Prof. Dr. Philipp Gelitz
Junior Professor of Waldorf Early Childhood Education
Field: Educational Science, Early Childhood Education, Art Education and Waldorf Education / Department of Educational Sciences
Telephone: 0222293211523
Biography
Since 2023 Junior Professor of Waldorf Early Childhood Education
2022 to 2023 // Lecturer for Special Tasks in the Bachelor’s degree program in Early Childhood Education at Alanus University, focus on Waldorf early childhood education
2019 to 2022 // Doctorate (Dr. phil.) on the topic “Educational Quality in Waldorf Kindergartens and Waldorf Crèches” at the University of Passau, funded by a scholarship from the Waldorf Education Graduate School at Alanus University
2015 to 2018 // Degree program in Educational Practice Research (M.Ed.) at Alanus University in cooperation with RSUC Oslo, funded by a scholarship from the Foundation for the Promotion of Gifted Vocational Education (SBB)
2010 to 2021 // Group leader in an all-day group at the kindergarten of the Bildungshaus Freie Waldorfschule Kassel
2009 to 2010 // Substitute teacher in the nursery (under 3) and kindergarten (over 3) at the Bildungshaus Freie Waldorfschule Kassel
2008 to 2009 // Educator at the Waldorf kindergarten in Celle
2005 to 2008 // Training as a state-certified educator at the Rudolf Steiner Institute Kassel, including a final professional recognition year at the Raphael Waldorf kindergarten in Hannover-Bothfeld
Publications
Monographs and Edited Volumes
Gelitz, P. (Ed.). (2025). Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts. Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (Ed.). (2024). Fully in Life with Young Children. Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue. Weinheim/Basel: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (2022). Educational Quality in Waldorf Kindergartens and Waldorf Crèches. A Qualitative Empirical Study of Specific Quality Characteristics from the Perspective of the Adults Involved. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-658-40377-5
Gelitz, P., Strehlow, A. (2018). The Seven Life Processes. Foundations and Educational Significance in the Family Home, Kindergarten, and School (2nd edition). Stuttgart: Freies Geistesleben.
Gelitz, P. (2017). Understanding Early Childhood. Education in the Waldorf Kindergarten. Stuttgart: Freies Geistesleben.
Academic Articles
Gelitz, P. (2025). Introduction. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts. Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice (pp. 7-10). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (2025). “Black Box” Waldorf Kindergarten – On the State of Educational Research. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts. Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice (pp. 12-26). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Greubel, S., Gelitz, P. (2025). From Preschool Pedagogy to Holistic Education. Early Childhood Development in the Context of Early Childhood Education and Waldorf Education. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts. Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice (pp. 58-78). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P., Cebulla-Holzki, S. (2025). Waldorf Education and Social Change. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts. Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice (pp. 143-160). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (2025). On the Connectivity of Waldorf Educational Terminology. “…sometimes it still needs a bit of a shell…”. RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 16 (1), pp. 59-67.
Gelitz, P. (2025). Courage for Truth. RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 16 (1), pp. 103-112.
Gelitz, P. (2025). Being an “Artist of Education” – Critical Reflection on a Beautiful Term. RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 15 (2), pp. 10-17.
Gelitz, P. (2025). Meaningful Activity. RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 15 (2), pp. 80-89.
Gelitz, P. (2024). A Mind Full of Responsibility. In RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 15 (1), pp. 90-97.
Gelitz, P. (2024). Introduction. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Fully in Life with Young Children. Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue (pp. 8-11). Weinheim/Basel: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (2024). Safely Held in Beauty – Spaces for Children. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Fully in Life with Young Children. Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue (pp. 12-28). Weinheim/Basel: Beltz Juventa.
Michael, K., Gelitz, P. (2024). What Strengthens Children – for a Healthy Start in Life. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Fully in Life with Young Children. Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue (pp. 45-58). Weinheim/Basel: Beltz Juventa.
