Many doubts arise when we consider enrolling our children in school between the ages of 0 and 3. Would they be better off at home? What kind of education should we choose? Will the teachers be respectful? Will my child suffer and have a difficult time? Is it necessary to spend money on a private school when they are so young?
From our pedagogical training, we understand that society has changed and that when our grandmothers raised their children, they did so because they were part of the community. Parents, especially the mother, weren't the only ones who cared for the child; grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, and other children all played a role in the child's upbringing. They all participated in the child's education almost equally.
Today, family structures have changed and society has become more individualistic; this has been further exacerbated by the health crisis we have experienced this past year. Therefore, we do not doubt that a child can be well and develop healthily if they stay home, but there are many experiences they will miss out on that are very important for their development.
The psyche of the adult person is formed during the first few years.
Numerous studies demonstrate that the psyche of a child, who will later become an adult, is formed during the 0-3 age range. Of course, various experiences will occur along the way that will shape that person,but all of this will have its foundations laid during this early stage of life.
Each person has diverse experiences throughout their life that make your expectations about their education different when you become a mother or father.
When a boy or girl stays at home, all those expectations that their parents have of them become a burden that is carried on the child's back without them being aware of it.
Our goal is for boys and girls to begin their development from an individual perspective.
As teachers, our sole objective is that each boy and girl who enters our Allegra Free School begins their journey from individuality towards that exploration and development of the SELF, respecting at all times their pace.
In order for this development to occur healthily, based on our training and the study of man by Rudolf Steiner,there are three pillars on which we focus for the education of this early age.
- At our school, we create a safe and trusting environment where children can calmly develop their physical and emotional autonomy. There's no rush to accelerate development; instead, respecting each child's individual pace allows for meaningful learning and emotional experiences that enable them to understand themselves and, with adult support, learn to manage their emotions. A childhood without haste is a healthy childhood. In today's society, it's quite difficult to dedicate all the time a child needs, so at our school, we create an independent environment that supports these needs.
- Children learn about the world through their senses. All their experiences originate in their bodies, so it's essential to let them explore with their bodies. It is through the senses that we build the foundation for relating to ourselves and others. At our Allegra Free School, the entire teaching team is deeply aware of the importance of sensory integration, so we spend increasingly more time outdoors. Contact with nature awakens and enhances sensory integration: the smell of rain and flowers, touching wet earth, the colors of autumn, walking on the grass… These are all sensory experiences that connect children with themselves.
- We must understand that childhood is movement; boys and girls need to climb, jump, crawl, run, and so on. There is no motor development without physical activity; at these ages, the brain is not yet mature enough for cognitive development. That will come once free movement has developed,which will strengthen the neural connections necessary for the brain to work naturally. There is no childhood without movement, which is why we don't understand why children are increasingly asked to spend hours and hours sitting down, paying attention, or glued to a screen.
Allegra seeks to be an extension of the home; we function as a large family in which each person can exercise their role individually with the respect, trust and security that the group provides.
Trabajamos con edades mezcladas respetando el ritmo de cada persona y aprendiendo de los demás; es así como cada uno va forjando su personalidad y comprende el mundo que le rodea.