World Early Childhood Conference in Pictures

World Early Childhood Conference in Pictures

This year’s World Early Childhood Conference took place at the Goetheanum from April 8 to 12. With these 48 photos, we would like to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to all the contributors and participants from around the world.

Women as far as the eye can see: nearly 1,000 participants took part in the World Early Childhood Conference 2026. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

People from all over the world ...

also took in the beauty of the Great Hall. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li/PädSek/GG)

«Remember: fill in the leaves!»: Lourdes Tormes from IASWECE and Philipp Reubke from the Pedagogical Section, the main representatives of the two conference organisers, welcomed those present each morning with charm and humour. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

«Kindergarten: an Inivitation to Find
the Sacred in the Ordinary Daily Life»: Silvia Jensen, educator and puppeteer from Brazil, opened the conference’s lecture series with this talk. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

In his presentation, Philipp Reubke focused on the topic: «Kindergarten: Seeds for the Future
of Humanity». (Photo: PädSek/GG)

For his talk entitled «Sensing the Tipping Points: Protecting our Physical and Spiritual
Health», the tall Adam Blanning, co-head of the Medical Section and holistic doctor, knelt down to a small child’s eye level. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Anita Isla, an educator and teacher trainer from Chile, explored potential sources of resilience in her talk entitled «Creating Living and Meaningful
Spaces for Children and Educators in Challenging Times». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

«Steadfastness and Gratitude: Finding a Weaving Balance Between Being Highly Centred
and Deeply Connected»: The joint lecture by Clara Aerts (left) and Li Zhang will go down in the annals of the Pedagogical Section as the «Bamboo Lecture». (Photo: PädSek/GG)

«100 Years of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood» with Paula Levy, a founding member of the Brazilian «Faculdade Rudolf Steiner» and a trainer of kindergarten teachers (she will be interpreted simultaneously here by Constanza Kaliks, Head of the Pedagogical Section), and ...

Philipp Gelitz, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, as well as ...

Michaela Glöckler, former head of the Medical Section and paediatrician. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

The section leaders at the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum provided a fascinating insight into their work. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

All the presentations were simultaneously interpreted into German, English, Spanish, Chinese, Hungarian, Italian, French, Korean, Japanese, Russian and Czech by our dedicated team of translators. (Image: PädSek/GG)

The first day of the conference concluded with the evening performance of «Voix de passage», a musical comedy by the French group «Labotempo». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Where is my workshop? Which discussion group should I join? There’s a buzz of activity in front of the information desk. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Lively activity among the ladies behind the information desk too. (Photo: Päd Sek/GG)

The evening shift: A radiant flower at the information desk. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

3.15 pm: Time for the workshops. The two group leaders, Thomas Tirler (third from the right) and Marta Flôrencio, used coloured wool to explore the question: «How does the daily work of adults stimulate children’s free play?»

What does wool feel like? (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Blossoms ...

sorted by colour ...

were expressed artistically. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Being creative. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Being focused. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

And then standing in the west staircase, singing. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Getting a ticket for the guided tours in good time. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Give your head a break. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Anthroposophical architectural art: architectural tours were a necessity. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

‘Child art’: The remarks on the exhibition by Norbert Carstens, artist and educator (left), were listened to with great interest. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

And then, over and over again: dancing together to the music of the group «Labotempo» – ...

Folk dancing is a tradition –

an art form –

an expression of emotion –

and good for your health. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li/PädSek/GG)

The «Festival of Diversity»: these IASWECE fairies presented the highly coveted handmade dolls to the jubilant raffle winners. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

A close-up of two IASWECE fairies and a glowing leader of the Pedagogical Section. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Here, a delighted winner from Switzerland receives little Monay from Argentina. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Which child is playing with red-haired Irina right now? (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Early childhood educators from Chile sang Violetta Parra’s wonderful song «Volver a los 17». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Their journey to the Goetheanum took three days: the two educators from Rapa Nui (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Argentine folk dance (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Singing specialists in early childhood and a charming translator from the Czech Republic. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

A natural flair for rhythm: educators from South Africa (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Where’s Waldo? Among the many Hungarian experts on early childhood education, there was also one male expert. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Jacqueline Walter-Baumgartner, Philipp Reubke and Alexander Morawitz (right) had us in stitches time and again. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Does anyone remember what was in that parcel? (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

And then it was time to say goodbye at the Goetheanum once again! (Photo: PädSek/GG)