Charlotte Mason vs Waldorf: Which Fits Your Family Best? {2026}

Many homeschoolers are drawn to the holistic and natural ways of teaching that the Charlotte Mason method and Waldorf method offer. But what are the main differences between these two methods? How do they approach learning, curriculum, and child development? Let’s explore Charlotte Mason vs Waldorf and discover their strengths and weaknesses.

Choosing the right homeschooling method for your family is one of the most important things you can do for your children. When my family first started homeschooling, we struggled to find a method that worked well for all of our children. There is a lot of trial and error involved.

When considering a homeschool style, it’s important to think about your child’s individual needs, learning style, and home environment to find the best fit for your own homeschool. Two very popular homeschooling styles, that I am going to give you all the details on, are the Charlotte Mason method and the Waldorf method of teaching.

The Charlotte Mason approach emphasizes nature study, living books, and narration, while the Waldorf approach emphasizes a holistic approach(or whole child approach) to creativity, nature, and child development.

I am going to compare and contrast these two methods, including their advantages and disadvantages, and also explore which method might be better for big-family homeschooling. I will even give some fun tips and ideas to incorporate both methods into your homeschooling schedule if that is something you are interested in.

If you are struggling to find the right homeschooling method for your family, keep reading!

Also, if you are considering the Montessori approach, developed by Maria Montessori, and its emphasis on independent learning, I highly recommend reading this post comparing the Charlotte Mason philosophy with the Montessori method, next.

This post may contain carefully chosen affiliate links to help support our homeschooling journey. Thank you for supporting my family through your purchases! You can read my full affiliate disclosure policy here.

Charlotte Mason’s Methods for Homeschooling

The Charlotte Mason method is a popular homeschooling approach that emphasizes teaching the whole child through a feast of subjects. It is more of a liberal education and very similar to a classical education.

There is a strong emphasis on nature and outdoor activities, as well as the use of living books and classic literature instead of textbooks.

In a Charlotte Mason curriculum, lessons are intentionally kept short, typically lasting 10 to 20 minutes and covering a variety of core subjects such as literature, math, history, and science. Following these brief lessons, children are encouraged to engage in narration, where they retell what they’ve learned through verbal storytelling, written summaries, or drawings, depending on your child’s age and level. This helps to develop their ability to focus, their comprehension skills, and their language skills.

In my homeschool, I have come to find that the Charlotte Mason method works wonderfully for our family and is the perfect fit. It enables us to weave nature walks and outdoor adventures into our daily schedule while nurturing my children’s love for the outdoors. Additionally, the captivating living books we use have kept my boys not just engaged, but truly excited about learning.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Charlotte Mason method that I have found.

Advantages:

Emphasizes nature and outdoor activities
The use of living books and high-quality literature makes learning more interesting and relatable.
Short lessons and narration encourage self-discipline and independence
Encourages critical thinking and creativity
Can be adapted to fit the needs of each child
Children can move at their own pace

Disadvantages:

Can be time-consuming to plan and execute lessons, especially when homeschooling children of multiple ages
Requires a lot of reading and research for the homeschooling parent
May not be a good fit for children who struggle with narration or reading comprehension
Can be challenging to keep multiple children engaged and on track during lessons

Pros and Cons of Big Family Homeschooling using a Charlotte Mason Education

If you have a big family, like mine, the Charlotte Mason approach is a great choice because it allows me to teach all of my children together for many of our subjects, which is a huge bonus. Here are some other pros and cons that I have discovered.

Pros:

Allows for flexibility in scheduling
Can be adapted to fit the needs of each child
Encourages independent learning, especially for older children
Emphasizes nature and outdoor activities, which can benefit children of all ages
Can be cost-effective, as many of the resources used are free or low-cost
It also works really well for teaching multiple children at the same time and combining lessons through the use of some really good living books

Cons:

Can be challenging to keep multiple children engaged and on track during lessons
Requires a lot of reading and research for the parent, which can be time-consuming
It can be difficult to find appropriate living books for children of different ages and reading comprehension levels

Overall, the Charlotte Mason method is a great option for families who value nature, literature, and independence in learning, while still looking for a well-rounded education.

Waldorf Homeschooling Method

waldorf style image of a little boy with animals in the forest

The Waldorf method is another very popular homeschooling educational philosophy. It is one that I have always found very intriguing.

