Stop Doing Montessori, Start Living Montessori
When you're new to Montessori, it's easy - and quite common - to get sidetracked by the concept of the Montessori materials. They are certainly fascinating objects, and parents often spend lots of time and money either buying authentic Montessori materials for the home or creating "Montessori-inspired" activities in hopes that their child will be transformed into a focused, self-controlled, and creative little person.
The time has come to put away your wallet, laminating machine, and hot glue gun. You can buy or make materials until you're blue in the face, but it is highly unlikely that building a Pink Tower or transferring pom-poms will help your child reap the true benefits of Montessori if you ignore the principles of the philosophy.
I invite you to stop DOING Montessori and start LIVING Montessori.
Begin with three simple steps...
1. Understand the sensitive periods: During the first six years of life, all children experience finite periods of heightened interest in the following four areas of development: order (placement of objects in the environment, sequence of daily routines, etc.); language (interest in making sounds, then forming words, then learning the sounds of the letters); senses (first developing all five senses and then refining them); and movement (first developing the ability to move and then refining coordination).
By educating yourself on the sensitive periods, you can start to notice when your child is entering a particular phase. You can then analyze your home life to see if you're providing enough support for your child during these important times. For example, if your child is entering the sensitive period for order, you should make sure that toys are always put away in the same spots and that routines are followed in the same order every day.
I recommend reading the descriptions on the sensitive periods in the book "Montessori From the Start". Even if you don't have time to read the entire book, do yourself a favor and read the excellent outlines of these important phases in your child's life.
2. Understand the human tendencies: Adults and children alike need to satisfy certain drives in order to thrive and feel fulfilled. Dr. Montessori identified these qualities and created an approach to human development that supports these human needs.
In an excellent article about the human tendencies, Julia Volkman explains: "We are all driven to communicate, socialize, imitate, explore (we are curious), move, be exact/precise, concentrate, repeat, maintain/discover order, achieve independence, realize perfection/control errors/improve ourselves, control ourselves (physically, intellectually, emotionally) and work."
Read the article in its entirety to gain a deeper understanding of the human tendencies. Then, spend some time observing your child as he plays and interacts with others. Note how he manifests these tendencies and think about how you can support them through experiences in nature, family life, cultural experiences, etc.
3. Learn to observe: Dr. Montessori wrote that teachers (and anyone who wanted to understand children) should have the soul of a scientist. Scientists spend hours and hours observing their subjects and taking objective notes about their behaviors; Montessori teachers do the same. They don't jump to conclusions or get emotional about what they are seeing. They simply sit down, observe what the child is doing, and take notes without interfering (unless someone's safety is at stake or a material is being mistreated).
After a period of observation, they look over their notes and make educated conclusions about the child's needs based on their knowledge of the sensitive periods and human tendencies. You can observe your child all day long, but if you don't know what to look for (see #1 and #2), you won't know how to support his development! Here's a worthwhile article from the amazing blog "How We Montessori" on observing in the home environment.
Observation notes can seem boring to the untrained eye. But from those dull details springs forth a colorful picture of a child you might not be familiar with, because you've always been too busy trying to direct his activity to see him for who he really is (I speak from experience...).
I'll address other concepts in a future post, but I guarantee that by simply focusing on these three steps you will begin to see your child in a completely new light - the light of his untapped potential.
The time has come to put away your wallet, laminating machine, and hot glue gun. You can buy or make materials until you're blue in the face, but it is highly unlikely that building a Pink Tower or transferring pom-poms will help your child reap the true benefits of Montessori if you ignore the principles of the philosophy.
I invite you to stop DOING Montessori and start LIVING Montessori.
Begin with three simple steps...
1. Understand the sensitive periods: During the first six years of life, all children experience finite periods of heightened interest in the following four areas of development: order (placement of objects in the environment, sequence of daily routines, etc.); language (interest in making sounds, then forming words, then learning the sounds of the letters); senses (first developing all five senses and then refining them); and movement (first developing the ability to move and then refining coordination).
By educating yourself on the sensitive periods, you can start to notice when your child is entering a particular phase. You can then analyze your home life to see if you're providing enough support for your child during these important times. For example, if your child is entering the sensitive period for order, you should make sure that toys are always put away in the same spots and that routines are followed in the same order every day.
I recommend reading the descriptions on the sensitive periods in the book "Montessori From the Start". Even if you don't have time to read the entire book, do yourself a favor and read the excellent outlines of these important phases in your child's life.
2. Understand the human tendencies: Adults and children alike need to satisfy certain drives in order to thrive and feel fulfilled. Dr. Montessori identified these qualities and created an approach to human development that supports these human needs.
