Doing Things the Hard Way is Worth It
In so much of our everyday life, the goal is to make things faster, easier, and more convenient. But when it comes to children and learning, we know easier is not always better.
At Richmond Waldorf School, we believe there is real value in doing some things the “hard” way. Writing by hand. Reading physical books. Learning through movement, music, storytelling, handwork, experimentation, and discussion. Going outdoors in all kinds of weather. Solving problems face- to-face. Practicing a skill until it becomes your own.
From the outside, that can seem old-fashioned. But more and more, research points to the value of exactly these kinds of experiences.
Why Friction Matters
Children today are growing up in a world designed to reduce effort and eliminate inconvenience. Screens offer instant entertainment. Technology often helps us skip waiting, boredom, discomfort, and even person-to-person interaction.
But those moments of effort and persistence matter. They help children build focus, patience, resilience, and confidence. In many ways, Waldorf education is built on this understanding: that growth happens not by avoiding challenge, but by moving through it.
Learning by Doing
Waldorf education is rooted in active, hands-on learning. Students do not simply receive information. They work with it.
They conduct science experiments. They build skills through art and handwork. They learn math through movement and practice. They participate in music, drama, storytelling, and discussion. They engage their senses, their attention, and their imagination.
That approach aligns with what we know about learning: children understand more deeply when they are actively involved in the process.
The Power of Writing by Hand
Writing by hand is another example. In a time when typing often replaces handwriting, it can be easy to think of pen-and-paper work as outdated.
But handwriting asks more of the brain. It slows children down, strengthens fine motor skills, and helps connect thought, memory, and language in a deeper way. When students write by hand — including in cursive — they are not just practicing a traditional skill. They are engaging in a process that supports attention, comprehension, and learning.
More Than Academic Growth
This approach is not only about academic achievement. It is also about helping children become capable, grounded, and engaged in the real world.
There is value in knitting something useful with your own hands. In learning an instrument and sticking with it when it is hard. In revising a piece of writing instead of rushing to finish. In working through a conflict with each other face-to-face. In spending time outdoors and developing comfort in all kinds of weather.
These everyday experiences help children build confidence and a healthy tolerance for challenge. They learn that frustration is not failure. That effort leads somewhere. That they are capable of more than they first imagined.
Why It Matters Now
Many families are asking an important question right now: how do we help children grow up focused, creative, resilient, and connected in a world full of distraction?
At Richmond Waldorf School, we believe part of the answer is to protect childhood experiences that are real, embodied, and relational. We believe children need opportunities to use their hands, practice sustained attention, solve problems in person, and discover the satisfaction of doing something that takes time.
Doing things the hard way is not always the fastest path. But it is often the one that leads to deeper learning and lasting growth.
Come See It in Action
If you are curious about how this approach looks in real classrooms, we would love to welcome you to Richmond Waldorf School. The best way to understand our approach is to experience it — to visit, observe, and see how children learn here with their heads, their hearts, and their hands.
Schedule a tour or connect with our Enrollment Director, Alexandra Mazeres, to learn more about Richmond Waldorf School. Click on our “Visit Us” page to sign up for a tour or call us at 804-377-8024 ext 3.