Bleckmann, P., Gelitz, P. (2024). Between Picture Book and Smartphone – Media Education and Young Children. In P. Gelitz (Ed.), Fully in Life with Young Children. Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue (pp. 75-92). Weinheim/Basel: Beltz Juventa.
Gelitz, P. (2024). What Constitutes Waldorf Educational Quality? A Research Report. Erziehungskunst – Early Childhood 2/24. pp. 36-40
Gelitz, P. (2023). Qualitative Findings on Educational Quality in Waldorf Daycare Centers. In RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 14 (2), pp. 79-100
Bleckmann, P., Gelitz, P., Streit, B. (2022). Strengthening Children in Life to Protect Them from Digital Risks – Resource-Oriented Media Addiction Prevention: Background and Results of the MünDig Waldorf Survey of Professionals and Parents. In Bleckmann, P., Denzl, E., Kernbach, J., Pemberger, P., Streit, B. (Eds.), MünDig Study Waldorf: Maturity and Digitalization in Daycare Centers and Schools (pp. 239-262). Alfter: Alanus University. ISBN: 978-3-00-071812-0
Gelitz, P. (2020). Sensory Development and Life Processes in Childhood. In A. Wiehl (Ed.), Study Book on Waldorf Early Childhood Education. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt/utb.
Gelitz, P. (2018). From the Waldorf Crèche to the Waldorf Kindergarten. Results of a Quantitative Empirical Study on the Factors of Successful Transitions. In RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol. 9 (2), pp. 79-89.
Gelitz, P., Baumgärtner-Schweizer, I., Möckel, L., Yapca, E. R., Sonntag, A. (2018). More Doubts About Practice. In Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, 5/2018, pp. 39-40.
Other Publications
We Are Responsible for the Children! Interview with Philipp Gelitz by Anna-Katharina Dehmelt. In Info 3, May 2026
Waldorf Kindergarten Education in the Context of Educational Science, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Spring 2026 issue
Creating Resonance Spaces, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Winter 2025 issue
How We Strengthen Children. Perspectives on a Contemporary Waldorf Early Childhood Education. Right to Childhood series, Volume 3. Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, 2025
Reflections on Dealing with Participation in the Past and Present. In Association of Waldorf Kindergartens (Ed.), Participation in Waldorf Early Childhood Education. Practical Guide (pp. 10-14), 2025
Creating Educational Pull. Interview with Philipp Gelitz by Anna-Katharina Dehmelt. In Info 3, February 2024
Ready to Get Digging – New University Field in Alfter. Online article on erziehungskunst.de / July 2023 https://www.erziehungskunst.de/artikel/bereit-zum-ackern-neuer-hochschulacker-in-alfter
Being a Child with All the Senses. Personality Development Through Real Experiences. Right to Childhood series, Volume 2. Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, 2023
Walking, Speaking, Thinking – Typically Human, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Issue 16/Autumn 2020
A Meaning-Full Start in the World, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Issue 14/Spring 2020
The Challenge of Toddler Education, in Lehrerrundbrief 110, March 2020
Role Model and Imitation, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, September 2017
Rhythm Carries into Life, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Issue 3/Spring 2017
Play, Not Stuff, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Issue 2/Winter 2016
Royal Children. On the Meaning of the Final Kindergarten Year, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, October 2016
Less Stress for Everyone, in Erziehungskunst Early Childhood, Issue 1/Autumn 2016
Learning to Take Hold of the Body, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, September 2016
The Seven Life Processes. Foundations of Learning, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, December 2014
The World Is Good, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, September 2014
“An Always Very Special Pain…”, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, April 2014
Education Through Attachment. Childhood Research Confirms Waldorf Education, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, March 2014
Education at Preschool Age, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, December 2013
Little Scientists in Kindergarten?, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, October 2013
The Logic of Facts Before the Logic of the Intellect. Waldorf Education and Technology in Early Childhood, in ZeT – Journal for Childminders, Issue 4/2013
Achieved Freedom. How the Young Child Acquires Basic Human Capacities, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, September 2013
Before the Concept Comes Comprehension, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, May 2013
Waldorf Education Is for Everyone, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, January 2013
The Breathing Day of the Young Child, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, January 2013
Media and Young Children – or Where Are the Musicians?, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, May 2012
Education Is More Than Technique; It Borders on Religion, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, February 2012
The Environment Educates the Children, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, November 2011
Only in the Here and Now, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, November 2010
What Keeps Children Healthy in Kindergarten, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, July 2010
Overcoming Hierarchies as a Necessity for the Healing of the Social Organism in Kindergarten, in Medical-Educational Conference, Issue 52, February 2010
Trained but Not Educated, in Erziehungskunst – Waldorf Education Today, February 2010
The Seven Life Processes, in Erziehungskunst, July 2009
Chronobiology in Educational Practice, in Erziehungskunst, January 2009
Lectures
July 2026: Aisthesis – Perspectives from Waldorf Education. Conference contribution at the Theory Working Group of the Early Childhood Education Commission of the German Educational Research Association at Alanus University.
