Waldorf Homeschool Supplies: What You Need for Kindergarten and Grade 1
Less than the catalogues suggest. For kindergarten: beeswax block crayons, modelling beeswax, watercolor paints and heavy paper, a small basket of wool and felt. For grade 1, add main lesson books, stick crayons, wooden knitting needles and wool, and a pentatonic flute or recorder. Most of it lasts for years, and much of it you can make.
Waldorf kindergarten needs only a few things. Beeswax block crayons and a small box of modelling beeswax. Watercolor paints with heavy paper and a brush. A basket of wool and felt for small hands. For grade 1, you add main lesson books and beeswax stick crayons, a pair of wooden knitting needles with some pure wool, and a pentatonic flute or a recorder. That's the whole core list. Almost everything else in the catalogues is nice to have, and most of what you buy this year will still be in use in two or three years.
Below is the short list for each age, what you can happily leave out, where to buy, and how to keep the cost down.
What supplies do I need for Waldorf homeschool kindergarten?
A Waldorf kindergarten day is mostly play, a story, songs and one small activity, so the supply list is short. The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America lists natural materials, handmade playthings and beeswax crayons among the essentials of a Waldorf early childhood setting, with watercolor painting as a typical activity. At home that comes down to five things.
Beeswax block crayons. A set of 8 blocks. Your child can hold the block on its side and lay down wide areas of color.
Modelling beeswax. Thin sheets of colored wax that soften in warm hands. A small box of 6 colors is enough to start.
Watercolor painting things. Three colors of liquid watercolor (a yellow, a red and a blue) and one wide soft brush. A pad of heavy watercolor paper, a sponge, a few glass jars, and a smooth board or tray to lay the wet paper on. Our guide to wet-on-wet watercolor explains the painting itself.
A handwork basket. Lavender's Blue suggests a little basket with a small ball of yarn, felt scraps and a bit of wool roving. Children can begin finger knitting and simple sewing around 5 or 6, as an invitation to join you, not a lesson.
Simple playthings. Cloths, wooden pieces, pinecones and shells from walks. You likely have most of this already. There are no workbooks, letter cards or number charts on this list, because a Waldorf kindergarten doesn't teach formal letters or numbers. Our article on Waldorf kindergarten at home has a sample day.
What are the essential Waldorf homeschool materials for grade 1?
Grade 1 keeps everything from kindergarten and adds the tools for main lessons, handwork and music.
Main lesson books. Large books of blank, unlined pages. Your child fills one for each block with drawings and, as the year goes on, words and numbers. One Waldorf class teacher ordered 5 sets for her class's first grade year. You can buy them or make your own from heavy paper folded and stitched. More on how they're used in what are main lesson books.
Stick crayons, alongside the blocks. A set of 8 Stockmar sticks sits next to the 8 blocks. The blocks still do the broad color; the sticks give a finer line for letters, numbers and details. Both appear on most grade 1 lists, including UK Waldorf Home Education's.
Paper for form drawing and practice. Form drawing starts in grade 1, and it uses a lot of paper before anything goes into the main lesson book. Art of Homeschooling suggests inexpensive manila drawing paper for practice and notes that paper can be one of the biggest costs. Our form drawing guide shows how a session runs.
Painting paper and a board. Watercolor paper of about 140 lb (300 gsm). Lighter paper buckles and pills when it's wet. The board can be a melamine cutting board or a tray a little bigger than the paper.
Beeswax. The same modelling beeswax as kindergarten. It stays on grade 1 class lists too, so there's nothing new to buy.
Knitting needles and wool. Knitting is the main grade 1 handwork, and the first projects are small useful things and little toys. One pair of wooden needles and 2 or 3 balls of fairly bulky, pure wool is enough to start. Wooden needles and wool grip each other just a little, so stitches stay put while small hands learn. Many teachers begin with finger knitting and winding wool into balls before the needles come out.
A pentatonic flute or a recorder. UK Waldorf Home Education lists a wooden pentatonic flute or a soprano recorder for classes 1 and 2, with the recorder for class 3 on. A pentatonic flute plays only the notes of a five-note scale, so whatever your child plays sounds gentle. You don't need it before the first music lesson, so there's no rush.
What's nice to have but not needed?
These turn up on many supply lists and in lovely photos. None of them is needed to start.
- Colored pencils. Art of Homeschooling suggests them from about age 9. Lyra and Stockmar make thick ones for small hands when the time comes.
- A large wall chalkboard. UK Waldorf Home Education marks it optional. A small board or a big sheet of paper on the wall works for drawing forms and letters large.
- A glockenspiel. Beautiful, and one of the dearer music items. A flute or recorder covers music in grade 1.
