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, early childhood teachers, and anyone looking to dive deeper into the Foundations of the First Three Years. 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 focuses on the development of the child’s emerging self and social capacities between two and four years, conflict in two and three year olds, sensory development as a foundation of social competence, the mystery of the primitive reflexes, and the development of the child’s hand. We also explore the evolving role of the adult when working with infants, toddlers, and older children.

 

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.