In an excellent article about the human tendencies, Julia Volkman explains: "We are all driven to communicate, socialize, imitate, explore (we are curious), move, be exact/precise, concentrate, repeat, maintain/discover order, achieve independence, realize perfection/control errors/improve ourselves, control ourselves (physically, intellectually, emotionally) and work."
Read the article in its entirety to gain a deeper understanding of the human tendencies. Then, spend some time observing your child as he plays and interacts with others. Note how he manifests these tendencies and think about how you can support them through experiences in nature, family life, cultural experiences, etc.
3. Learn to observe: Dr. Montessori wrote that teachers (and anyone who wanted to understand children) should have the soul of a scientist. Scientists spend hours and hours observing their subjects and taking objective notes about their behaviors; Montessori teachers do the same. They don't jump to conclusions or get emotional about what they are seeing. They simply sit down, observe what the child is doing, and take notes without interfering (unless someone's safety is at stake or a material is being mistreated).
After a period of observation, they look over their notes and make educated conclusions about the child's needs based on their knowledge of the sensitive periods and human tendencies. You can observe your child all day long, but if you don't know what to look for (see #1 and #2), you won't know how to support his development! Here's a worthwhile article from the amazing blog "How We Montessori" on observing in the home environment.
Observation notes can seem boring to the untrained eye. But from those dull details springs forth a colorful picture of a child you might not be familiar with, because you've always been too busy trying to direct his activity to see him for who he really is (I speak from experience...).
I'll address other concepts in a future post, but I guarantee that by simply focusing on these three steps you will begin to see your child in a completely new light - the light of his untapped potential.
Categories
- Uncategorized (111)
- Montessori Materials (30)
- development of senses (2)
- home environment (9)
- infancy (3)
- babies (60)
- birth (5)
- birthing (3)
- early childhood development (68)
- home birth (4)
- montessori (154)
- natural birth (4)
- childhood developoment (3)
- infants (24)
- newborns (7)
- parenting (95)
- Sleep (9)
- DIY (8)
- sewing (1)
- adhd (1)
- medication (1)
- psychology (2)
- interior design (3)
- crafts (7)
- education (38)
- montessori method (97)
- parents (29)
- biology (2)
- child psychology (3)
- children (61)
- michael olaf (1)
- montessori education (50)
- Science (12)
- sensitive periods (2)
- teachers (8)
- teaching (18)
- eating (10)
- food (11)
- independence (27)
- nursing (2)
- self-esteem (8)
- weaning (8)
- alternative education (7)
- early childhood education (23)
- observation (3)
- pre-school (7)
- school (5)
- culture (2)
- society (1)
- elementary education (22)
- grades (2)
- learning (6)
- public education (1)
- testing (1)
- traditional education (3)
- bedtime (2)
- kindergarten (1)
- maria montessori (29)
- finances (1)
- financial education (1)
- money (2)
- positive discipline (9)
- brain development (3)
- breastfeeding (2)
- diet (2)
- formula (3)
- Jaramillo soup (1)
- malnutrition (2)
- nutrition (5)
- pharmaceutical companies (1)
- third world countries (1)
- bottle-feeding (1)
- cooking (7)
- jaramiilo soup (1)
- sopa jaramillo (1)
- freedom (2)
- praise (1)
- responsibility (3)
- rewards (1)
- success (2)
- trust (1)
- playroom (1)
- toys (9)
- books (3)
- child development (5)
- parent education (4)
- reading (5)
- concentration (5)
- floor bed (5)
- sleeping (1)
- feeding (2)
- meals (2)
- c-section (3)
- critical thinking skills (2)
- fear (1)
- feeding solids (1)
- helicopter parents (1)
- vaccinating (1)
- vaccination (1)
- crafting (3)
- gobbi (3)
- handiwork (1)
- mobiles (3)
- sensorial (3)
- tutorial (1)
- midwifery (3)
- midwives (2)
- motherhood (8)
- embroidery (1)