- 16-color crayon sets and full paint sets. Eight colors of crayon and three of paint do everything a young child needs.
- Silks, play stands and wooden figures. Lovely for play. A few cloths and what you gather outdoors do the same work.
How much do the supplies cost?
These are prices we saw on the sellers' own pages on 27 September 2026. They change, so check before you buy.
| Item | Price | Seller |
|---|---|---|
| Stockmar beeswax crayons, 8 blocks (Waldorf mix) | $21.00 | Bella Luna Toys; also $21.00 at A Child's Dream |
| Stockmar beeswax crayons, 8 sticks (Waldorf mix) | $21.00 | Bella Luna Toys |
| Stockmar modelling beeswax, small (6 colors) | $21.99 | Bella Luna Toys; $22.00 at A Child's Dream |
| Stockmar watercolor paint, single 20 ml jar | $10.00 | Bella Luna Toys |
| Waldorf watercolor paper, one pad | $18.00 | Bella Luna Toys |
| Wooden knitting needles, one pair | from $9.00 | A Child's Dream |
| Choroi Quinta pentatonic flute | CA$175.00 | Nest (Canada) |
| Choroi Quinta pentatonic flute | €79.00 | Waldorfshop (Europe) |
The flute is the single biggest item on the list, and a soprano recorder is a gentler start on the budget. For the full picture of a year, including curriculum, see how much Waldorf homeschooling costs.
How to keep Waldorf supplies affordable
Buy three jars, not a set. For grade 1 and before, a yellow, a red and a blue are enough. Stockmar paint is concentrated, so a little from a 20 ml jar, mixed into a jar of water, goes a long way.
Use cheap paper for practice. Save the heavy watercolor paper for painting and the main lesson book for finished work. Manila or plain drawing paper is fine for practising forms and letters.
Make the knitting needles. Cut a wooden dowel into two lengths of about 10 inches and sharpen one end of each in a pencil sharpener. Sand them smooth, then rub them with beeswax on a cloth. A bead, an acorn cap or a ball of clay on the other end stops the stitches sliding off. Some children make theirs with a parent, which becomes part of the handwork itself.
Share. Art of Homeschooling suggests one supply basket per child, or one shared between two children if the budget is tight. Brothers and sisters close in age can share paints, beeswax and a board.
Buy for the block in front of you. You don't need a whole year's supplies in September. If you use Starpath for grades 1 to 3, you can buy one block at a time for $19, so you only buy materials for the block you're about to teach.
Look locally. Art shops often carry heavy watercolor paper, wide brushes and wool, and secondhand shops turn up baskets, jars and cloths.
Where can I buy Waldorf homeschool supplies in my country?
In the United States, Bella Luna Toys and A Child's Dream carry Stockmar crayons and beeswax, watercolor paper and knitting supplies. In Canada, Nest sells main lesson books, Stockmar crayons, modelling wax, pentatonic flutes and plant-dyed knitting wool.
UK Waldorf Home Education points UK families to Conscious Craft and Myriad, and Waldorfshop sells main lesson books, Stockmar crayons and pentatonic flutes across Europe. Wherever you live, a local art shop is worth a look for paper and brushes, and a yarn shop for pure wool.
Start with the short list, set out a basket for each child, and add the rest as the year asks for it.
Related reading
Sources
- Art of Homeschooling: Setting Up Your Waldorf Homeschool Environment, Step 6 of 6
- UK Waldorf Home Education: Resources
- A Waldorf Journey: Waldorf First Grade Supplies
- WECAN: Waldorf Early Childhood Education
- Waldorf Resources: Handwork and Crafts (vertical curriculum)
- Lavender's Blue Homeschool: Handwork Through the Years
- The Wonder of Childhood: The First Grader Makes Knitting Needles
- Switzerite: Wool Yarn for Waldorf First Grade
- Bella Luna Toys: School Supplies (prices checked 27 September 2026)
- A Child's Dream: Waldorf First Grade (prices checked 27 September 2026)
- Nest: Waldorf Grade 1 (prices checked 27 September 2026)
- Waldorfshop: School Supplies (prices checked 27 September 2026)
Frequently asked questions
+Do I need Stockmar crayons for Waldorf homeschooling?
You don't need them, but they're on almost every Waldorf supply list, and a set of 8 blocks lasts a long time. Many teachers like the block shape for young children, who can lay down broad areas of color with its side. If Stockmar is out of reach, any beeswax block crayon will do. One set of 8 blocks and, from grade 1, one set of 8 sticks is plenty for one child.
+What watercolor supplies are used in Waldorf homeschool?
