The Sense of Self Movement
Join Chinyelu Kunz and Molly Brett as they talk about the Senses. Waldorf Education addresses healthy human development from many perspectives and points of view and knowledge of the 12 senses are critical to understanding healthy human development. One of Rudolf Steiner’s many contributions is the understanding that we actually have 12 senses and after birth, they all require further development. Not only do the senses unite the inner and outer world in each one of us but they also make it possible for us as individuals to interact with others in healthy ways as well as be fully grounded in our bodies. It takes a long time for the senses to develop and there is a scaffolding of sorts that takes place as the Foundational, Middle and then Higher senses develop from birth to age 21. The development of the 4 Foundational senses, which are the Sense of Touch, the Sense of Life, the Sense of Self Movement, and the Sense of Balance, takes place during the time from birth to 7 and their healthy development is critical to the further development of the other senses. Join us as we begin the journey to understanding the 4 foundational senses. The Sense of Self Movement The Sense of Self Movement also known as Proprioception, informs us of where our body is in relation to one another - how? by the contracting and stretching of muscles and by compression of the joints. It also gives us a sense of our orientation in space. Proprioception is our body’s awareness of our muscles and joints. When we move our body, information about where our body is in space is made aware to us on a physical level. As Waldorf Early Childhood teachers, we recognize that young children need more movement - self-directed movement. More self-directed movement not only strengthens the young child’s proprioceptive sense but also speech development because there is a connection between speech and movement. Children who have lots of time for movement - several hours each day - often have fewer speech problems. As Waldorf Early Childhood teachers, we are also finding that children are spending more and more time watching television, using computers, iPads, and iPhones and that these experiences diminish their opportunities to play freely inside and outside. Supporting your young child’s movement development right from infancy, as they learn to roll over, sit, crawl walk, run and climb, supports them in their development as they build on their ability to speak, read, write, and beyond. Self-movement is essential to the young child’s developing body. Join us as we explore the Sense of Self Movement, ways to strengthen it as well as what gets in the way, and what signs to look for when your child needs support.
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