- gobbi mobile (1)
- baby einstein (1)
- baby gear (1)
- educational DVD (1)
- enrichment classes (1)
- Mozart effect (1)
- Pamela Paul (1)
- parenting experts (1)
- Parenting Inc. (1)
- problem-solving (3)
- television (4)
- toy industry (1)
- silverware (1)
- spoon (1)
- beanbags (1)
- kids (6)
- birth education (2)
- infant mortality rates (1)
- labor (1)
- maternal mortality rates (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- vbac (1)
- montessori blogs (20)
- writing (6)
- movement (7)
- will power (1)
- repurposing (1)
- crawling (3)
- development (3)
- executive functions (3)
- strollers (1)
- toddlers (41)
- walking (1)
- adolescents (1)
- play (5)
- teenagers (1)
- work (4)
- google (1)
- Practical Life (25)
- home life (2)
- kitchen (1)
- pre-schoolers (13)
- sharing (1)
- waldorf (1)
- language (3)
- doctors (1)
- gynecology (1)
- medical school (1)
- ob-gyn (1)
- obstetrics (1)
- women (2)
- genius (1)
- cloth diapers (1)
- diapers (1)
- disposable diapers (1)
- potty training (6)
- toileting (4)
- Language Development (13)
- montessori activities (13)
- coordination (2)
- developmental milestone (1)
- RIE (6)
- stroller toys (1)
- alfie kohn (1)
- mistakes (1)
- schools (2)
- cultural diversity (1)
- toilet training (2)
- control (1)
- halloween (1)
- care takers (1)
- grandparents (1)
- nannies (1)
- childhood nutrition (1)
- dairy alternatives (1)
- health (1)
- seed mik (1)
- sesame milk (1)
- veganism (1)
- vegetarian (1)
- vegetarian food (1)
- communication (2)
- magda gerber (1)
- change (2)
- impulse control (1)
- limits (2)
- mealtimes (1)
- growing up (1)
- terrible twos (2)
- absorbent mind (1)
- sequences (1)
- wonder weeks (1)
- creativity (1)
- fantasy (1)
- imagination (3)
- reality (1)
- prepared environment (2)
- Technology (1)
- bathrooms (1)
- EC (1)
- elimination communication (2)
- routine (1)
- socialization (1)
- ego (1)
- montessori approach (18)
- students (1)
- free-range parenting (2)
- human tendencies (1)
- elementary school (4)
- history (5)
- discipline (3)
- self-control (2)
- nursery (1)
- cooking with kids (7)
- development of the senses (1)
- senses (2)
- time (2)
- consequences (1)
- baking (2)
- awareness (1)
- buddhism (2)
- mothering (1)
- now (1)
- parenthood (7)
- personal growth (2)
- rat race (1)
- spiritual growth (1)
- working mom (1)
- travel (1)
- travell with toddlers (1)
- throwing (1)
- holidays (2)
- art (2)
- artwork (1)
- food preparation (2)
- picky eater (2)
- toddler (1)
- cursive (1)
- Montessori Theory (27)
- On Parenting (31)
- Social and Emotional Learning (19)
- dopamine (1)
- Dr. Steven Hughes (1)
- motivation (1)
- banana bread (1)
- recipes (1)
- pi day (1)
- chores (2)
- entitlement (3)
- homeschool (14)
- preschool (3)
- summer (1)
- unschooling (5)
- botany (2)
- Favorite Books (8)
- compassionate parenting (4)
- education for peace (2)
- nonviolent communication (1)
- peace (2)
- emotional intelligence (3)
- manners (1)
- sensory processing disorder (1)
- mainstream media (1)
- star wars (1)
- violence (1)
- crochet (1)
- brene brown (2)
- depression (1)
- empathy (2)
- postpartum depression (1)
- self-regulation (2)
- fractions (1)
- math (3)
- astronomy (2)
- literature (1)
- 6 - 12 (15)
- Cosmic Education (9)
- Theory and Practice (9)
- Nature (3)
- flow (1)
- life (1)
- ocean (1)
- philosophy (1)
- self-care (1)
- walking meditation (1)
- 3 - 6 (5)
- Siblings (2)
- literacy (1)
- mindfulness (1)
- yoga (1)
- childhood development (4)
- compassion (1)
- accountability (1)
- organization (1)
- homeschooling (12)
- SAHM (1)
- self-growth (1)
- vulnerability (1)
- attachment (1)
- behavioral challenges (1)
- anxiety (1)
- museums (1)
- bubbles (1)
- fluid dynamics (1)
- STEM (1)
- Math and Geometry (2)
- geometry (1)
- democracy (1)
- equality (1)
- fatherhood (1)
- feminism (1)
- gender roles (1)
- gloria steinem (1)
- marriage (1)
- men (1)
- grit (1)
- growth mindset (1)
- hiking (1)
- natureschool (1)
- resilience (1)
- chemistry (1)
- elementary (4)
- montessori elementary (3)
- storytelling (2)
- brainstorming (1)
- rivalry (1)
- grammar (1)
21 comments
Leave a comment