Prof. em. Dr. Rainer Patzlaff

since 2020 // Collaboration on a research project at the Freie Hochschule Stuttgart (Waldorf teacher training seminar) in Stuttgart, on the topic of “Language and Health”

since 2014 // Emeritus of Alanus University

2010 // Appointed full professor of Childhood Education at Alanus University 

since 2001 // Lecturer at the College for Social Pedagogy – Waldorf Kindergarten Seminar Stuttgart

Head of the IPSUM Institute, including training for early childhood parent counselors, research projects, public relations work, and education policy activities

2001 // Founding of the Institute for Pedagogy, Sensory and Media Ecology (IPSUM) Focus: upbringing and education in early childhood

1985 – 2001 // Lecturer at the Seminar for Waldorf Education Stuttgart (General Pedagogy, subject didactics for German and History)

since 1983 // Lectures and seminars in Germany and abroad

1975 – 2002 // Teacher at the Waldorf School Stuttgart-Uhlandshöhe

1975 // Second state examination

1973 // Doctorate (Dr. phil.)

1971 – 1974 // Research assistant at FU Berlin

1970 // First state examination

Studied German studies, philosophy, and Greek philology

Childhood between lockdown and digitalization.  In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 99 / 2022, pp. 7-22.

The child’s language development in the digital age. The hidden treasures of the spoken word. Published by the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Neustadt an der Weinstraße 2022 (reissued series Right to Childhood – a Human Right).

Language that promotes health. In: Matthias Maurer, Karin Michael, Tomás Zdrazil (eds.): Paths to Sustainable Health. When Medicine and Education Learn from Each Other. Verlag am Goetheanum, Dornach 2022.

Farewell to the IPSUM Institute. (Interview). In: Erziehungskunst 07/08 2021, pp. 39-40.

The word from one human being to another – a mystery. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz issues 95/2021 and 96/2021.

Does digitalized teaching secure the future of our children?  In: Jahrbuch Freie Waldorfschule Uhlandshöhe 2021, pp. 38-41.

The sphinx of the digital age. Aspects of a crisis of humanity. Stuttgart 2021 (Verlag Freies Geistesleben).

Christiane Diefenbach, Jennifer Schlecht, Jochem König, David Martin, Rainer Patzlaff, Martina F. Schmidt, und Michael S. Urschitz: School abilities of children with special medical care needs at the end of the first school year. Results of two cohort studies at Waldorf schools and traditional schools. In: RoSE – Research on Steiner Education, Vol.11 No.1 2020. ISSN 1891-6511 (online).

Language – the child’s elixir of life. Modern research and the deeper dimensions of the spoken word. (Interview). In: für uns. Das Magazin für mehr Lebensfreude. 2020 edition, pp. 27-29.

Rudolf Steiner and the “non-word” in 20th-century poetry. A supplementary essay to the book WORT(W)ENDE – The birth of modern poetry in the 20th century. Frankfurt/M. 2019 (info3 Verlag).

WORT(W)ENDE – The birth of modern poetry in the 20th century. Frankfurt/M. 2019 (info3 Verlag).

Learning to speak – a musical-sculptural masterpiece.  In: Erziehungskunst frühe Kindheit issue 4 / 2019, pp. 4-11.

Reverence for the child’s individuality – what matters in Waldorf education. In: Praxis Kita issue 55, March 2019: Educating toward freedom: Waldorf education.  Reprinted with minor editorial changes in: Margit Franz (ed.) Educational Concepts in Practice. Waldorf in Daycare. Klett Kita, Stuttgart 2022.

Youth language – a counterpoint to the child’s language acquisition. Part II: an inner perspective.  in: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz issue 87, 2019, pp. 48-60.

Youth language – a counterpoint to the child’s language acquisition. Part I: an external perspective.  in: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz issue 86, 2018, pp. 26-36.

United in protest at this moment. In: Das Goetheanum issue 44, Nov. 2018.

