The Official Website for The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

kids on play structure

Heart In Hand Preschool, Portland Oregon

color bar

About WECAN

The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) was founded in 1983, originally under the name of the Waldorf Kindergarten Association of North America. Our administrative office is in Spring Valley, New York. WECAN works very closely in collaboration with its sister organization, the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). WECAN is also a Full Member Association in the International Association for Steiner/ Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE), based in Dornach Switzerland.

WECAN’s mission is to foster a new cultural impulse for the work with the young child from pre-birth to age seven. Based on an anthroposophical understanding of human development, WECAN is committed to protecting and nurturing childhood as a foundation for renewing human culture.

Membership in WECAN is open to early childhood programs, birth to three programs, kindergartens, child care centers, home programs, and teacher training centers committed to the ideals and practices of Waldorf early childhood education, and to individuals who wish to support and contribute to Waldorf early childhood education in North America.

WECAN is a tax-exempt non-profit organization.

Registered Trademarks
The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America is the steward of the trademarks, also referred to as service marks, WALDORF, RUDOLF STEINER, STEINER, and WALDORF INSPIRED, registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

boys in playhouse
Honeybirds Playschool, Brooklyn, NY

Join Us!

Individuals who wish to support and contribute to Waldorf early childhood education are invited to join WECAN. Schools, training centers, and home programs may also enter on the path of organizational membership.

Find A Program

teachers outside

Waldorf kindergartens and early childhood programs in North America: see if there is a program in your area.
Find a program >


Join the WECAN Community Hub

We have established a new WECAN Community Hub for engaging in conversation and sharing resources, with subgroups for Parent Child, Birth to Three, Home Programs, Early Childhood Teacher Educators, and WECAN Organizational Members.

We now have 1000 members and would like to invite you to join as well.

To subscribe, please write to
WECANCommunity+subscribe@wecan.groups.io



Subscribe to the WECAN Newsletter

Never miss an update!
Subscribe to the WECAN Newsletter today >

Donate to WECAN

Support the healthy and sustainable development of Waldorf education in North America