Early Childhood

A play-based program protecting the magic of childhood.

You want more than a place for your child to spend their days. You want a school where your child is truly known, where they build confidence and real friendships, and where emotional health and attention matter.

At Waldorf Early Childhood, that's exactly what we offer: a warm, intentional environment where young children thrive. They develop focus, resilience, and the social-emotional foundation that prepares them for everything that comes next. Here, childhood is protected while building future readiness.

Two Campuses, One Philosophy

Both locations offer the same nurturing Waldorf approach. Choose the environment that feels right for your family.

212 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Early Childhood Center

A home-like setting in the heart of Saratoga Springs. Children explore our gardens, walk to local parks, and experience the seasons.

Inside: cooking together, watercolor painting, seasonal crafts, songs and puppet shows. Calm, beautiful, nurturing.

45 Kaydeross Avenue West

Forest School

Nestled on Spa State Park land with forested trails, open spaces for climbing and building, and a restored farmhouse for indoor activities.

Deep immersion in nature for families seeking something different from the typical preschool experience.

Early childhood students engaged in a classroom activity

Arts & Music

Storytelling, songs, rhymes and movement are a part of every morning circle. Rich language and imagery lead children from hearty play to a quiet place in their own imaginations. Music connects the flow of the morning—from play to clean-up, circle time to rest time, snack to play once more. The circling year and change of seasons are noticed and celebrated for the wonder they bring to the young child—both outdoors and in classroom crafts. Honey-scented beeswax to model, warm wool to felt and stitch, wood to sand and polish, brilliant water-colors to paint with—all provide a young child with nurturing sensory experiences and growing dexterity.

What Makes Our Program Different

1

Learning Through Play

Play is essential. Young children play to learn about the world, about themselves, and about each other.

  • Our programs devote time and space for child-centered play that supports cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. Movement, discovery, imagination, and creativity thrive in every season and all kinds of weather.

Your child builds self-confidence and a love of learning through joyful, unhurried play.

2

Predictable Rhythms

The days and weeks follow a gentle, predictable rhythm. Tuesday might be painting day. Thursday is rainbow soup for lunch! Friday is cooking day.

  • Children always know what to expect, which creates emotional security.

Your child is seen, supported, and guided as an individual.

3

Learning Is Lived

Young children learn by doing - through movement, exploration, and hands-on experience.

  • Children use real tools to chop vegetables, stir soups, and tend gardens, work with natural materials like beeswax and wool, and experience puppet shows, seasonal songs, and nature-based festivals.

Learning feels meaningful and alive, helping children connect knowledge to the world around them.

Children gathered closely around a picture book, pointing at the illustrations together

Relationships Built on Trust

For a young child, school should be like home. Safety, emotional warmth, encouragement and a sense of belonging are the hallmarks of an Early Childhood program that cares for your child the way that you would. The Waldorf Early Childhood programs offer a sensory-rich, home-like setting with an 8:1 student to teacher ratio. Teachers cultivate a nurturing environment that fosters play, exploration, social harmony and self-care skills. A strong partnership between teachers and parents eases the transition from home to school, allowing each child to flourish.

Two children sharing snacks on a tree stump surrounded by autumn leaves

Learning Through Purposeful Work

Your child isn't sitting at a desk with a worksheet. Instead, they're chopping vegetables, raking leaves, and churning butter - doing real tasks that build real confidence and coordination. Through play and purposeful activities, children discover they can do meaningful things. Your child develops the confidence that comes from genuine contribution and real engagement.

Program Options

Ages 2-3

Preschool

Schedule: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Options: 2, 3, or 5 days per week

A gentle introduction to group learning.

Ages 3 - 6 years

Kindergarten

Half Day: 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Full Day: 8:15 AM - 2:15 PM
Options: 3 or 5 days per week

Mixed-age classrooms where younger children learn from older peers.

5-day Kindergarten offers sliding-scale tuition.

For enrolled families

Extended Care

Morning: 7:15 - 8:15 AM
Afternoon: 2:15 - 5:00 PM

Ages 18 months - 3 years

Playgroups

Caregivers attend with children. A wonderful way to experience Waldorf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the daily schedule like?

Each day follows a gentle, predictable rhythm that gives children emotional security. A typical morning includes free play, circle time with songs and movement, a focused activity (painting, cooking, handwork), outdoor exploration, storytime, and snack.

The rhythm repeats weekly - Tuesday might be painting day, Friday is cooking day - so children always know what to expect. Gentle transitions and a calm pace create space for deep engagement rather than rushed activity.

Is Waldorf Similar To Montessori?

These two educational approaches began with a similar goal: to design a curriculum that was developmentally appropriate to the child and that addressed the child's need to learn in a tactile as well as an intellectual way. The philosophies are otherwise very different.

Many families find Waldorf's warmth and community focus particularly appealing for young children.

How do you handle discipline?

We practice "connection before correction" - building warm relationships that become the foundation for guidance. With our 8:1 ratio, we can address challenges individually.

Is Waldorf religious?

No. We're secular and welcome families of all backgrounds. We celebrate seasonal festivals that connect children to nature, but these are cultural, not religious.

See Our Program in Action

In today's world children and young adults are faced with so many outlining stressors. I did not want school to be one of those for my children. I wanted them to enjoy going to school. I wanted it to be a safe place for them to learn, and grow— where music, movement, and the arts were integral, and smiles, laughter, and happiness succeeded standards and testing. Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs does this and more.

Parent

Ready to Visit?

The best way to understand what makes Waldorf Early Childhood special is to experience it yourself. Schedule a tour to see our classrooms, meet our teachers, and feel the warmth of our community.

Contact Admissions
Email: admissions@waldorfsaratoga.org
Phone: (518) 587-0549