30 Aug 7 Montessori Principles Parents Need to Know

Promoting a Montessori education for your child doesn’t solely occur in the classroom. It is essential to implement Montessori principles in the home as well! Meadow Montessori compiled a list of seven crucial Montessori principles that every parent needs to know. These tips will assist you in raising a respectful, independent, kind, and curious child.

Are you interested in a Montessori education but unsure where to start? Contact Meadow Montessori today to learn more about our teaching philosophy!

What is the Goal of a Montessori Education?

Montessori education is a unique form of learning that is student-led and self-paced, although teacher-guided. Our goal is to foster self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development, all while nurturing each individual child’s natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect.

1. Children are Shown Respect

An essential principle in Montessori learning is to respect the child. Parents and educators must act in a way that shows young children are worthy of their time and attention. Montessori education is a child-centered method of learning that focuses primarily on child-led activities. There are many ways to demonstrate respecting a child, such as respecting their space, being patient with them, avoiding harm, and letting them make decisions for themselves.

2. Absorbent Mind

The absorbent mind has been a key concept in Montessori education for over a century. From birth to the age of six, our children absorb everything around them. There’s no limit to what children can soak up and process! What a child hears, touches, sees, and experiences in their environment not only helps form memories but also helps your child’s spirit, curiosity, and identity strengthen.

There are many ways for a parent to nurture the absorbent mind of their children, especially in this distraction-filled day and age. We recommend going outdoors, limiting screen time, and setting a routine.

3. “Sensitive Periods” Are Critical for Learning

From birth to age six, children go through eleven different “sensitive periods” in which they gain a better understanding of the world. These sensitive periods are a specific kind of inner compulsion that motivate children to seek objects and relationships in their environment.

Sensitive periods do not appear in any linear way and can overlap! When a sensitive period is over, the intense desire for learning and repetition for this skill is gone, and the opportunity to learn deeply and quickly is gone.

The sensitive periods consist of:

• Order
  ~2-5 years of age
• Movement
  Birth-4 years of age
• Small Objects
  ~2.5-4.5 years of age
• Grace & Courtesy
  ~2.5-5 years of age
• Refinement of the Senses
  Birth-6 years of age
• Writing
  ~3-4 years of age
• Reading
  ~4-5 years of age
• Expressive Language
  ~7 months-3 years of age
• Spatial Relationships
  ~2-4 years of age
• Music
  ~2-6 years of age
• Mathematics
  ~4-6 years of age

4. Independence

Another key principle for parents to foster in their children is independence. By becoming independent, children gain an identity, build their self-esteem, and can develop healthy coping skills to tolerate the stresses of everyday life. There are many ways to foster healthy independence in your child’s day-to-day routine. Meadow Montessori recommends encouraging free play, practicing active observation, and maintaining a routine. Maria Montessori described independence as:

The child’s conquests of independence are the basic steps in what is called his ‘natural development.’

5. Freedom of Movement & Choice

Children’s emotional, social, and academic development improves significantly when they can make their own choices. As parents and educators, we must create safe environments that allow our children freedom of movement and choice. There are many ways to implement this in the home. Verbalizing your thinking for the child to hear is a beautiful way of demonstrating choice-making without forcing a child to make a decision.

While we don’t believe in punishments and rewards, natural consequences are a great learning tool for children to understand their choices. For example, if it looks like it is going to rain outside, we can ask if they want to wear a raincoat. If the child chooses not to wear it, they will experience cold, wet clothes and rain! Of course, bring the raincoat along and ensure they have access to dry clothes; however, learning from their choices helps develop their confidence and understanding of their environment.

6. Intrinsic Motivation

One of the most significant differences between public schools and Montessori education is our value in intrinsic motivation. In Montessori classrooms, students are encouraged to work individually or in groups, however they see fit. This natural curiosity is fostered and promoted in the school and is crucial to promote at home! Rather than depending on treats, gold stars, and grades, helping your child stay curious about the world around them is essential.

7. Extrinsic Rewards are Avoided

Avoiding extrinsic rewards is an essential principle of Montessori education. In our classrooms and at home, children are not motivated to learn through the pressure of grades, tests, and extrinsic rewards. Rather, they are encouraged to learn with curiosity, fostering independence and freedom of choice.

Make the Most Out of Montessori Education In & Out of the Home

There are vital Montessori principles that are essential to know as a parent. You are your child’s educator outside of the classroom! We encourage you to foster your child’s independence by giving them a safe environment for freedom of choice, being present during a sensitive period, and focusing more on intrinsic motivation than extrinsic rewards.

If you have questions about Montessori principles and would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact Meadow Montessori in Richmond, TX, today!