I remember the smell of our ship’s planks. It was a sweet, almost nauseating scent commemorating the depths of the salty sea and reeking of adventure. My boots, worn yet sturdy, were pressed against the wood as it was bending under the pressure of the violent waves crashing against the hull of our two-master. “What’s for dinner, captain?”, I called as seagulls were crying above our heads. “Apples, commander”, the captain replied in his raspy, almost husky voice. “It’s all we have left. The potatoes have gone bad and the barrels of kraut are running low. There are better times ahead, my friend. I can sense the land nearby. It is calling my name in my sleep”.
One of the things I love so much about Waldorf early childhood education is its reverence for imaginative play. When I was a child, my parents and I lived in a semi-modern apartment complex in the center of Munich. The apartment complex had a communal garden allowing all of the children from the individual apartments to play together... come rain or shine. The garden was equipped with an old swing set, a sand box, and a wooden see-saw. There were pebble stone paths laid out among wild rose bushes and vines of emerald ivy that were covering the walls that were surrounding the communal garden. To many, our garden was nothing more than a simple space, but, to us, our garden was so much more. It was a pirate ship with a dangerous lookout (the swing). It was a treasure island with beaches (the sandbox) and treacherous paths that were leading us to chests filled with the most exquisite treasures we had ever laid eyes on. Imaginative play does not require many things. My friends and I did not own bubble machines or inflatable pool scapes, but, instead, collected sticks and linen scraps to fabricate our own seafarer costumes. We built castles out of cardboard boxes and imagined being Arctic explorers when building igloos out of snow. I know that Waldorf toys can be pricey, but I would like to remind you that a little goes a long way. A few wooden toys, a couple of colorful play silks, and opportunities for outdoor play will provide your children with so many inspirations.
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