Building a Strong Foundation: Care of the Young Child’s Senses

We know that the strength of a building lies in its foundation. With high-rise buildings touching the sky these days, it has become all the more important to have powerful foundations. When we expect great things from a building, we know we have to lay the groundwork that keeps the building standing strong against the forces of nature.

Equally important is the foundation built for the child in early childhood development. We must ensure a strong foundation is created for all later learning to stand upon. If the foundation is not strong, the child may encounter difficulties in grade school, high school, or beyond. Scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner identified a framework of 12 senses that educators and parents can work with to support children’s development. The first four of these are called the Foundational Senses, and by supporting the healthy development of these senses in the early years from birth to age seven, we can help our young children build a strong foundation for life.