Parent & Child
Green Meadow is a Waldorf school where children are deeply, actively, and joyfully engaged in learning.
Register now for our FALL 2026 Parent and Child Classes.
Click HERE
a unique private school
Parent & Child
At the heart of our Parent-Child program lives our desire to support and empower parents, guardians, and caregivers during the formative early years of family life. In a nourishing and warm atmosphere both parents and children are held equally by the teacher. We strive to create an environment where parents find companionship, inspiration and a sense of being seen and valued in their work of parenting; and where children are given space to show us their innate wisdom and competence.
Parent & Child Classes
We offer a variety of options; some classes are all outdoors, and some have indoor-outdoor activities. We have a dedicated outdoor classroom that provides a welcoming place for children’s play and parents’ activity. Our friendly indoor classroom is light and well-ventilated.
Please note there are six to seven spaces available for each class. We also ask that parents please find alternative child care for siblings older than four and a half years old.
To register for Fall 2026 classes, click here.
NEW! Early Parenting Offerings
PREPARING TO WELCOME YOUR BABY
A Prenatal Workshop on Care, Connection, Development & the Foundations of Life Together
Saturdays in December: 12/5, 12/12, 12/19
2:00–4:00 PM · $250 per family/couple for the series
For: Expectant parents (partners welcome) – whether preparing for your first baby or expanding your family
Facilitator: Ayla Dunn-Bieber
Drawing from Waldorf early childhood principles, Preparing to Welcome Your Baby is a three-part prenatal series designed to support you in preparing not only for the arrival of your baby, but for the transition into life together as a growing family.
Across three conversational and experiential gatherings, you’ll explore the newborn’s experience and development, the developing relationship with your baby, everyday caregiving, and ways of creating support for your whole family during the earliest weeks and months.
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or expanding your family, this series offers space to prepare thoughtfully for the early months together.
HELD
A Postpartum Gathering for Parents & Babies (Birth–3 Months)
A weekly space for connection and support, with monthly enrollment. Join for one month at a time, with the option to continue into subsequent months while your baby is within the age range.
Thursdays · 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Facilitator: Ayla Dunn Bieber
October · 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29 · $228
November · 11/5, 11/19 · $114
December · 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 · $171
Each gathering offers a warm, welcoming space for you and your baby to come exactly as you are, settle in, connect with other parents, and bring the questions and experiences arising in these earliest months together – a place to land during this tender season of family life.
Rather than following a set curriculum, conversations will grow from the needs and interests of the group and might explore baby development, caregiving, crying, feeding and sleep, free movement and the senses, changing family relationships, older siblings, finding support, trusting yourself as a parent, or simply how things are going right now.
Fall 2026 Classes for Children and Caregivers
Classes for Toddlers
Little Squirrels with Ayla Dunn Bieber:
INDOOR/OUTDOOR MIX Join other parents, caregivers, and young children for a weekly class that celebrates the rich and busy years of early childhood. Through creative play, songs, outdoor time, and shared rhythms, children and adults alike will find opportunities for connection, learning, and community. In a supportive environment, we explore the joys and challenges that accompany this season of growth. Caregivers will be invited into discussion, observation, and handwork.
Mondays: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL!!
Ages:12 months to 30 months
Dates: 9/14, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7 (10 classes)
Make-up 12/14
Cost $680
Max: 6 families
Tuesdays: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL!!
Ages: 18 months to 36 months
9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8 (11 classes)
Make-up 12/15
Cost $748
Max: 6 families
Classes for Infants
Little Chicks with Ayla Dunn Bieber:
Join other parents, caregivers, and babies for a weekly class focused on observation, connection, and early childhood development. Enjoy songs, games, conversation, and a supportive community as we explore the wonder and challenges of early infancy together. Tea is served.
Mondays: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL!!
Ages : 3 months to Crawlers and Beginner Walkers
9/14, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7 (10 classes)
Make-up 12/14
Cost $570
Max : 7 families
BRIDGE TO PRESCHOOL CLASSES
Little Bunnies with Mina Rogers
Indoor/Outdoor Mix The Bridge class is a year long class, designed to prepare children who will be entering preschool the following school year. The fall session includes parents and children together. During the winter and spring sessions, the focus shifts to a teacher-led group for children. Parents will begin to step out of the room for short and then longer periods of time. In this slow and gentle manner, the children are given the opportunity to build their trust and confidence for their independence in a warm and supportive environment. A year-long commitment is highly recommended. Where space allows, new families may join the group for the winter and spring sessions. Please reach out to Heather Kono (hkono@gmws.org) with questions.
Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Ages: 26 months to 3.5 years old
Dates: 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 12/2, 12/9 (11 classes), Make-up 12/16
Cost $825
Max: 7 families
Fridays: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL!!
