Paidokipos

As part of a recent adventure overseas, I had the privilege of participating in a two-day teacher training in a small Steiner Kindergarten in Crete. Overlooking an olive grove, the White Mountains and the Cretan Sea, Paidokipos (literally meaning child place) has 26 children from two and a half to six year olds, with five educators working across the two rooms. The school impulse began 13 years ago, when two passionate local educators began working with an experienced Steiner teacher from the Netherlands who was living on the island, and has grown to be a rich and welcoming Steiner community, not only for children and their families, but for teacher training as well.
Twenty people attended the two day seminar, including the Paidokipos staff, Steiner kindy teachers from other parts of Greece as well as local educators aspiring to work through anthroposophy. The seminar included discussion about Steiner’s indications for working with young children under seven, with a focus on ways to support the development of the children’s physical bodies. Educators shared examples of their own daily rhythm, stories, songs, morning circles and finger games, with each other. I was inspired to hear about the ways the Greek Steiner teachers are working intentionally to bring content to the children that represents their own time and place. I was delighted to hear a story that brought picture images of starry apples and pomegranate jewels, as I looked out to see the rosy autumn glow of the pomegranates and apples in the kindy garden.
It was rewarding and inspiring to connect with our global colleagues. Even though a language barrier presented challenges at times, so much could be felt and understood about our mutual good will and striving through shared warmth, gesture and smiling faces.
We also met with a Kindergarten teacher whilst in Istanbul who, after spending five weeks here at Shearwater in 2015, established a small Steiner kindergarten in Istanbul with her sister. Coincidentally, my daughter was in the class she was working with, and both remembered the time spent together fondly.
I am grateful to have connected with other passionate Steiner educators across the seas, as we all continue on our journey of learning from, and with, each other.
Kat Barwick
Early Childhood Coordinator