River House Montessori

  “Independence is not a static condition; it is a continuous conquest, and in order to reach not only freedom, but also strength, and the perfecting on one’s powers, it is necessary to follow this path of unremitting toil.”

— Maria Montessori

Montessori educators respect and promote independence in even their youngest students, as you might already know. What makes it so crucial? We believe it is both inspiring and important to cultivate this valuable character trait.

The Benefits of Independence

In other words, giving a child the gift of independence shows them that we love them and believe in their abilities. Children should grow up feeling confident in their ability to make good decisions. They learn to trust themselves when we trust them, and as a result, they become happy and active members of their societies.

Of course, this appears differently at various ages. Children from birth to six years old tend to do something on their own, while primary school students want to think about themselves. When transitioning from childhood to adulthood, adolescents pursue physical and social freedom. As teachers and parents, we must continually remind ourselves of these developmental stages.

At School, What Does Independence Mean?

Children concentrate on what we refer to as realistic life skills in the early years of education. This may include things like learning to make simple treats, putting on their own shoes or jackets, and caring for the plants and animals in the classroom.Children are given a multitude of chances to put these skills into practice.

At a Montessori school, another facet of freedom is the opportunity to make decisions within certain constraints. Children have the freedom to choose what sort of job they want to do. Teachers carefully plan the classroom setting so that all options are secure and attractive, but the child is free to explore within those boundaries.

How Do Parents Help at Home?

How will families continue to foster their children’s independence at home? It all begins with a change in how we think of our children’s abilities. They are frequently capable of even more than we know, and with a little modeling, they will enthusiastically embrace a challenge. After all, our kids want to do what we do, and if we provide them with the right resources and support, they can start practicing right away.

Looking Ahead

Being more present in the moment is one of the simplest ways to promote independence in our children. Slowing down and allowing them to travel at their own speed can be difficult (for example, when they insist on zipping up their own coat as we hurry out the door to get to work), but it will help them in the long run. Making space in our schedules for a little extra time will help! There are a few small improvements we can make to help us incorporate this value into our daily lives:

• 10 minutes before you want to leave, tell your child to put his or her shoes on.
• Keep cleaning supplies that are suitable for children within easy reach.
• Low shelves are ideal for pre-portioned or simple-to-prepare snacks.
• Spills and messes can be turned into opportunities.
• Allow your child to choose their own clothes. Any weather-appropriate advice is perfect for younger children in particular. Take pleasure in the innovative fashion statements that follow.

Montessori teaches us that promoting independence is a never-ending fight, but it does change over time.