About the Author

Rainer Patzlaff is Professor of Childhood Education at Alanus Independent University near Bonn, Germany and Director of the IPSUM Institute in Stuttgart, Germany. Susan Howard is the WECAN Coordinator and a member of the Coordinating Group of the International Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Association (IASWECE). She directs the part-time early childhood training at Sunbridge Institute.

Originally published in German, this volume clearly and succinctly outlines the anthroposophical view of child development from birth through age three, and makes concrete suggestions of how to support children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual growth in an out-of-home care setting. This English-language edition is intended to inform birth-to-three programs in the United States and other countries, as well as being a resource for parents, therapists, and anyone with an interest in this special period of human life. A new introduction by Susan Howard and a list of resources available in English have been added to this edition. It is a companion volume to Developmental Signatures: Core Values and Practices in Waldorf Education for Children Ages 3–9 (WECAN/AWSNA).