It was wonderful to all be reunited after the holidays! How capable and confident the children are at this time of the year!

We are noticing a growing capacity in the children’s language skills, physical skills and a richness of collaborative play. The children are growing and for the older children, in Steiner education, we call this time, the six-year-old transformation or change. It can be an amazing and tumultuous time in the life of a child and can be referred to as ‘The first puberty’, which gives a great deal of insight into the kind of behaviour you might expect during this time. Although it is called the six-year-old change, it usually happens between the ages of 5.5 and 7 years. Things are changing for your child; physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally. Their bodies are changing, their consciousness is changing and their connection to the world is changing.

The child of this age can feel things more deeply, becoming more sensitive to the words and actions of others. Feelings can be hurt and off-handed comments that may have been scarcely noticed a few months ago, can now really hurt. The child of this age also learn that they can trigger emotions in others. They may experiment with manipulation and exclusion and so it is our job to help guide this and hold the boundaries. Please check in with your child’s teacher as one day an incident or two can feel like the weight of the world to your child, and the next day, life might be beautiful again. They are looking to us as adults; ‘Do the same expectations still apply now that I have grown smarter and cleverer and the world is looking different?’ As adults, we continue to hold the limits with love and understanding, hold the steady calm rhythm and routine and the boundaries that have always kept them and others safe and secure. In Steiner Education, we acknowledge this time of change and know that while the children at this time can be highly emotional and deeply sensitive, we must keep our steadiness, and be their anchor. As teachers we let the children know that ‘those words hurt feelings’, ‘we all play together in Cassia’, ‘we bring our kind ways’. We identify the children’s need, name the emotions and give clear, simple words on how to be kind and appropriate and do what is right. We find compromises and solutions. Sometimes it is hard but these are crucial lessons to learn for a healthy social environment.

I have some great articles on the ‘Six-year-old change’. Please ask for one if you would like to do some reading.

Parent Talk - The 6-year-old change: Thursday 31st October, at 3.15pm

With this in mind, we are offering a talk to all Cassia parents and any one interested in this time in a child’s life. The talk is called ‘The 6-year-old change’ and will be given by Susanne Doecke on Thursday 31st October, at 3.15pm in the Cassia 1 classroom. Many of you may remember Susanne, she has worked extensively with children of this age, as our beloved Cassia teacher of 15 years, leaving only last year to further her studies in Play Therapy.

With warm wishes,

M’Lis

Class 7 Canteen