent-child class teachers, childcare providers, and early childhood teachers. We will explore the profound human capacities and the sensitive processes that blossom forth in this time and will learn how best to support the developmental process of very young children.
The course begins by examining the child’s development from the perspectives of spirit, physical growth, and emotional life. Each perspective is approached through study of the child’s gross and fine motor development, infant reflexes, and the sensory development of the child.
You will gain understanding about child development in these earliest years based primarily on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and the research of Emmi Pikler. You will also learn about the valuable contributions of others in the field of Early Childhood Education.
"As a mother, my options for education are limited, so I really appreciated an accessible way to deepen my Waldorf knowledge." -Marissa
"You will meet people from all over (the country and beyond) who have similar interests yet varied experiences to journey with through the process."
"There was such wealth of knowledge not just in the instructors but also with other educators."
Registration is now open for the 2025-2026 session!
Your course includes:
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Four hours of online meetings each month from September-May
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Five hours of private mentoring with an experienced educator
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Classwork will include lecture, experiential activities, information on sleep, hand gesture games, verses, and handwork
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Assignments will include readings and viewing of pre-recorded videos
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All material will be presented via zoom so you can join from anywhere
Enrollment Requirements
New sessions begin each September and enrollment is open to all.
There are no pre-requisites for this course. All you need is your passion for understanding the unfolding human being in the earliest years.
Additional Benefit
If you choose to move forward into a certificate program at Sophia's Hearth approved by the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), completion of this course will count as credit for one week of in-person classes and a portion of your tuition will be applied to certificate tuition.