Christiane Diefenbach, Martina F. Schmidt, Jochem König, Rainer Patzlaff, Michael S. Urschitz: Psychometric Evaluation of the Preschool Health Examination at German Steiner Schools. Results of IPSUM, a Multicentre Cross-Sectional Validation Study. In: RoSE –  Research on Steiner Education, Vol.9 No.2, 2018 ISSN 1891-6511 online.

Janine Wendt, Martina F. Schmidt, Jochem König, Rainer Patzlaff, Michael Huss, Michael S. Urschitz: Young age at school entry and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms during primary school: results of a prospective cohort study conducted at German Rudolf Steiner Schools.  in: British Medical Journey Open 2018;8:e020820 http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmjopen-2017-02082

The living word in the triad of the first seven-year period. in: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz issue 85, 2018, pp. 5-18.

Language – the child’s elixir of life.  in: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz, issue 84, 2018, pp. 43-52.

The great attack on the self – spiritual backgrounds of modern screen technology.  in: Jahrbuch des Denkens – Zeitschrift der deutschen Kultur, no. 2, 2018: Media and consciousness. (heavily shortened reprint of a two-part essay in: Erziehungskunst 12/1984 and 1/1985).

Childhood in the pull of acceleration. Early school enrollment and Rudolf Steiner’s salutogenetic approach.  in: Erziehungskunst spezial January/February 2018, pp. 46-51.

Janine Wendt, Martina F. Schmidt, Jochem König, Rainer Patzlaff, Michael S. Urschitz: Health risks caused by education policy decisions.  in: Kinderärztliche Praxis vol. 88, issue 4, July 2017, pp. 239-242.

Language – The child’s elixir of life. Modern research and the deeper dimensions of the spoken word. Stuttgart 2017 (Verlag Freies Geistesleben).

Study on the school entry examination. New ikidS Waldorf project still looking for participants (together with Martina F. Schmidt).  in: Erziehungskunst 07/08-2017, pp. 50-51.

School entry and the health of our children. (Interview) in: Erziehungskunst March 2016, p. 37 f.

Childhood in the pull of acceleration. Opportunities and dangers of educational reforms using the example of the kindergarten–school transition in Germany.  in: RoSE – Research on Steiner Education Vol.6 / Special issue 2015 (online: www.rosejourn.com)

Less is more. (Interview) in: WirbelWind. Die andere Zeitschrift für den Still- und Erziehungsalltag, issue 3 / 2014, p. 14 f.

Serge Maintier (ed. by R. Patzlaff): Language – the invisible creation in the air. Research on the aerodynamics of speech sounds. Hamburg 2014 Verlag Dr.Kovac.

The early school enrollment campaign in the context of the education debate in Germany. In: Special issue on school readiness. Published by the Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum, Dornach 2013, pp. 3-11.

Empowered parents as a response to the crisis in education (Interview). In: Erziehungskunst 11/2013, p. 25.

School starting age and health development. A research project of the IPSUM Institute Stuttgart. Results of the interim survey of teachers and parents in grade 2. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 67/2013, pp. 40-47. Together with Martina Schmidt and Michael S. Urschitz.

Senseless sensory deprivation in childhood. TV babies and the consequences. In: CoMed, March 2013, pp. 90-92.

Why are Waldorf children not allowed to watch television? (Interview) In: Info3, February 2013, p. 59.

The frozen gaze. Screen media and child development. 1st edition of the updated and expanded new edition (7th overall edition). Stuttgart 2013.

Pedagogy, media and salutogenesis (Interview). In: Erziehungskunst 2/2012, pp. 38-41.

Toys should not be obtrusive (Interview). In: Waldorfshop, Summer 2011, pp. 46-48.

School starting age and health development. Interim report 2011 on the IPSUM Institute research project. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 57/2011, pp. 68-79. Together with Martina Schmidt and Michael S. Urschitz

Childhood – Education – Health. Waldorf education guidelines for childhood from birth to the third year of life. Educational Research Unit at the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools, commissioned by the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools and the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Stuttgart 2010. Together with C. McKeen, Ina v. Mackensen, Claudia Grah-Wittich

Health comes from within. In: 90 Years of Future. Anniversary report booklet 2009. Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools, Stuttgart 2009, pp. 30-33.

