El Monstre de Paper

A Shared-Care Community in Poble-sec

El Monstre de Paper is a nonprofit association founded in 2010 in Barcelona's Poble-sec neighborhood. Its main activity is a play space for families with children ages 8 months to 3 years, inspired by Waldorf education and other child-led approaches, including the work of Emmi Pikler.

The project operates as a small parenting group, with 11 to 12 families per cycle and five or six children per educator. The space uses natural-material toys, some handmade by the educators, and adapts activities to the abilities children develop.

Services

• A small-group play space for children ages 8 months to 3 years.
• Periodic educational meetings for parents on topics related to early childhood.
• Respectful support for children's development within a child-led educational framework.

Team

The team includes two active educators and a founding teacher who continues to advise the group:

• Fátima Lorente: Early childhood education specialist and sign-language interpreter, with training in home-based childcare, comprehensive affective and sexual education, and emotional support for ages 0 to 12. She is completing Waldorf early-childhood specialist training and leads the educational project and association management.
• Elixabet González: Early childhood education specialist with home-based childcare training and ongoing Waldorf early-childhood specialization. She helps lead the educational project and manage the association.
• Anna Vilarroig: Early childhood teacher specializing in Waldorf education. She started the educational project and managed it for 10 years; she now advises the team and is part of the association's founding group.

Networks

The association is part of Xell, a platform supporting child-led education in Catalonia, and “pam a pam, tu mapa de economia solidària,” a network in which it participates for its sustainable resource management.

Languages

The team serves families in Catalan, Spanish, and Basque.

Location and Contact

The play space is at 1 Carrer d'Aldana in Poble-sec, Barcelona, near Paral·lel station on Metro Line 3 and the V9 bus. The association's mailing address is 38 Mare de Déu del Remei, 08004 Barcelona. Phone: 613 02 07 97. Email: elmonstredepaper@gmail.com.