Waldorf Academy In Toronto Focuses On Gender Identity In Winter Fair

Waldorf Academy, based in Toronto, Ontario, has announced that they have adjusted their annual puppet show, The Snow Maiden, at the school’s magical fair for winter that was held on December 2, 2018, to represent a family that is not based on the traditional mother-father role. The move was in line with the increasing awareness about gender identity. The event is a school fundraiser to support and improve on the programs offered to the students.

There were two performances of The Snow Maiden puppet show. Most of the activities of the show were geared towards three to seven year old children. Activities included Jack Frost crafts, a walk through the magical Woodland Pond where fairies gave out special gifts, a visit to the Good Witch, beeswax candle dipping, fireside hot drinks, and making a wish at the Wishing Tree. Children were also able to shop for special treasures in the Snowdrop Market. Kids and parents were also able to do some holiday shopping at the Sleighbell Boutique. Available were natural toys, handmade ornaments, specialty books, decor items, woolen and organic clothing, Waldorf dolls, and more.

Jennifer Deathe, admissions manager at Waldorf Academy, had this to say about the winter fair, “Storytelling is the spine of a Waldorf/Steiner education and puppet shows are the preferred medium for the kindergarten and preschool age child. With an increasing awareness of gender identity, the early childhood team adjusted the annual puppet show, The Snow Maiden, at our magical winter fair, to represent a family that is not the traditional mother-father role.”

Waldorf Academy offers private school education in Toronto. It offers a preschool, three kindergartens, and classrooms for Grades 1 to 8. It is strategically located near Casa Loma, which is found in the heart of Toronto. It is conveniently situated along a quiet street with beautiful surroundings. People get the feeling that they are in a lively family home when they visit the bright and comfortable classrooms at Waldorf Academy.

Waldorf Academy offers several programs, including a Parent and Tot program, childcare, preschool, kindergarten, Grades 1-5, Grades 6-8, and summer camp. The Parent & Tot program is for parents with children with ages 18 months to 3.5 years. This program is led by Brianna Buhr, who is an experienced preschool teacher and holds a Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy. The program is designed to immerse the children in social, sensory and emotional development activities that are appropriate for their age, while also offering engaging conversation and activities for the parents.

Meanwhile, the childcare program is designed to offer a place for young children such that the parents have peace of mind, trusting that their children are in safe and caring environment. Furthermore, the children engage in age-appropriate activities designed to help in their emotional, intellectual, social, and physical development. For toddlers, 18 months to 2.5 years old, they are immersed in an environment that is similar to the home under the guidance of a caregiver who is nurturing. For preschool children, 2.5 to 4 years old, they are allowed to make independent discoveries through their experiences and through their own creative play.

The approach used at Waldorf Academy is based on the statement of Rudolf Steiner, "We must still make the lifeless things live through imagination and always connect them with real life. It is possible to connect all the phenomena of physics with real life, but we ourselves must have imagination in order to do it." Jennifer Deathe explains that the essence of Waldorf Academy can be summarized as a focus on creativity, emotional intelligence, resilience & perseverance, and intellectual development. By focusing on creativity in problem solving, a child’s ability to think critically and independently is improved. Development of the child’s emotional intelligence is also vital because success in life has been found to favor those who have a high EQ. And then hands-on, experiential and inquiry-based learning is emphasized to nurture in the children the ability to take risks, go beyond their comfort zones, and test their mettle.

Those who need more information about the educational system at Waldorf Academy can visit their website or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/waldorfacademy.