Children at Play: Using Waldorf Principles to Foster Childhood Development

by Heidi Britz-Crecelius

Imaginative play is more vital for a child's future than many parents and educators realize. The more they are allowed to be absorbed in their play, the more fully and effectively they will later take their place in the community of adults. Drawing on her experiences as a mother and as a proponent of Rudolf Steiner's Waldorf system of education, author Heidi Britz-Crecelius emphasizes the different qualities of play that may extend through more than...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892816295
• ISBN13: 9780892816293
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: Inner Traditions International
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

More than I expected!

This book was not what I expected it to be. However, it was so much more. I expected a book filled with ideas of games to play with my child. That was there but, that was not the main purpose of this book. This book is more about helping adults to remember what it is to be a "Child at play". It reminded me of what my daughter is actually doing when she is playing. Often as a parent it seems to us that children are just being "goofy" and not accomplishing a thing. This book reminded me to stop before I try to stop my daughters behavior. Pay attention to what she is trying to accomplish and honor her process.

mother of three little girls

i checked out and read the older edition of this book titled 'children at play, preparation for life', and i found it quite touching. the author speaks alot of her experience growing up in post war germany. the information she gives was like talking to the grandmother i never had. i admit to wet eyes a few times.... i could imagine what a child's play life was like before our t.v. babysitting days and logoed toys eliminated much of our creativity. she discusses how children get what they need from simple things that are part of our natural surroundings and our lives. she explains how through play, children can deal with the different aspects of becoming a human being. alot of what she explained is typical steiner/waldorf philosophy, which is beautiful if you want to take the time to understand it properly, (and btw the philosophy certainly won't hurt you if you don't want to take that time). it is a simple, flowing, and instinctual philosophy that is truly empowering and peaceful. i thought this book was really precious and i will buy it to add to my library, future gifts for my own daughters.

Dont forget your childhood!

This book wasn't what I expected. I guess I was looking for a more practical guide-type book, but instead it read like an inspiring essay, reminding me of the places ansd people I created in my childhood. Ok, maybe that sounds weird, but I remember so foundly the days spent running in the woods, creating forts and making dolls out of anything I could find. Oh, I had Barbie dolls galore, but, as this book reminds us- the richest play times are the imaginative ones- with out todays fabricated props that dont allow our childrens minds to create.

Not just for Waldorfians

I have dusted the cobwebs off of so many forgotten childhood memories since reading this book. This book has also been excellent for encouraging me to play more imaginatively with my kids. Children At Play is an unexpected life altering book.

Really quite thought provoking...

all parents should read this and do what they can to foster real play in their children. This book makes me realize just how many plastic toys my daughter has in her room, how stain-free her clothes are because she doesn't like to get dirty, and how much she is missing because of all of that. She needs to get outside more, fly more kites (read the book, then you'll know about kites!), dig more dirt, bring home more bugs and animals and make up her own rules and her own games. Many well-intentioned parents (myself among them) are doing more harm than good to their kids by 'teaching' them how to play, enrolling them in organized activities, keeping them away from 'germs', and filling their rooms with stereotyped plastic toys. Yikes! What are we doing? I am so very glad I bought this book, and if anything I have said in this review strikes a chord with you, then please buy a copy for yourself. I know you won't be disappointed. You'll be inspired. (If you like this book, check out "A Day in the Garden" by Bettina Steitencron -- it is a wordless picture book favorite of ours!)