The Best Doctor for a Child

In Waldorf education, they say, “Sleep is the best doctor for children.” During sufficient sleep, any emotional knots that couldn’t be untangled during the day are gently resolved, and the child’s breathing becomes balanced once more. It’s not just Waldorf education; any parenting or health book will tell you that good sleep is fundamental to health. The key is whether it’s practiced.

Elderly adults cannot sleep well if they are troubled. However, children, even with tears welling up, fall asleep quickly. After a good night’s sleep, they wake up with a fresh face, having forgotten what made them cry. Sleep is healing. Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy and Waldorf education, said that sleep is a realm for healing and recharging, where we experience a higher dimension. For both children and adults, sleep is the best doctor.

sleep, healing, children