Visit any primary or elementary Montessori classroom and you’ll immediately notice a stunning display of colorful glass beads hanging in an open cabinet. Children (and adults!) are drawn to the order and elegance of the bead chains. Beyond their initial aesthetic appeal, the bead chain material offers an amazing array of intellectual opportunities for young children to those in their elementary years.
Unlike other species that are born with a predetermined set of behaviors, human babies are born with a set of potentials. When a child is born, we have no idea if they will be a master musician or a creative chef. It’s pretty amazing when we think about it! Children are constantly creating the skills they need to become contributing adults.
Everything we do to care for the environment, ourselves, and others make up what can be called "practical life" activities. In a Montessori home or school environment, practical life activities help children learn about cultural norms, while also helping them develop internal motivation, intellect, and body coordination.
Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. Hopefully, we even learn from them! Intellectually, we probably understand that mistakes are part of our children’s process of learning and growing. Yet as parents and caregivers, it can be hard to know how to handle situations when our children don’t do the right thing.
In the past, people believed that children's development was like a tree growing bigger and stronger over time. However, the study of psychology changed our understanding. Psychologists discovered that children go through different stages as they grow up, just like how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
As caregivers and parents, we have a bit of a bittersweet role. While we want to keep our children close, we ultimately need to support their path toward independence. Indeed, one of the most important things we can do is to help them learn and support them in growing to become functionally independent.
The summer months can sometimes feel like a long stretch, especially when we are trying to figure out how to keep our children engaged, or at least entertained. If we consider the big picture of what children really need, however, it can be easier to think about activities that will satisfy those needs and support natural development.
Even though they don’t have a written narrative, wordless picture books can be an essential part of young children’s language development. They are a great way to promote literacy. Here is a list of books we love, and tips for how to use these books with children of all ages.
There is one aspect of Montessori that sets it apart from other childcare settings and that is Practical Life activities. These purposeful and engaging activities not only captivate young minds but also lay the foundation for lifelong skills and independence.
Memory is a vital component of learning. For children to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life, they must be able to remember and apply what they have learned.