School starting age and health development. Interim report 2009 on the IPSUM Institute research project. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 51/2009, pp. 94-102. Together with Martina Schmidt

School starting age and health development. Interim report on the IPSUM Institute research project. In: Erziehungskunst 11/2008. Together with Martina Schmidt

Childhood – Education – Health. Waldorf education for childhood from ages 3 to 9 – educational goals, educational areas, educational conditions. 2nd edition. Educational Research Unit at the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools, commissioned by the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools and the International Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Stuttgart 2007. Together with T. Kardel, C. McKeen, W. Saßmannshausen et al.

Children seek truth – spirituality in education. In: Erziehungskunst 5/2007, pp. 559-560.

School starting age and health development. Interim report on the IPSUM Institute research project. In: Erziehungskunst 9/2007. Together with Martina Schmidt

How does health develop – consequences for education. In: Healthy school living environment – suggestions and development opportunities. Paderborn Teacher Training Center (PLAZ) at the University of Paderborn 2006, pp. 8-16.

School starting age and health development. A research project of the IPSUM Institute. In: Erziehungskunst 5/2006, pp. 531-543. Also reprinted in: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 38, August 2006, pp. 31-43. Together with Doris Boeddecker and Martina Schmidt

Parenting license – a teaching project of the IPSUM Institute in grade 12. In: Erziehungskunst 7/8, 2006, pp. 801-809.

Childhood – Education – Health. Waldorf education guidelines for childhood from ages 3 to 9. 2nd revised edition. Educational Research Unit at the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools, commissioned by the Federation of Independent Waldorf Schools and the International Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Stuttgart 2007. Together with W. Saßmannshausen

Between electronics and ecstasy – youth in the field of tension of our times. In: What are our children asking? What do we answer them? Kulturinitiative GLOBArt, Vienna 2005, pp. 47-70.

Endangered childhood – what makes children fit for the future? In: Weleda Hebammenforum 13, April 2005, pp. 19-26.

The frozen gaze. Eye movement blockage in front of the television and its effects on children.  In: CO´MED 1/2004, pp. 122-125 (Part 1) and 2/2004, pp. 123-125 (Part 2).

Early school enrollment and changing childhood – an interim report. In: Erziehungskunst 5/2004, pp. 515-522. Together with C. McKeen and M. Rawson

Learning to speak – no art for children??? In: Weleda Kinderwelt 4/2004, pp. 3-7.

How does health develop? Consequences for education. In: Erziehungskunst 9/2004, pp. 943-949.

The frozen gaze. Physiological effects of television and child development. 3rd edition. Stuttgart 2004.

Johanna Zinke: Air-sound forms – made visible. Language as the sculptural shaping of air. Edited by Rainer Patzlaff. 2nd edition. Stuttgart 2004.

The grasping of the self in the course of child and adolescent development. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 24, February 2003, pp. 7-16.

The self as a citizen of two worlds. In: Erziehungskunst 7-8/2003, pp. 816-825, reprinted in various school magazines.

Language as an artistic medium of education. In: Karl Gebauer/Gerald Hüther (eds.): Children need room to play. Perspectives for creative education. Düsseldorf and Zurich 2003, pp.55-75.

Pedagogy as health promotion. A salutogenetic joint project of the Waldorf movement. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 27/2003, pp. 43-45. Reprinted again in: Der Merkurstab 6/2003 and Erziehungskunst 12/2003.

IPSUM – an initiative for endangered childhood. In: Die Drei 8-9/2002, pp. 119-120.

Between appearance and being. Virtual reality and the life questions of today’s youth. In: Hans-Peter Merz and Hannes Tanner (eds.): Power of the computer – powerlessness of pedagogy? Opportunities and dangers of virtual worlds. Lucerne 2002, pp. 75-93.

Youth between appearance and being: the search for orientation in the pull of electronic media. In: Karl Gebauer and Gerald Hüther (eds.): Children seek orientation. Suggestions for meaning-giving education. Düsseldorf and Zurich 2002, pp. 85-109.

fit for television or addicted to television? Paths to self-determined viewing. In: Beiträge für eine bewusste Lebensführung in Gesundheit und Krankheit 165. Verein für anthroposophisches Heilwesen, Bad Liebenzell-Unterlengenhardt 2000.