The Waldorf philosophy of education is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. Waldorf education nurtures a child’s imagination through storytelling, fairy tales, imaginative play, and hands-on creative crafts.

The Waldorf education utilizes a main lesson block structure, where students study a single subject for several weeks. This approach integrates most of your homeschooling subjects into a single theme to encourage creative and hands-on learning and also aligns with your student’s developmental stages. This helps to create a complete understanding of their current curriculum.

It seems to me that the Waldorf method is a really great fit for children who love a lot of imaginative play, movement, and hands-on activities.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Waldorf Education

While I was never able to make the Waldorf method work in my own homeschool past the preschool and kindergarten level, I know that there are plenty of homeschooling families that do. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to this approach as well.

Waldorf Teaching Advantages:

Emphasizes arts and creativity
Focuses on child development and stages (Waldorf education is divided into three main stages, each corresponding to a different age group: Early Childhood (ages 0-7), Elementary School (ages 7-14), and High School students (ages 14-18). The curriculum and teaching methods are designed to be developmentally appropriate for each stage.)
Incorporates a daily rhythm that provides children with a consistent and balanced routine including outdoor play, creative arts, meaningful work, storytelling, and quiet rest times that support your child’s well-being and holistic development.
In a typical Waldorf homeschool, the day often begins with a morning circle that includes activities like singing songs, reciting verses, and simple movements to create a calm and focused start to the day.
Encourages imaginative play and hands-on learning
Waldorf children engage in open-ended play with natural materials, such as wooden toys or homemade playdough, to encourage imagination and problem-solving skills.
Can be adapted to fit the needs of each child

Disadvantages:

Can be challenging to find appropriate resources and materials, especially for older children, which was one of the main issues I came across.
Can be time-consuming to plan and execute lessons
Can be difficult to keep multiple children engaged and on track during lessons
The emphasis on a daily rhythm may not work for all families or children, especially bigger families with a lot of younger children who are not of school age (i.e. babies and toddlers)

Pros and Cons of Big Family Homeschooling with the Waldorf Method

Let’s look at some pros and cons of using the Waldorf homeschooling method with a big family.

Pros:

Holistic Development: Waldorf education emphasizes holistic development, which can benefit children of different ages in a big family by catering to their individual needs and growth stages.
Emphasis on Creativity: The Waldorf approach fosters creativity through arts, storytelling, and imaginative play, which can engage and inspire children of various ages together.
Hands-On Learning: Waldorf education incorporates hands-on learning, making it easier to involve multiple children in practical activities that promote experiential learning.
Flexibility: The Waldorf method allows for flexibility in pacing and content, accommodating the diverse learning styles and interests of children in a big family.
Nurturing Individuality: Despite its holistic approach, Waldorf education recognizes and supports each child’s unique development, which can be especially valuable in a big family where individual needs may vary.

Cons:

Time-Intensive: Implementing the Waldorf method can be time-intensive, which may pose a challenge for parents with a large number of children to educate.
Resource-Heavy: Waldorf education often involves creating artistic materials and lesson plans, which can be resource-intensive and challenging to manage for a big family.
Limited Standardized Testing: The Waldorf approach tends to avoid standardized testing, which may be a concern for parents who want to track their children’s academic progress more quantitatively.
Lack of Structure: Some parents may find that the Waldorf method’s lack of formal structure doesn’t provide the needed academic rigor, particularly for older children in a big family.
Parental Expertise: Implementing Waldorf effectively requires a deep understanding of its philosophy and methods, which can be demanding for parents, especially those with a large family and diverse needs.

Charlotte Mason vs. Waldorf Method Homeschooling

comparison chart about Charlotte Mason homeschooling method and waldorf homeschooling method

Both Waldorf and Charlotte Mason homeschooling methods offer unique approaches to education, focusing on holistic development and a deep connection with nature, yet they differ in their methods of implementation and educational philosophies. Let’s look at more of the similarities and differences now.

Similarities:

Both methods prioritize a holistic approach to education, considering the whole child – mind, body, and spirit.
They both use narrative learning to engage students and make lessons more meaningful. Charlotte Mason uses living books and Waldorf uses more storytelling and fairy tales.
Both methods place importance on forming good character and habits in children.
They both allow for individualized learning to cater to each student’s needs.
Both methods encourage the use of hands-on activities to enhance learning.
They both emphasize the importance of nature studies and outdoor exploration.
Both methods prioritize the use of living books and literature in their curriculum.

