Montessori Monday...

Ok, here is the first Montessori Monday moment.I pondered over what I could possibly write about FIRST- there are just so many topics to choose from and so much to the Montessori method (I did go to training for two years) and then it occurred to me. Montessori starts with the basic and then moves to more complex, as I will in my Montessori Monday Moments. Today I will discuss part of the philospohy and history behind Montessori.

Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy began her medical practice and became intrigued by how the mind affects the body and how the mind of a child, how the enviornment of the child affects the body. Shifting her focus from the physical, Dr. Montessori went back to college and studied philosopy and sociology. In 1894 she became a professor of anthropology at the University of Rome. Why is this relevent? Because she was still intersted in the development of children and how thier minds worked. A few years later, she left her medical pracice and her professorship to develop an afternoon program for young children to keep them off the streets. It was here that Dr. Montessori observed children and learned these inherent truths.

Children need a sense of order. They thrive in an environment when they know where to put something how to use something, and can master a skill for themselves. Children are trying to establish a sense of independence at this age (I'm sure you have all heard of the terrible twos or have had a power struggle with a three year old over something). What is really happening here is the child is trying to establish thier sense of independence and learn how to function in the world. I am not saying children should run amuck and do whatever they feel like all the time, that would be chaos (and actually defeat the sense of security a child craves when there are rules and boundaries) The child wants to know that his choices are valid. If a child won't eat his dinner, insead of saying "eat your dinner" offer him a choice (not of dinner) but rather "would you like to eat your carrots first or your sandwich?" The child then has a choice and feels important enough to make that decision for himself. This fundamental building block will help him know his choices are important and he can make good decisions, and he doesn't need a parent to do it. Now if he still won't eat his dinner, say "you have two choices, you may eat now and be full, or you can wait until breakfast in the morning" he will then choose (and you can bet he will most likely eat his dinner- if not he will DEFINATELY eat breakfast!)

One of the most important qualities of Montessori is follow through. A child needs to trust what you say. If the child does not eat his dinner, mean what you say- you may eat breakfast in the morning. A child then establishes trust in your words and what you are saying, and while he may be upset, he knows there are rules and boundaries, and he feels SAFE in his environment- safe enough to make his own choices. Eventually his choices will become more complex and he'll feel confident in making them.

I will be posting more tidbits on this blog, but I have also started another Montessori blog where I will have a plethora (eventually) of information on the Montessori method. Please, check it out- the link is on the side.I have so much more information that I will be sharing and I'll be adding to the Montessori website as well (I still have to talk about materials, learning styles, ect.) Please check it out- let me know what you think and have a wonderful Montessori Monday!