NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN Rhythm, repetition and reverence-our "three Rs"-are the core of Waldorf's early childhood program. They help awaken the child's natural curiosity and inspire an appreciation for the world's diverse cultures, arts and the wonders of nature. In a nurturing, home-like environment, Waldorf teachers strive to preserve the innocence and innate wonder of early childhood for the sake of healthy physical, intellectual and emotional development. The emphasis on cultivating the children's intuition and imagination, develops essential tools for later academic learning, wholeness and creativity. The rhythm of the day--stories told by the teacher, finger-knitting, and beeswax modeling--relates directly to the young child's inner life and stages of development.