I had a reader from Down Under ask my thoughts on this book as it would be expensive to buy it and have it shipped.
Let’s take a quick peek at this little book:
It is about 91 pages long, and is formulated in a series of questions that parents ask and the author answers.
The Table of Contents:
(after the Foreword, the Preface, the Introduction):
Our Classroom Environment
Color in the Classroom
Why Curtains?
Teachers’ Dress
The Significance of Candles
Naming the Teacher
No Cars and Trucks?
What About Puzzles?
Musical Instruments in the Classroom
Work and Play at School
The Rhythm of the Morning
Saying, “You May”…
Ironing in the Classroom: Danger?
Boys and Waldorf Education
Playing Cats and Dogs
Music in the Mood of the Fifth
Can Energetic Boys Enjoy Handwork?
Gun Play at School?
Field Trips?
Fairy Tales for Young Children
The Challenge of Circle Time
Puppetry and “Told” Stories
Children at Home
Colors for a Child’s Bedroom
Older and Younger Siblings
Boredom
Telephone
Bedtime Ritual
Feeding a Child
Swords vs. Guns
TV Away from Home
Barbie
Forbidden Words?
Appropriate Gifts
“What Did You Do in School Today?”
Toys in the Neighborhood
Helping Children in a Time of Trouble – A Few Thoughts
Is the World a Good Place?
In Conclusion
About the Author
I have enjoyed this book and there is much food for thought here; however I do think many of these questions can be answered either by reading Steiner’s works or some of the classic Kindergarten Years texts that are out there such as “You Are Your Child’s First Teacher”, “Heaven on Earth”, or “Beyond the Rainbow Bridge.” There is also a wonderful service available to us with free on-line articles of “Gateways” (a Waldorf Early Years publication) available through www.waldorflibrary.org that frequently addressed these types of questions. Also, I would encourage you all to join some of the “National” waldorf group lists – Melisa Nielsen’s list homeschoolingwaldorf@yahoogroups.com; Marsha Johnson’s list at waldorfhomeeducators@yahoogroups.com or Donna Simmon’s paid subscription forum at http://www.waldorf-at-home.com/forums/
On the other hand, if you are planning on enrolling your child within a Waldorf school setting, this work may answer some of the typical questions parents have from a classroom perspective.
Hope that helps,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Thank you so much – what a thorough answer!!!
That’s really helpful – sounds like an interesting book but possibly a bit ‘once over lightly’ given that I have read an awful lot of other Waldorf/Steiner resources. I will give some thought to doing a 3 month stint on donna’s forum once my new baby is a bit more settled and I can put more time into it! I do a Steiner playgroup once a week with my 2 1/2 year old but apart from that we are at home and constant input and motivation is so necessary for me!