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Young child exploring outdoor sensory play with natural materials at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, emphasizing hands-on learning in a Waldorf environment.

Nursery

Welcome to the Waldorf Nursery!

 Ages: 2 - 3 Year Olds 

Building a Bridge Between Home and School

In our Chamomile class, children spend their days in a small, homelike environment with experienced and loving caregivers who encourage them to develop their emerging sense of self. The daily rhythm provides a balance between active and restful moments, as well as indoor and outdoor play. This thoughtful structure nurtures each child's health and wellbeing.

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Just as when young children are at home, nursery students may choose to join the adults in their work, imitate work the adults are doing, or play nearby under the watchful eyes of their teachers. The children are wrapped in a comfortable, secure routine which gives them great confidence to explore their surroundings and immerse themselves in the all-important work of the child: play! Since young children absorb the world primarily through their senses, our biggest job in our early childhood program is to provide an environment which is worthy of their imitation. 

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The nursery daily rhythm includes free play (both inside and outdoors), arts and crafts, circle and story time, snack and lunch.

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Two children enjoying a wooden swing in the outdoor play area at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, highlighting nature-based play and social interaction.

Why Routines Matter

​Research shows that routines play a crucial role in supporting healthy social-emotional development during early childhood. Children who have consistent routines at home tend to develop strong self-regulation skills—the foundation of good mental health. By learning to identify and manage their emotions, children can prevent feeling overwhelmed. Those who master these skills are better equipped to handle everyday challenges, cope with stress, and adapt to new expectations.

Information developed by Dr. Erika Bocknek, Educational Psychology, Wayne State University

Key Highlights of our Early Childhood Program

A hallmark of Waldorf early childhood education is that academic foundations are seamlessly integrated into our experiential curriculum.

Self-regulation

Self-regulation emerges as children experience nurturing daily and weekly routines that provide predictability and comfort. Additionally, our classrooms offer a calm, and emotionally safe experience for children. 

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills, which help support manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination, are engaged daily through arts and seasonal crafts. These tactile activities include watercolor painting, drawing, and kneading dough.

Kinesthetic Learning

Kinesthetic learning occurs each day as the children are welcomed into a sensory rich environment in which whole body movement is encouraged during unstructured inside and outside free play, and structured activities led by the teacher such as circle time and clean-up time. 

Speech & Language Skills

Speech and language skills are developed through participating in story time, puppet shows, and circle time which are part of daily activities.  Through exposure to finger games, nature stories, poems, and songs, children build a capacity for literacy in the areas of vocabulary, visualization, memory, listening skills, and focus.

Social Skills

At age 2, nursery students typically enjoy observing one another play individually. As the school year progresses, they might start practicing the next developmental milestone where they begin to collaborate and communicate together.

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills develop, particularly during outdoor play, that lead to coordination, body control, and spatial awareness.  Children are encouraged to move their bodies!

Peaceful outdoor play space at Nevada Sage Waldorf School with hay bales, trees, and a wooden swing, fostering creativity and connection to nature.

Program Info

​Our nursery class offers 3, 4 and 5 day schedules. 

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​Half Day | 8:15 to 12:45 

Full Day | 8:15 to 3:30 

Extended Care | 3:30 to 5:30 

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An organic snack is provided by the school daily in the morning and extended care program.

 

Our small class sizes are intentionally designed to ensure that each child receives individualized attention and care from our teachers. 

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1 Lead Teacher and 1 Assistant Teacher

1:6 Teacher to Student Ratio​

 

Children in our nursery class are between 2 to 3 years old.  We accept students who are 2 years old by August 20. 

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​Our youngest children begin their Waldorf journey in the Chamomile class and move up to the Yarrow preschool class the following year as they age and achieve developmental milestones. 

Teacher leading an outdoor nature-based lesson with children at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, showcasi
Outdoor play area with natural materials and a playhouse at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, emphasizing
Smiling child holding a leaf while lying outdoors at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, highlighting curios
Students observing a jar of water and plants during a science activity at Nevada Sage Waldorf School
Preschool child finger-painting with natural pigments at Nevada Sage Waldorf School, fostering creat
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