June 2026: invited lecture: Waldorf Education Today and Tomorrow. Lecture at Alanus University Mannheim.
April 2026: invited lecture: Current Tasks and Challenges of Waldorf Early Childhood Education. Keynote as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Waldorf kindergartens at the conference “Kindness – Strength – Love: Seeds for a Healthy Unfolding” at the Goetheanum in Dornach (CH).
March 2026: invited lecture: Contemporary Waldorf Education. Lecture as part of the general conference of North Rhine-Westphalian Waldorf kindergartens in Dortmund.
February 2026: invited lecture: Impulses for a Contemporary Waldorf Early Childhood Education. Lecture as part of the regional general conference of the Northern Region of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Lübeck.
February 2026: invited lecture: Waldorf Education in the Present Day. Lecture at the regional conference of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland region, in Diez.
January 2026: invited lecture: Why Waldorf Education? Opening lecture as part of the 29th Medical-Educational Week of the Rudolf Steiner Vocational College and the Seminar for Waldorf Education Dortmund.
September 2025, together with O. Bilgi and I. Scheffler: Between Grief, Hope, and Resilience. Artistic-Educational
Explorations of Transformative Higher Education Teaching in Times of Crisis. Conference contribution as part of the conference “Educational Science and Sustainability – Working Through Resistance. Shaping Futures.” at the University of Cologne.
September 2025: Educational Orientation and Process Quality in Waldorf Daycare Centers. Conference contribution at the Empirical Research Working Group of the Early Childhood Education Commission of the German Educational Research Association at Alanus University.
September 2025: invited lecture: Being a Child with All the Senses. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten in Mechernich-Lessenich.
June 2025: invited lecture: Courage for Truth. Lecture as part of the Pentecost conference “Full of Life” of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Hanover.
May 2025: Sensory Appropriation of the World: Implicit Learning with the Whole Body. Conference contribution at the 5th INASTE Congress “Human Intelligence” in Vienna.
March 2025: invited lecture: Contemporary Waldorf Education. Lecture at the regional conference of Hamburg Waldorf kindergartens.
February 2025: invited lecture: Waldorf Education Today. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten in Dießen.
February 2025: invited lecture: Waldorf Education Today. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten in Sorsum.
October 2024: invited lecture: Learning with All the Senses. Lecture at the Waldorf school in Weilheim/Huglfing.
September 2024: invited lecture: Waldorf Education Today. Lecture at the Waldorf school in Halle/Saale on the 33rd anniversary of the Association for the Promotion of Waldorf Education.
