LifeWays® Early Childhood Certificate Program

Oklahoma, August 2024 - August 2025

This class is now fully enrolled for 2024-25
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Contact: Emilee Little, Student Services
Phone : 405.306.2224
Email: emileedlittle@gmail.com

For full information about this Training contact the Student Services Coordinator

LifeWays Oklahoma  – Schedule for 2024-25

The LifeWays Oklahoma Training is a full-year course, meeting four weeks during 2024-25 as follows. 

  • Aug 4-10 (7 days)
  • October 10-13 (4 days)
  • Mar 15-22 (8 days)
  • August 1-9 (9 days)

Applications are now being accepted and the class size will be limited.  Scholarships and financial aid are available.

Completing the LifeWays Training can open NEW Opportunities for you:

  • Childcare providers in homes and centers
  • Early childhood assistants, teachers and nannies
  • Parents and grandparents
  •  Parent-child teachers
  • Early Childhood Aftercare teachers
  • Homeschool parents.
  • Become the parent or early childhood professional you long to be.

LifeWays students learn from master teachers in 200+ in-class hours over a year’s time. Additionally, mentor-supported independent study enriches learning between sessions. The LifeWays curriculum is divided into four categories:

  • Human Growth and Development – based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner and others
  • Child, Family and Community – home health care practices, unique and beautiful handwork, gardening and meal planning, meaningful celebrations and festivals, self-care and more
  • Program Curriculum – deepening your classroom and in-home practices (artistic and practical, nature and nurture); fundamentals of establishing child care, parent-child, after-school and daily homeschool rhythms; and more
  • Living Arts – learn the Living Arts as developed by LifeWays and the keys to joyful, purposeful living through Practical Activity, Nurturing Care, Creative Exploration and Social Awareness

LifeWays students graduate with a renewed sense of joie de vivre in their daily lives. Strengthened by an amazing view of the developing human being, a lifted experience of personal growth, guidance in establishing successful programs and a sense of being grounded in the practical, artistic and nurturing skills, they tell us over and over again that this training was a life-changing experience for them.

“Today, as we went from painting to snack to working in the garden, I felt so grateful to have had my Lifeways training so I can support my child during these uncertain times. I’m so grateful for this network and the love and care we show for each other.” Amy Jo, LifeWays 2013-14

Housing and Childcare: While LifeWays does not directly provide housing or childcare, we are happy to provide applicants with contact information for local resources.

Meals: Snacks and daily organic hot lunches are included in tuition. Students provide their own breakfast and dinner

Your journey toward joy-filled and purpose-full living begins in August, 2024, won’t you join us in Oklahoma?

Contact the Student Services Coordinator to learn about the application process.

Core Teaching Staff

Cynthia Aldinger founded LifeWays North America in 2001.  Author of the book Life is the Curriculum and co-author of the book Home Away From Home: LifeWays Care of Children and Families, Cynthia has lectured and presented internationally and is pedagogical director for trainings and seminars across the United States.  She served fourteen years on the board of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America.  A former Waldorf Kindergarten teacher, Cynthia received her Waldorf teaching certificate at Emerson College in Sussex, England.  A mother and grandmother, Cynthia’s passion is the preservation of the playful spirit of childhood and helping to create home-like environments that provide the comfort, security and activities found in a healthy home.

Shanah Ahmadi completed her LifeWays training in 2007, the same year she began a home-based program named The Purple House. In 2010, The Purple House became a non-profit organization, which was renamed Rose Rock School. Rose Rock School became a LifeWays childcare center in 2015, when it relocated, outside of Shanah’s home, to a much larger property. Currently, Shanah is a lead caregiver and the administrator at Rose Rock.

Shanah loves getting to know the individual spirits of the people with which she works–children, parents, and colleagues. She cannot begin to count the ways that the many people she has worked with over the years have shaped her character and helped her to be a more loving, authentic, and dedicated human being. When Shanah is not at work, she enjoys biking, sewing, gardening, and having fun with friends and family.

Learn to create magical puppet shows for young children using silks, hand-made puppets and natural materials.
Learn songs and lullabies playing the lyre.
Learn watercolor painting for young children.

Join us!

Financial Aid is Available

We have funds available for students with financial need.  To apply, students should first apply to the training and then fill out the Financial Assistance Form on the website.

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What They Say…

  • Rhoda Kambandu
    “The journey through the training was incredible and life-changing. I can't believe how much I've learned this past year, but this made me realize how much more I can learn if I choose to (which I do!) I loved our ceremony and the sense of accomplishment it brought. What I loved most though, was meeting each of you wonderful people and working with you to create something beautiful and meaningful.”  Rhoda Kambandu

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