Waldorf Early Childhood Courses at WCI

Waldorf Early Childhood Summer Courses

The West Coast Institute, located in British Columbia, Canada, offers differing courses and workshops each summer for Waldorf teachers, and anyone who wishes to learn more about Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education.

Summer training, courses and workshops are held at the Sunrise Waldorf School on Vancouver Island, in beautiful scenic British Columbia, Canada.

Summer Intensive Birth to Three Completion Certificate and Introduction to the Pikler® Pedagogical Approach

Engaging with infants and toddlers through respectful and peaceful care

July 16 to 22, 2022
Schedule: Beginning the evening of Saturday, July 16
Sunday, July 17 to Friday, July 22, all day

at Sunrise Waldorf School in Duncan on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada (In-person only)

with Pikler® USA President Elsa Chahin, and WCI Faculty and Pikler® USA Scientific co-chair, Dr. Debbie Laurin

This Birth to Three course explores a peaceful and respectful approach to caring for babies and toddlers inspired by the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, Dr. Emmi Pikler, and Ute Strub. Participants will deepen their knowledge about infant-toddler care and education to provide peaceful and respectful care to babies and toddlers. This course will use a variety of experiential activities, as well as discussion and lecture.

Children explore, wonder, and play with their whole being and rely on the warm interest and slower pace of care from their caregivers. Adults can support this learning with a careful and caring approach that understands and respects the importance of children’s movement, thinking and feeling. Research from the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary suggests that young children thrive when they are seen as participants in their own care and initiators of their own explorations and play. We will explore how careful and attentive physical care of the foundational senses facilitates a child’s sense of competence and wellbeing.

WCI Early Childhood alumni will receive a Birth to Three certificate recognized by WECAN, and a WCI transcript.

For more information please contact Debbie Laurin
debbielaurin@westcoastinstitute.org

Tuition $575 CDN

Register Online Now

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Meals & Housing

Meals will be available. Please see the Courses Meals page for more information and the meals signup form in May.

Housing is available in private homes in the community. Please see the Housing page for more information and the Housing Booking Form.

Ms. Chahin, an in-demand speaker, writer, educator and certified mindfulness meditation teacher, has served as a keynote speaker and presenter at more than 200 national and international conferences and seminars on the topic of caring for babies with respect. She co-authored the book, In Loving Hands, with Anna Tardos (Dr. Emmi Pikler’s daughter) and is one of only two certified and accredited Pikler® Trainers in North America. In addition, Ms. Chahin is President/CEO of the non-profit corporation, Pikler/Lóczy USA, and as a staunch advocate of early childhood education and development, she is a working group leader for World Forum Foundation™, a RIE® Associate, and PITC trainer. Dedicating her career to bettering the lives of children everywhere, Ms. Chahin not only brings passion and commitment to her work, but also brings a deep knowledge coupled with both insight and generosity to all that she does.

Dr. Laurin is an international presenter and author of articles about child wellbeing, child mental health, and childcare routines. She has a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Waldorf Early Childhood from Antioch New England University. Debbie uniquely interweaves information from mainstream research with the principles of Waldorf Early Childhood Education to create a unique tapestry to support child wellbeing. She embraces an approach based on antibias education and respectful childcare practices grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Debbie brings experience as a former Waldorf Kindergarten and Parent and Child teacher and her curiosity and wonder of the young child continue to grow joyfully through her experiences as a grandmother to three. Debbie is involved with an international group working towards their Pikler® Pedagogue certification and she trains in the U.S. and at the Emmi Pikler Daycare in Budapest, Hungary.

Waldorf Early Childhood Educator Training Auditing Options

We are opening some of our Early Childhood Educator Training courses to auditors. Auditing is open to all current Waldorf Early Childhood educators and those enrolled in a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator training.

Courses will be held online. All times are Pacific Time.