We've been going to a Waldorf parent-child class since January. I never really loved it -- the teacher seemed very control oriented. I'm glad I've been going, though, because a lot of interested issues (some I agree with and some not) have come up. The other parents are very nice, too.
Our class this week was one of two really horrible ones, though. One week, the two older kids were literally taunting and teasing another child who was almost 3. The teacher, nor the parents, did anything until the 2 children were hitting and screaming at the girl. Yesterday, the one year old repeatedly (3 times while I was there and one or two time before I arrived) pinched the cheeks of another child. My son was in a pretty dreamy state and wanted to hold onto a few pegs. The one year old and one of the three year olds kept trying to pull them out of his hands. I told them he wanted to hold them. A bunch of other little things happened to my son to the point where I don't think he had fun there and we'll probably skip the last few classes.
I guess I expected the "let kids work things out themselves" to be a little more watched by adults. In our class, basically the most aggressive child wins. Also, I thought there would be much more peaceful play, but each week there was more than one other family besides ours, it was very, very loud and wild. While I don't want to deny energy to anyone, and don't expect or want children to be quiet, it has been very stressful.
I guess really, it seems like a very disrespectful place with children who seem to run wild under the guise of being themselves. I know this may not reflect other grades in our school, but it's become a very icky experience.
Our class this week was one of two really horrible ones, though. One week, the two older kids were literally taunting and teasing another child who was almost 3. The teacher, nor the parents, did anything until the 2 children were hitting and screaming at the girl. Yesterday, the one year old repeatedly (3 times while I was there and one or two time before I arrived) pinched the cheeks of another child. My son was in a pretty dreamy state and wanted to hold onto a few pegs. The one year old and one of the three year olds kept trying to pull them out of his hands. I told them he wanted to hold them. A bunch of other little things happened to my son to the point where I don't think he had fun there and we'll probably skip the last few classes.
I guess I expected the "let kids work things out themselves" to be a little more watched by adults. In our class, basically the most aggressive child wins. Also, I thought there would be much more peaceful play, but each week there was more than one other family besides ours, it was very, very loud and wild. While I don't want to deny energy to anyone, and don't expect or want children to be quiet, it has been very stressful.
I guess really, it seems like a very disrespectful place with children who seem to run wild under the guise of being themselves. I know this may not reflect other grades in our school, but it's become a very icky experience.
