On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of Waldorf Education, Waldorf 100 and the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE) are pleased to present a film about early childhood today in the mirror of different cultures worldwide.

“Becoming…” is the third in a series of short films directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Paul Zehrer which provide insights into Waldorf Education in diverse cultural, social, religious and economic settings around the globe. 

No age has a deeper impact on the whole of life than the first years of childhood. “During those first seven years, children develop their bodily foundation for life. They explore and experience the world with their senses and through meeting the other. These early encounters in life have a deep influence and long lasting effect on the making of their own being,” says Clara Aerts, coordinating member of IASWECE and co-producer of the film, which was shot in the USA, Israel, Japan, India, South Africa, Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany. “The experiences that we make possible – or withhold – for our children at this age form the most elementary basis for their further lives and thus ultimately for the future of humanity.” 

“Becoming…” was premiered at the World Early Childhood Conference on “Inner Freedom – Social Responsibility”, which took place in April at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. 

The film is now available in English, German and Spanish. Click on the images below to view the films. The film is also available at You Tube: in English, in Spanish, in German.