Infância Viva - Associação Jardim de Infância Internacional segundo a Pedagogia de R.Steiner

IInfância Viva Association is a Waldorf kindergarden open since more than 18 years located in the rural outskirts of Lagos, in the Barão de São João village. We are a recognized IPSS (private institute for social solidarity) with the main goals to contribute for the healthy and harmonious development of the children aged 3-6 years old through education, expanding the Waldorf education as a pedagogy capable of responding to today's educational challenges by UNESCO and contribute for social inclusion by welcoming children from low-income families. The idea of our Waldorf kindergarden started almost 30 years ago, when a group of families and educators joined hands to create a social project, where there was a sharing of ideas, initiatives, where tasks and responsibilities were distributed, in communication, commitment and organization, in order to create a healthy space for children. The project started to be implemented initially with german children that were living in the area of Lagos and soon expanded to the local portuguese children, eager to experience the new kindergarden concept. Between the years 1994-1999, this project grew with the territory, being part of the local initiatives and festivities. During the period 1999 - 2002, the Association's first statutes were prepared and approved in the General Assembly and the first governing bodies were elected. At the time, the Association strengthened a collaboration with the Municipality of Lagos being granted the space of the old primary school in Monte Judeu for its kindergarden. Simultaneously, it received the recognition of IPSS through a protocol with the Portuguese Social Security, which brough more challenges and responsibilities. In 2002 our kindergarden was officially inaugurated in the new space in Monte Judeu and its Educational project was officially approved by the Ministry of Education. Currently, the kindergarden has a capacity for 44 children aged between 3 and 6 years, divided into two groups, one of which has capacity for 20 children and the other for 24. The groups are heterogeneous and organized in such a way that there is a balance at various levels, namely ages, gender, nationalities, as well as children's temperament. This organization encourages older children to help younger ones and promotes opportunities for the performance of different tasks, providing the youngest children with the possibility of having examples to follow. In our kindergarden it is given preference to natural and aesthetic materials that privilege the sensory part and develop children's senses. The materials and toys are simple intentionally, thus leaving space for the child's own imagination and fantasy to develop. The Kindergarden consists of two activity rooms with the respective entrance halls, a multipurpose room, two bathrooms for children and two bathrooms for adults, a desk, kitchen, pantry and outside space. The spaces in the rooms are painted with natural pigments with the appropriate colors for this age group, allowing the children to be surrounded by the emotions of calm and affection that the color transmits. All materials used by children are natural, made of wood, wool, fabric, iron. The relationship that the child establishes between what lives inside him and the environment that surrounds the child is considered extremely important for child's development. Our pedagogical work is based on the educational principles expressed by the International Association for Early Childhood Education Steiner / Waldorf (IASWECE). Therefore, our regular activities include: - welcoming with loving interest and acceptance each child into our kindergarden - promoting of opportunities for playing, initiated with simple materials, as an essential activity for the child's development; - preparing the kindergarden spaces and environment in order to offer limits, structure and protection, as well as the possibility of risks and challenges for children; - encouraging the children's health