Early Childhood
Learning social, language and practical skills through cooperation, imitation, play and daily routine. In the early years, children naturally learn through imitation, mirroring the behaviours and habits of those around them. At this formative stage, it’s a perfect opportunity to introduce and model positive habits and values that will enrich their lives for years to come.
Children are naturally curious about adults’ activities and eager to engage in purposeful work themselves. They also thrive when given ample time to safely explore their surroundings and nurture their imagination.
Our Toddler Programme welcomes children aged 3 to 4 years into a warm, homelike environment that supports a gentle transition into early childhood education. Families are warmly welcomed at the beginning of this journey to help children settle with confidence and ease, after which the programme is centred on the child’s independent experience within the group.
Guided by a Waldorf-trained Early Childhood teacher, each session offers unhurried rhythms that nurture free movement, social connection, imaginative child-led play, gentle sensory exploration, and time outdoors. Through these experiences, children are supported in developing trust, independence, and a natural sense of belonging within the classroom.
Alongside the child’s experience, we cultivate a thoughtful partnership with families, sharing insights and observations that help deepen understanding of each child’s development and unique rhythms. This supports parents in sharpening their observational skills and tuning in to their child with curiosity and wonder.
This structured programme includes free play, circle time, songs and poems, and puppet play. We also prepare and share a wholesome snack. In this way, teachers and families work in close partnership to model a sense of community that supports the child beyond the classroom.
Our morning sessions run Monday to Friday during term time, and we would be delighted to welcome you.
“It is truly remarkable to see how the child’s soul and spirit are active in free play.”
A Safe and Joyful Start
Our Toddler Programme offers a gentle first step into Marinela life. In a calm, nurturing space, children are supported by rhythm, beauty, and a shared sense of belonging with their families. What follows offers a glimpse into how this special time unfolds.
Daily Rhythm
Each session flows with a strong daily rhythm similar to a simplified Marinela Kindergarten morning, with periods of breathing in and out, alternating between free movement and play, and adult-led activities. The changing months and seasons are reflected in the yearly rhythm, incorporating seasonal songs and festivals in a simple way. Our mixed-age indoor session includes baking bread or scones, space and time for free play, ring time songs and rhymes, a healthy shared snack and a story.
Enjoying the Outdoors
Our day begins by making the most of the cool morning air as our group heads out for a short walk to visit the animals or enjoy some outdoor free play. Time outdoors is very enriching, and we aim to go outside all year round so that the children may breathe in the fresh air, feel the sunshine or rain, notice the birds, and run in the grass. In the gardens, the children can observe and experience the cycle of the year, helping to bring to life songs and stories included during the session. Later, we move indoors to a carefully curated space for our group…
Gentle on the Senses
We see the benefits of providing simple, beautiful and open-ended toys, which allow for versatility and imagination. There is an undeniable beauty and timelessness in these simple objects and materials, and they make a deep impression on the child. Just pause and observe the wonder experienced when a young child explores a basket of tactile knitted animals, inspects the details of a pine cone, breathes in the smell of dried lavender, or holds a large shell up to their ear.
Free Play and Movement
From birth throughout the first seven years, and most rapidly in the first three years, young children build foundations for their lives ahead. Play naturally brings such joy, as well as opportunities for developing movement, balance, memory, strength, problem solving, and understanding the world around them. At Marinela, you will find different areas for children to explore alongside others, as children shape their social connections.
Circle Time
As the period of free play draws to a close, the group leader brings the children together in a circle to share songs, rhymes and simple games. Children delight in repetition, and everyone soon becomes familiar with the rhythm, melodies and words, developing the confidence to join in.
Circle time is kept short and joyful, with simple gestures appropriate for the children, and elements that reflect the changing seasons and festivals. Children learn naturally through imitation, and circle time supports the development of language, attentiveness, memory and social awareness.
Sharing Food and Company
Snack time offers a gentle pause in the morning, as the children come together around a beautifully laid table to enjoy wholesome food, good company and quiet conversation. The children wash their hands to a simple song and help prepare the table under the group leader’s guidance. When everyone is ready and settled, a candle is lit to begin the meal. Sitting together in this way provides a rich social experience, supporting the development of manners, attentiveness, conversation and a sense of community.
Storytelling
In our mixed-age groups, after the snack table has been cleared away, it’s time to cosy up for a story. Handmade puppets and figures tell a short, simple story that reflects day-to-day life at home and in nature throughout the seasons. The same story may be told for several weeks, as children of this age love repetition. Characters may reappear in various stories through the seasons, and the group leader may include rhymes or songs from circle time to increase repetition and enhance the narrative.
At the end of the session, we stand in a circle and say goodbye to one another with poems and songs, hopefully feeling enlivened and ready to meet the coming week!
Join Our Toddler Programme
Discover the joy of early learning together with your child at Marinela Holistic Education.