Ages: 26 months to 3.5 years old
Dates: 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11 (11 Classes)
Make-up 12/18
Cost $825
Max: 7 families
Fall 2026 Parent Education Classes
The Circle of Caring Group Weekly Connection & Support for Parents
Come as you are! Kick off your new week with great conversation with fellow parents! Each week, Mina will bring a topic to explore, while leaving space for the questions that arise as we navigate parenting in a fast-changing world. There may be guest presenters on some weeks. Bring your own drinks.
Mondays: 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. Drop-ins welcome!
Location: High School Atrium Room – Enter through the lower entrance. Turn left at the end of the hallway.
Facilitator: Mina Rogers
Cost: $20 at the door with the QR Code
Dates: 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
Parenting Together – A Monthly Coffee & Conversation
Parenting Together offers a relaxed, welcoming place to bring the questions arising in everyday family life. Each gathering grows out of what you’re actually experiencing at home, with conversation grounded in child development and practical, relationship-based approaches to parenting. Come once, come sometimes, come because something is hard right now, have coffee, think it through together. Bring a friend!
Monthly on Fridays: 12-1 p.m.: 11/6, 12/4, 1/8 (first Friday of each month)
Location: Threefold Café
Facilitator: Ayla Dunn Bieber
Cost: Donation-based (QR code provided)
Rhythm of the Morning
Everyone arrives and play follows. During the children’s explorations and play, we will have a simple nature craft for parents. This will help you to be good observers and allow the children to freely move about and interact with each other. The experienced group leader will be available to grownups and the children.
We will tidy the toys after some time together, then gather for a Morning Greeting and some finger games. Then we’ll join together for hand-washing and a simple snack. We’ll complete our morning with a nature walk before our joyful singing of goodbye.
What Children Do
Children in our classes…
- Explore a child-friendly environment that challenges and nurtures, with simple play materials.
- Delight in special attention given to support their unfolding interests, motor abilities, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience social interaction in play that stimulates their speech and language development.
- Engage with other children at their stage of development, while developing social capacities.
What Grownups Do
Grownups come and…
- Experience an environment that encourages the valuable exchange of ideas and information.
- Explore the value of observation in seeing and understanding what their children are doing and how they are learning as they play.
- Delight in the joy of sharing songs and games with their children that support speech and language development.
- Meet other grownups and find a community of sharing and support.
- Discover new tips for caregiving.
“Parenting is the development of an extremely vital relationship, the model for every future relationship our child will engage in.” Janet Landsbury
“It’s often hard to stay calm and carry on! We forget how little and vulnerable they actually are. Especially when our toddlers’ behavior is confusing, irrational, and frustrating to us.” Tovah P. Klein
Self-Initiated Play/Movement
“When you teach a child something, you take away forever [their] chance of discovering it for [themselves].” Jean Piaget, Psychologist, Genetic Epistemology, Child Cognitive Development Theory
Young children are geniuses at coming up with the best possible play/movement for their respective developmental stages. Let’s not take away their victory over gravity (standing, climbing, jumping, balancing) and mastering skills of various fronts, of body, mind, and soul. Our job is to get out of their way in their self-initiated play/movement while securing their safety and providing a rich and age-appropriate environment. When given trust and time to do it on their own, they learn the best, while building confidence and resilience.
Two ways we can encourage their play and imaginations to blossom…
1. Observe.
Tune in to their world and what they are experiencing. Wait before we bring our idea to them. To practice this, we have quiet observation time in class.
2. Do your work.
Children love to imitate us. Grownups quietly focused on their work create a mood that assures the children that all is well and that they are taken care of. It then draws their natural interest to imitate us, either outwardly by watching and helping us, or inwardly by echoing the focus in their own play. Better if our movements are visible and repetitive, such as the practical work of growing and preparing food, building and caring for the home. Today, our work is often done through devices and in our minds, which children cannot make sense of or imitate. We have to intentionally create such opportunities. In our class, we can model how our hands and bodies are productive. We make crafts, chop vegetables, collect acorns and kindling, tidy up, etc. We will work together to find creative ways to bring purposeful activities into our everyday life with young children.
Tuition Information
Younger siblings are welcome upon a discussion with the teacher. This is to ensure that both siblings have a successful experience in the group. Tuition for the second child is free until the child is 6 months old. We offer a 50% discount for accompanying siblings 6 to 12 months old and a 5% discount for those 12 months and older. All fees are non-refundable.
More Information
*Please note: For exceptionally inclement weather classes may be held in our Parent and Child classroom in the Lower School Building. Make-up days may be added in the event of weather related school closings.
More questions?
To be added to our email list for updates or if you have any questions, please contact Heather Kono in the admissions office at 845.356.2514 x326.