Differences:

Charlotte Mason encourages shorter lessons, while Waldorf emphasizes longer blocks of time for subjects.
Charlotte Mason has a more structured curriculum with specific subjects, while Waldorf has a more fluid and holistic curriculum.
Charlotte Mason places more emphasis on narration for assessment, while Waldorf schools provide descriptive evaluations that emphasize your child’s development.
In nature studies, Charlotte Mason’s method involves a scientific approach with nature journals, while a Waldorf education takes a more artistic and holistic approach, such as creating fairy gardens and nature tables.
Waldorf emphasizes art as a way for children to express themselves, while Charlotte Mason focuses more on the appreciation of fine arts through art study.
Charlotte Mason encourages independent learning, while Waldorf emphasizes group work and collaboration.
Finally, Charlotte Mason’s approach is more focused on the acquisition of knowledge, while Waldorf places more emphasis on the development of the child’s imagination and creativity.

While the main differences are the approaches to education there is certainly quite a bit of overlap in the areas that matter most. That is why I love both of these methods so much.

Which Method is Better for Homeschooling a Big Family?

Mother reading to her 5 children in a garden during a homeschooling lesson

We have already touched on this briefly but let’s take a closer look at both methods. Choosing the best homeschooling method for a big family can be tricky because naturally what works for one family may or may not work for another. It really depends on things like your kids’ needs and interests, your own teaching style, and in the end what’s important to your family.

The Charlotte Mason and Waldorf methods can both work really well for a large family once you know how your own homeschool works.

If your family likes structure and routine, the Charlotte Mason method might be a better choice. It focuses on short lessons and narration and can be customized to fit each child’s needs. However, it can be tough to keep all your kids engaged and interested, especially if they have different ways of learning.

On the other hand, if your family values creativity and imagination, the Waldorf method might be a better fit. It emphasizes things like arts and crafts, imaginative play, and hands-on learning and is a great fit for families with a lot of young children.

The most important thing is to find a homeschooling method that works for your size family.

You might have to try a few different things before you find the right fit. I have found that being flexible and willing to adjust our approach has been really important. So don’t be afraid to experiment and make changes until you find what works best in your homeschool.

How to Add Waldorf and Charlotte Mason into Your Homeschool Day

charlotte mason children vs waldorf child

There are so many good things to both approaches, that you may want to include a little bit of both methods into your homeschool. Here are some ideas to help you get the best of both worlds.

Start your day with a morning circle that includes songs, verses, and movements inspired by Waldorf education.
Use living books and narration techniques from the Charlotte Mason method to teach history, literature, and science.
Incorporate nature study into your homeschool curriculum using the Charlotte Mason method, but also add in imaginative play and nature-inspired art activities from Waldorf education.
Use a mix of structured lessons and free exploration time to balance the Waldorf and Charlotte Mason approaches.
Encourage creativity and imagination by incorporating storytelling, puppetry, and other artistic activities inspired by Waldorf education.
Use natural materials and resources in your curriculum, such as wooden toys, wool yarn, and natural art supplies.
Focus on building good habits and character using the Charlotte Mason method, but also incorporate spiritual and emotional development inspired by Waldorf education.
Use a gentle approach to discipline and encourage self-motivation, as both the Waldorf and Charlotte Mason methods emphasize.
Take advantage of the flexibility of the Charlotte Mason method to customize your curriculum to your child’s individual needs, while also incorporating the holistic approach of Waldorf education.

As you can see, both the Charlotte Mason and Waldorf methods offer unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to homeschooling. They share similarities such as a focus on nature, creativity, and the development of the whole child. However, they differ in areas such as structure, academic subjects, and age-appropriateness.

Conclusion

When choosing a homeschooling method for your family, it’s important to consider your family’s needs and priorities and to be willing to adapt and adjust your approach as needed. I strongly recommend trying out different methods and resources until you find what works best for your family. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support from other homeschooling families, including me- I am always just an email away.

Remember that the most important thing is to provide your children with a quality education that meets their needs and helps them to reach their full potential.

Charlotte Mason vs Waldorf: Which Fits Your Family Best?

Charlotte Mason’s Methods for Homeschooling