Liquid watercolor paint (Stockmar is the usual brand) and one wide soft brush. Heavy watercolor paper, around 140 lb or 300 gsm. A smooth board or tray to lay the wet paper on, a sponge and a few small glass jars. For kindergarten and grade 1, the three primary colors are enough: a yellow, a red and a blue. Our guide to [wet-on-wet watercolor](/library/what-is-wet-on-wet-watercolor) walks through a first painting.
+What handwork supplies are needed for Waldorf homeschool?
For kindergarten, a small basket with a ball of yarn, some wool roving and felt scraps is enough, and children can begin finger knitting around 5 or 6. For grade 1, add one pair of wooden knitting needles and a few balls of fairly bulky, pure wool yarn. Wooden needles and wool grip each other a little, which helps small hands. You can make the needles from a dowel at home.
+Do I need a pentatonic flute or a recorder in grade 1?
Either works. UK Waldorf Home Education lists a wooden pentatonic flute or a soprano recorder for grades 1 and 2, and the recorder from grade 3. A pentatonic flute is one of the dearer items on the list, so if the budget is tight, a soprano recorder and simple songs is a reasonable start.
+Where can I buy Waldorf homeschool supplies in my country?
In the US, Bella Luna Toys and A Child's Dream both carry Stockmar crayons, beeswax and painting supplies. In Canada, Nest sells main lesson books, crayons, flutes and knitting wool. UK Waldorf Home Education suggests Conscious Craft and Myriad for UK families, and Waldorfshop sells across Europe. Local art shops often have heavy watercolor paper and brushes for less.
+How much do Waldorf homeschool supplies cost in the first year?
It depends on how much you buy new and how much you make or borrow. A few of the core items cost around $20 each in the US: a Stockmar set of 8 block crayons was $21.00 at two sellers when we checked. Our article on [what Waldorf homeschooling costs](/library/how-much-does-waldorf-homeschooling-cost) breaks down supplies alongside curriculum.
Related questions
How Much Does Waldorf Homeschooling Cost Per Year?
Realistic full-year cost ranges from about $400 (free curriculum plus minimal supplies) to $2500 (premium curriculum plus enrichment). Most families spend $700 to $1500 per child per year. Curriculum is usually $200 to $700, supplies $150 to $300, with optional add-ons like coaching, classes, or co-ops on top.
Read answerWhat Are Main Lesson Books in Waldorf Education?
A main lesson book is the book a Waldorf child makes by hand for each main lesson block. It starts blank, and the child fills it with their own writing and drawings about what they learned. A typical year fills 6-10 of them. By grade 8 a Waldorf student has a shelf of main lesson books, and many keep them for life.
Read answerWhat Is Wet-on-Wet Watercolor in Waldorf Education?
Wet-on-wet watercolor is the distinctive Waldorf painting technique. Paper is wet first, then watercolor is applied with a wide brush, allowing colors to flow and blend organically. Children paint experiences of color (red is bold, blue is calm) before learning color theory. Used weekly from kindergarten through middle school to develop color sense and confidence.
Read answerWhat Is Form Drawing in Waldorf Education?
Form drawing is a Waldorf practice introduced in grade 1 where children draw lines and forms freely on paper. It develops handwriting readiness, spatial awareness, fine motor coordination, and the foundation for geometry. Forms progress from simple lines in grade 1 to complex symmetrical patterns in upper grades. Practiced through grades 1-8.
Read answerWaldorf Kindergarten at Home: A Simple Day, Week and Year
Waldorf kindergarten at home is mostly a rhythm, not lessons. Each day holds a short circle of songs and verses, long free play, one story told for a week or more, and one activity such as painting or baking. The seasons and festivals shape the year. There are no formal letters or numbers. It lasts until the 7-year change, when grade 1 begins.
Read answerWaldorf Toys and Play at Home: What to Choose and How to Set Up
Waldorf toys are simple, open-ended playthings made mostly from wood, wool, silk and cotton. They have little detail, so a child's imagination does the rest. A few blocks, cloths, a simple doll and a basket of pinecones can be a boat, a shop and a castle in one morning. At home you need fewer toys than you think, a low shelf, and some you swap in and out.
Read answerHow to Teach a Child to Knit the Waldorf Way
Start with finger knitting around 5 or 6, then bring out needles in grade 1, as many Waldorf schools do. Use thick wooden needles (or make them from a dowel) and fairly bulky pure wool. Cast on for your child, teach the stitch with a short rhyme, keep sessions to 20 or 30 minutes, and let the first project be something small and loved.
Read answerLooking for a Waldorf school, kindergarten or parent-and-child group near you? Find one on the Waldorf Map.