This course will be taught remotely in real-time. Read all about Summer Series 2026.

Open to everyone, including current and prospective early childhood educators, parents, grandparents, and caregivers.

Join us for a wondrous journey! In this comprehensive course, you’ll explore the essential elements of Waldorf early childhood education. Through the guidance of highly experienced Waldorf early childhood educators you’ll delve into child development; learn about rhythms, transitions, and the cycle of the year; explore the importance of play; examine the inner development of the teacher; experience circle time activities, lessons in handwork, art, and movement, and the essentials of a morning in a Waldorf early childhood setting; and develop a true practical understanding of Waldorf early childhood education. A perennial Sunbridge summer favorite, this rich and extensive course has launched many early childhood careers.

Co-Instructors

Motria Shuhan is the founder/director of Acorn Waldorf School in Accord, NY, where she serves as lead teacher in the Oaks Mixed Age Kindergarten. She also serves as a faculty member and mentor in Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program. Prior to founding Acorn, she spent nine formative years at the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, working in the nursery and kindergarten and serving as pedagogical chair for three years. With a special interest in the art of puppetry, Motria has staged shows for conferences, festivals, and other community events. She completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Course for Early Childhood Educators in Denver and her Waldorf Early Childhood training at Sunbridge College.

Rie Seo teaches kindergarten at The Waldorf School of Garden City; she is also a member of Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education faculty. Before joining the WSGC faculty, Rie served as the aftercare lead teacher at New Amsterdam School. She also led nursery and parent/child programs at a Waldorf-inspired Japanese Saturday Program in Brooklyn and was the founder and lead teacher for outdoor Waldorf-inspired parent/child classes in Queens. Rie earned her BA in drama from Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan; her MFA in theater design from NYU Tisch School of the Arts; a certificate in early childhood education from LifeWays; and a diploma in Waldorf early childhood teacher education from Sunbridge.

Meggan Gill joined Sunbridge’s administrative team in 2021 as our director of education and organizational culture. She is also a member of Sunbridge’s Early Childhood and Elementary program faculty and in summer 2025 was named co-director of WECAN. A member of Alma Partners and a specialist in diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as Waldorf early childhood education, Meggan’s teaching experience includes serving on the faculty of the Brooklyn Waldorf School from 2009-2020, where she led parent-and-child and kindergarten classes and was active on the Faculty Council. Prior to joining BWS,  she taught kindergarten at the Olympia Waldorf School and parent-and-child and nursery classes at the New Amsterdam School. Meggan, who originally hails from the Pacific Northwest and is a certified yoga teacher, earned her undergraduate degree in health sciences from The Evergreen State College and her certificate in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge.

Participants who took this course previously had this to say:

• Amazing. This is one of the best courses I’ve taken in my life.
• I am beyond grateful.
• The class was a fun mix of lecture, break-out groups and experiential learning.
• It was well structured, the faculty was exceptional and held each class with knowledge, joy and humor. I appreciated the opportunity we were given to be broken into groups, discuss topics and get to know more about the participants.
• I found the topics engaging, loved the puppetry and am thankful for the library of music!
• I really enjoyed attending lectures and the articles that were provided for homework. It was great to dive right in and begin learning more about Waldorf EC. I found everyone to be very passionate and present in the program. I found that I got something out of every class.
• It was an incredibly insightful and grounding experience.
• Not only am I walking away with tools in my pocket, but with a growth and awareness in myself that I was not expecting.
• I have never met a teacher who in five days would be able to change a group of strangers in such a profound way.
• I really enjoyed Motria’s way of sharing information, her patience and fluid way of moving through topics. It is clear that she is very passionate about her work and enjoys sharing that with others. 
• I loved Rie’s ability to bring you into the work (regardless of it being on zoom.) She is clearly passionate and I enjoyed her lessons.
• Meggan’s class was so helpful and insightful. There were so many things about circle time that I didn’t fully understand and this course really helped me learn. I really appreciate the openness, humor and warmth that she brings to the class.
• The entire course was so nourishing and fulfilling. It gave me more than I ever expected. I would suggest this course to all teachers and parents interested in deepening their knowledge in Waldorf EC education. It was truly eye-opening.

Schedule

This course takes place July 19-24 in a synchronous online classroom. ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN (NY) TIME ZONE

Sunday evening
Classes begin. Specific timing will be noted in your schedule.

Monday-Thursday
9:45 am-9:55 am: Log in for technical check and attendance
Sessions take place between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm (including breaks and lunch)

Friday
9:45 am-9:55 am: Log in for technical check and attendance
Final session takes place from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Note: You should be prepared to work on course-related assignments outside of your regularly scheduled instructional sessions (including some that may be assigned in advance). A complete schedule will be sent two weeks before your course start date, along with a list of materials you will need to procure for your handwork classes.

Cost 
$645 includes all resource materials, yearlong access to your Google Classroom, and a $55 non-refundable registration fee

25% discount for:

• Students currently enrolled in a Sunbridge teacher education program
• Sunbridge program graduates
• Payments made in Canadian dollars

Accounts must be in good standing and discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW 

NOTE: If you need to request that your school administrator registers you, please instead fill out this Professional Development request form.

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.