Infância Viva - Associação Jardim de Infância Internacional segundo a Pedagogia de R.Steiner

description of organisation

IInfância Viva Association is a Waldorf kindergarden open since more than 18 years located in the rural outskirts of Lagos,
in the Barão de São João village. We are a recognized IPSS (private institute for social solidarity) with the main goals to
contribute for the healthy and harmonious development of the children aged 3-6 years old through education, expanding
the Waldorf education as a pedagogy capable of responding to today's educational challenges by UNESCO and
contribute for social inclusion by welcoming children from low-income families.
The idea of our Waldorf kindergarden started almost 30 years ago, when a group of families and educators joined hands
to create a social project, where there was a sharing of ideas, initiatives, where tasks and responsibilities were
distributed, in communication, commitment and organization, in order to create a healthy space for children. The project
started to be implemented initially with german children that were living in the area of Lagos and soon expanded to the
local portuguese children, eager to experience the new kindergarden concept. Between the years 1994-1999, this project
grew with the territory, being part of the local initiatives and festivities. During the period 1999 - 2002, the Association's
first statutes were prepared and approved in the General Assembly and the first governing bodies were elected. At the
time, the Association strengthened a collaboration with the Municipality of Lagos being granted the space of the old
primary school in Monte Judeu for its kindergarden. Simultaneously, it received the recognition of IPSS through a protocol
with the Portuguese Social Security, which brough more challenges and responsibilities. In 2002 our kindergarden was
officially inaugurated in the new space in Monte Judeu and its Educational project was officially approved by the Ministry
of Education.
Currently, the kindergarden has a capacity for 44 children aged between 3 and 6 years, divided into two groups, one of
which has capacity for 20 children and the other for 24. The groups are heterogeneous and organized in such a way that
there is a balance at various levels, namely ages, gender, nationalities, as well as children's temperament. This
organization encourages older children to help younger ones and promotes opportunities for the performance of different
tasks, providing the youngest children with the possibility of having examples to follow.
In our kindergarden it is given preference to natural and aesthetic materials that privilege the sensory part and develop
children's senses. The materials and toys are simple intentionally, thus leaving space for the child's own imagination and
fantasy to develop.
The Kindergarden consists of two activity rooms with the respective entrance halls, a multipurpose room, two bathrooms
for children and two bathrooms for adults, a desk, kitchen, pantry and outside space. The spaces in the rooms are
painted with natural pigments with the appropriate colors for this age group, allowing the children to be surrounded by the
emotions of calm and affection that the color transmits.
All materials used by children are natural, made of wood, wool, fabric, iron. The relationship that the child establishes
between what lives inside him and the environment that surrounds the child is considered extremely important for child's
development.
Our pedagogical work is based on the educational principles expressed by the International Association for Early
Childhood Education Steiner / Waldorf (IASWECE). Therefore, our regular activities include:
- welcoming with loving interest and acceptance each child into our kindergarden
- promoting of opportunities for playing, initiated with simple materials, as an essential activity for the child's development;
- preparing the kindergarden spaces and environment in order to offer limits, structure and protection, as well as the
possibility of risks and challenges for children;
- encouraging the children's healthy development of imagination and creativity through activities such as short stories,
music, drawing, painting, modeling;
- promoting useful and meaningful activities for the children, such as cooking, gardening, sewing, carpentry, as these
provide opportunities to experience complete processes and not just parts;
- making of toys and equipment, in collaboration with parents, friends and with the kindergarten educators and employees
(the construction of the toy in a cooperative way is part of the kindergarten experience);
- celebration of festivities, aimed at experiencing constant rhythms throughout the day, week and year, promoting security
and a sense of inter-relationship with nature, culture and community;
- organization and participation in events aimed at staff' self-development, skills improvement, in collaboration with
partner organizations;
- staff meetings for monitoring, sharing and reporting on children's progresses and kindergarden's dynamics