May 2024: invited lecture: Meaningful Activity. Lecture as part of the Pentecost conference 2024 “Giving Meaning – Living Spirit” of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Hanover
February 2024: invited lecture: Rhythm in Family Everyday Life and the Significance of the Senses. Lecture as part of the event “macht Sinn!” organized by the association Zukunft gestalten e. V. at the Waldorf school in Rosenheim
February 2024: invited lecture: Waldorf Education in the Present Day. Lecture at the regional conference of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Lower Saxony/Bremen region, at the Bilohe Waldorf kindergarten
February 2024: invited lecture: Media Education. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten in Düren
November 2023: Contemporary Waldorf Education. Invited lecture at the sub-regional conference of Lower Saxony Waldorf kindergartens at the Freier Waldorfkindergarten Michael in Hanover
October 2023: “Black Box” Waldorf Kindergarten. On the State of Educational Research. Opening lecture as part of the public lecture series “Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Its Contexts: Perspectives from Scholarship and Practice” at Alanus University in Alfter
May 2023: invited lecture: A Mind Full of Responsibility. Lecture as part of the Pentecost conference 2023 “Idea of the Human Being – Being and Becoming” of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Hanover
March 2023: “Fully Engaged!” – Waldorf Education in Kindergarten. Short lecture at “didacta – the education fair” in Stuttgart
November 2022: invited lecture: The Academic Approach to Waldorf Education. Lecture at the general assembly of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in Frankfurt am Main
October 2022: Safely Held in Beauty – Spaces for Children. Opening lecture as part of the lecture series “Fully in Life with Young Children – Society and Waldorf Education in Dialogue” in HS 22 at Alanus University Alfter
June 2022: WHOLLY.BEAUTIFUL.MEANINGFUL – Waldorf Education in Kindergarten. Short lecture at “didacta – the education fair” in Cologne
March 2022: Educational Quality in Waldorf Kindergartens and Waldorf Crèches; Online lecture as part of the research forum “Research in the Context of Waldorf Education and Educational Science” at the 28th DGfE Congress ENT|GRENZ|UNGEN at the University of Bremen
January 2021: Analysis of the Expert Interviews – Methodology and Initial Findings. A Work-in-Progress in the Doctoral Project “Educational Quality in Waldorf Kindergartens and Waldorf Crèches”; Online lecture as part of the Waldorf Education Graduate School
June 2021: From the Theoretical Frame of Reference to the Qualitative Interview; Online lecture as part of the Waldorf Education Graduate School
September 2019: Two Opposing Directions of Development in Early Childhood. A Contribution to the Anthropology of Preschool Waldorf Education; Lecture as part of the Waldorf Education Graduate School
June 2019: On the Conceptualization of Educational Quality; Lecture as part of the Waldorf Education Graduate School
November 2018: invited lecture: Salutogenesis – What Keeps Children Healthy. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten in Cuxhaven
August 2018: invited lecture: The Breathing Day. Lecture at the Waldorf kindergarten seminar in Hanover for the Lower Saxony/Bremen region of the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens
March 2018: invited lecture: How Young Children Learn, event of the Waldorf kindergarten in Schwaigern at the Frizhalle in Schwaigern
May 2017: invited lecture: 30 Years of Freier Waldorfkindergarten Michael in Hanover, at Waldorfkindergarten Michael in Hanover
Current Research Project
Professionals in Waldorf Nature Kindergarten Groups – educational orientations and practical experiences
The empirical research project launched in 2025 on the orientations and experiences of educational professionals in Waldorf nature kindergarten groups builds on educational science discourses on educational quality and its dimensions. It examines which guiding motives educational professionals cite for choosing a forest group, farm group, or similar group formats with a specific Waldorf educational concept as their workplace, as well as which conditions for success they formulate in this field. To this end, interviews are being conducted that allow for an interpretive understanding of the relevance structures and attributions of meaning of the adults involved. In this way, the exploratory, field-opening qualitative study approaches the research field of the Waldorf nature kindergarten empirically for the first time. The findings are intended to provide insight into the dimension of orientation quality as well as practical knowledge and educational priorities (reported process quality) and practical experience with specific framework conditions (structural quality/team and leadership quality). The research project is driven by the hope of learning both what motivates educational professionals to commit themselves professionally in these institutions and which specific problems may arise in this field of practice.
