Steiner Waldorf Education Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association
Respecting and understanding the developmental needs of the child

Welcome to the website of the Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association (ISKA), which is Ireland's national voluntary association of Steiner Waldorf childcare practitioners. Members are based throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. Associate membership is open to all who support the work of the Association.

The ISKA website is Ireland's primary source of information about Steiner Waldorf education in early childhood for parents, our members, government and funding agencies, childcare practitioners and other childcare organisations.

Kindergarten scene

Our activities
ISKA provides support for members as well as responding to the increasing level of interest in Steiner Waldorf early childhood education more generally in Ireland. The association has established a programme of workshops on aspects of Steiner Waldorf education for childcare practitioners and it runs a three-year part-time training programme (the Early Childhood Education Programme). ISKA and its activities are supported through the National Childcare Investment Programme.



Kindling front cover

Kindling Journal available
Kinding, the Journal for the Steiner Waldorf Early Years Education (UK) is be printed twice yearly (Spring and Autumn) and subscriptions are available from ISKA. Subscribe online...

ISKA Winter Newsletter
Our latest Newsletter is now available. Read it or download a copy of it  here. Feedback and suggestions for the next newsletter in Spring always welcome.

Young Children's Exposure to Audible Television has Implications for Language Acquisition and Brain Development
In a new study, young children and their adult caregivers uttered fewer vocalizations, used fewer words and engaged in fewer conversations when in the presence of audible television. The population-based study is the first of its kind completed in the home environment, guided by lead researcher Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The full article is here (PDF).

see list of other articles

ISKA and the Liberty Steiner/Waldorf Initiative presents
The Ideal Education for Children Today

Sunday, May 24th, 4pm
Dublin, Unitarian Church, St Stephen's Green
This will be a hands on lecture on how a truly holistic education can prepare children to become young people who embrace the future with enthusiasm, compassion, and a deep interest in the world. The Speaker is Jonathan Angus, a course director of the Irish ECEP Teacher trainings. The poster for the event is  here.

 

Public Lecture - Spirit in Matter
Bringing Light into Human  Encounter

Friday, May 29th, 8pm
New School Building, Camphill Community, Ballytobin, Callan
With John O’Connor, Gladys Lydon and Aine Taylor.
This is the next in the series of 2009's Spirit in Matter public lectures. It will address finding sources of healing for personal and interpersonal crises. All are welcome! Enquiries to Martin Henry At 087 7713224 or martin33@eircom.net.

ISKA presents
A Workshop on Eutony
with Helene Roitinger, Eutony Therapist and Musician

Saturday, 13 June, 9.30 for 10am-4pm
Ballyhall Kindergarten, Callan, Co Kilkenny
Through Eutony, you can find a new relationship to your body, relieve blocked areas and improve your breathing rhythm, blood circulation and muscle tone. This work is simple and manifold and suitable for all abilities and bodily constitutions. Through Eutony you can re-balance the tension in your body, developing a free uprightness and posture, and improving your range of mobility. Eutony is relaxing – Rejuvenate yourself! The poster for the event is  here.
Cost: €50; ISKA members €25 (you may join at the workshop)
Bring some food for a bring and share lunch
Bookings: call Ulrike at 087 1247317

 

ISKA presents
Head, Heart and Hands
Understanding our children from a Steiner/Waldorf perspective:
a series of 4 weekend workshops in Dublin, Spring 2009

The Irish Association for Steiner Education (IASE) with the support of ISKA presents a new course in Dublin. The course is for parents, teachers, youth workers, care workers, artists, arts practitioners, and anyone involved in the world of childhood. With Nell Smyth and Pearse O'Shiel as core tutors, these workshops are led by highly experienced Steiner educators as well as guest contributors. Each weekend workshop will focus on a specific theme related to the development of the whole child and will include hands-on practical activity, creative experiences, short lectures and group work. More details on the workshops and staff are here.

Workshops will be on Friday evenings (7-9pm) and Saturdays (10am-4pm):
WEEKEND 1: 20 and 21 March: The First Three Years – emerging from wholeness (0–3 years)
WEEKEND 2: 27 and 28 March: Taking Hold of the World – doing good things well (3–7 years)
WEEKEND 3: 9 and 10 May: What is the World Like? – educating the feelings (7–14 years)
WEEKEND 4: 15 & 16 May: The Search for Truth – adolescence to adulthood (14–21 years)

VENUE: The first weekend workshop (20 & 21 March) will be in The Sanctuary, Stanhope Street, Dublin 1, and the subsequent workshops will be at Airfield Trust, Dundrum.
FEE: €500 (waged) €350 (concession) to cover costs for the 4 weekends.
BOOKING: Booking will be on a first come, first served basis. For application and booking details please email steinerireland@gmail.com.

Helle Heckmann's new book:
Childhood's Garden, Shaping everyday life around the needs of young children

is now available through ISKA. Helle is from Denmark and is active in teacher education throughout the world. For details on her book, which includes a DVD, click here.

Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour, a new book by Susan Perrow
is appreciatively reviewed here by Ruth Marshall