Electronic media and the spiritual dimension of sensory perception. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 13/2000, pp. 5-10.

Language in the age of media. In: Medizinisch-Pädagogische Konferenz 9/1999, pp. 9-12.

Childhood falls silent. Loss and cultivation of language in the media age. In: Erziehungskunst 7/8, 1999, pp. 779-802. Shortened special print as issue 4 of the series „Right to Childhood – a Human Right“, published by the International Association of Waldorf Kindergartens, Stuttgart 1999.

Speech perception and school performance. Current research findings on dyslexia and preschool education. In: Erziehungskunst 10/1999.

Media in the Michael age. In: Das Goetheanum 37/1997, pp. 485-488.

A generation of Kaspar Hausers? The new illiteracy and its consequences. In: Erziehungskunst 2/1996, pp. 190-194.

Cyberspace and the human organization of self and senses.  In: Horst F. Wedde (ed.): CyberSpace – Virtual Reality. Progress and danger of an innovative technology. Stuttgart 1996.

The rescue of the senses – the task of our time. In: Erziehungskunst 5/1995, pp. 485-599 and 6/1995, pp. 626-639.

Aggression – “No one can absolve themselves of it” (Interview by Cornelia Händler). In: Vorhang auf! 24/1995, pp. 6-12.

Anthroposophy and media – incompatible? In: Gegenwart 4/1995, pp. 5-9.

Language decay and aggression. Spiritual backgrounds of violence and nationalism. Stuttgart 1994.

Development of the self or relapse into group-mindedness. Backgrounds of the problem of violence. In: Erziehungskunst 4/1993, pp. 404-426.

Loss and recovery of language in adolescence. In: Erziehungskunst 2/1992, pp. 106-122.

The nocturnal side of history teaching. Rudolf Steiner’s anthropological indications for shaping the subject and its methodology. In: The significance of rhythm in education. Contributions to Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogy, volume 2. Stuttgart 1992, pp. 70-96.

Welcome to the Machine (Interview by Klaus-Dieter Neumann). In: Computer und Medien, Flensburger Hefte, special issue no. 3, 1988. Reprinted in: Mensch und Computer, special issue no. 14, 1995; and in: Medienmagie oder die Herrschaft über die Sinne, third edition, Stuttgart 1999.

Perceiving and thinking – gateways to the world. Rudolf Steiner’s work for the cultural impulse of Central Europe. In: Erziehungskunst 2/1988, pp. 81-91.

Subliminal tapes – a new dimension of the media problem. From the numbing of the senses to subliminal personality control. In: Erziehungskunst 4/1988, pp. 241-258.

“The corpse of the alphabet rose from the grave” – death and resurrection of language in the 20th century. In: Reading in the anthroposophical book. An almanac. Forty years of Verlag Freies Geistesleben. Stuttgart 1987, pp. 27-59.

Screen technology and manipulation of consciousness. 2nd edition. Stuttgart 1987.

From analyzing to imagining. Developing artistic scholarship in literature classes. In: Erziehungskunst 5/1985, pp.305-315. Reprinted in: Christoph Göpfert (ed.): Youth and literature. Suggestions for teaching German. Stuttgart 1993, pp. 201-215.

The riddle of evil in our time. A contribution to Orwell Year 1984. In: Erziehungskunst 7/8 1984, pp. 421-434.

The great attack on the self. Spiritual backgrounds of modern screen technology. In: Erziehungskunst 12/1984, pp. 765-774 and 1/1985, pp. 5-12.

Change of consciousness and manipulation. A look at the times. In: Erziehungskunst 4/1983, pp. 205-215.

Otfrid von Weißenburg and the medieval versus tradition. (Hermaea. Germanistische Forschungen, Neue Folge volume 35) Tübingen 1975.

Eye and movement. In: Das Goetheanum  10/1965, pp. 78-79.