Work and Play in Early Childhood Paperback – July 15, 1996

As the other reviewers mentioned this is not the deep introduction to Waldorf Education parents might be looking for. But I consider it required reading for my assistants and co-teachers. Freyja Jaffke has an elegant way of describing the work that the teachers and children are doing. It is a constant inspiration to me, and I've had to replace my own book many times because I keep giving it away!If you are a teacher, this book is for YOU! Don't pass it up.

This book is succinct, but it captures the essential energy of life in a Waldorf kindergarten. It does so in ways that I have not seen described elsewhere. I have read other books by Freya Jaffke, so I was especially interested in this one and her thoughts on play. I loved the description of the various uses of the term mantle and how it protects and guides the children. Kindergarten is both so very simple and so very complex and a lot of how it goes (in school or at home, in my case) does depend on the energy and personality of the teacher. Really a great read. Makes me excited for the years to come with my younger children.

The author does an ok job of giving highlights of the types of activities that go on in a Waldorf Kindergarten and the daily rhythm. But that's mostly what this book gives - highlights with not nearly enough description, details, or explanations. It's not that you'd waste your time reading the book (you can finish it in about an hour), but you might not feel you got your money's worth. You might want to try "School as a Journey" by Torin Fisner (about the same cost but nearly 3x the length!) which gives outstanding detail (including actual stories and poems told in class) and theories behind classroom instruction when he shares his teaching experience of his own Waldorf Classroom from Grade 1 through Grade 8.Bottom line - if you want a light introduction to Waldorf Kindergarten, this book is fine. But if you love details with the how's and why's, you'll be disappointed.