Montessori, 10 principles to educate children about freedom

Montessori, 10 principles to educate children about freedom
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The Montessori method

Maria Montessori (1870-1952) publishes in 1909 a text that will remain the basis of modern pedagogy: "The method of scientific pedagogy applied to infant education in children's homes". The Montessori method focuses on respect for the child's spontaneity and he is the first to offer an alternative to the authoritarian education of the time.





"The little one" writes there Montessori, "he reveals himself only when he is left free to express yourself, not when he is coerced by some educational scheme or a purely external discipline. "Only in this way can the child learn to regulate himself. Montessori the child by nature is serious, disciplined and a lover of order, and put in contact with suitable pedagogical materials and guided by a "humble" and discreet educator, he is able to educate himself and to unfold his potential and go to form "a free and brotherly humanity".

Here are the fundamental principles of the Montessori method on the education of the child, taken from the book "Educating for freedom" by Maria Montessori.

30 PHOTOS

Montessori: 30 activities for children to try right away

go to the gallery

Setting the table, sewing a button, matching socks, but also visiting a museum, going to a concert, creating a herbarium ... these are all activities identified by pedagogy ...



In this article

  • Educating the child about independence 
  • Never stop a child from doing something because they are too small 
  • Accustom a child to act with precision
  • The Montessori educator observes but hardly ever intervenes
  • Never force a child to do something
  • Educating in contact with nature
  • Educate the child to take care of living beings
  • Develop his talents and never speak ill of a child
  • The school environment must be child-friendly
  • Children are the travelers of life and we adults are their guides
Read also: The best Montessori-style furniture for children, Montessori-style beds and 10 activities inspired by the Montessori method

1. Educate the child about independence

To serve children is to stifle their abilities. So it is the task of parents and educators help them make their conquests alone like learning to walk, run, wash.



"The mother who feeds the child without making the effort to teach him to hold the spoon, is not educating him, she treats him like a puppet. Teaching to eat, to wash, to dress is a much more difficult job than to feed him, wash him and dress him . "

2. Never stop a child from doing something because he is too young

The ability of children should not be judged on the basis of age and do not let them do something because they are too small.

Need demonstrate trust and let them do the easier tasks themselves. For example, a two-year-old will be able to put bread on the table, while a four-year-old will bring the plates. Children are satisfied when they have given the maximum they are capable of and are not excluded from the possibility of exercising.

3. Accustom a child to act with precision

Getting a child used to doing accurately is a great exercise for developing harmony of the body.
Children are naturally attracted to details
and from performing certain acts with accuracy. For example, washing their hands becomes a more interesting gesture for them if they are taught that they must then put the soap back in the right place; or pouring water is more fun if you tell him to be careful not to touch the glass ... E learn to act with precision it is a great exercise to harmonize the body and learn movement control. One of the most useful exercises recommended by Montessori is to teach children to diligently set the table, serve at the table, eat compounds, wash dishes and put away the dishes.

4. The Montessori educator observes but hardly ever intervenes

"The teacher must minimize his own intervention.

The Montessori educator must be a guardian angel who observes and almost never intervenes. He is not a teacher who rises to the chair and dispenses his knowledge from above, but he must be a guardian angel, he must ensure that the child is not hindered in his free activity. He has to observe a lot and speak little. "

The teacher must respect the child who makes a mistake, and direct him to correct himself. Clearly the educator must intervene firmly and decisively when the child does something dangerous for himself and for others.

5. Never force a child to do something

Respect the child who wants to rest from an activity and just watches other children work. The educator must not force it.

Read also: 15 tips to enhance children's creativity

6. Educate in contact with nature

Make the child live as much as possible in contact with nature. Because the feeling of nature grows with exercise. A child left in the middle of nature brings out more muscle energies than parents think.

"If you take a walk in the mountains, do not take the baby in your arms, but leave him free, follow his step, wait patiently for him to pick up a flower, to observe a bird ..."

7. Educate the child to take care of living beings

Watering the plants and taking care of the animals gets used to retirement planning. Caring for plants and animals is the satisfaction of one of the keenest instincts of the infantile soul.

"Nothing is more capable than this of awakening an attitude of foresight in the little one who is used to living without thinking about tomorrow. But when he knows that animals need him and that the seedlings dry up if he does not water them, his love it connects today's act with the rebirth of the following day. "

8. Develop his talents and never speak ill of a child

The educator must focus on strengthen and develop the positive in the child, his strengths and talents, so that the presence of his skills can leave less and less room for defects. And never speak ill of the child in the presence or absence of him.

9. The school environment must be child-friendly

The school must be a welcoming and familiar environment in which all the furniture and objects (chairs, tables, sinks ...) are modeled on the sizes and needs of the little ones. The teaching materials must be specially designed, for example: objects to assemble, joints, cards ... that favor the child's intellectual development and allow the self-correction of the error, i.e. the child immediately understands if a joint is wrong and will be brought to look for the correct fit.

A child placed in a suitable environment in contact with the right materials and under the guidance of an attentive and discreet teacher will be able to experiment and refine his immense potential.

10. Children are the travelers of life and we adults are their guides

"The child is like a traveler who observes new things and tries to understand the unknown language of those around him. We adults are the guides of these travelers who enter human life ... "

Cicero who briefly illustrate the work of art and lead the traveler to observe the most beautiful things, so that he does not waste time on useless things and find enjoyment and satisfaction throughout his journey.

Read also: Montessori school, principles and objectives for the child

To learn more about the Montessori method

  • the Montessori method explained from A to Z
  • the complete guide on the Montessori method
  • who was Maria Montessori
  • Montessori activities for children
  • take off the Montessori style nappy
  • how to educate the child according to the Montessori method
  • Steiner school and Montessori method compared
  • how to develop language according to the Montessori method
  • promote autonomy according to the Montessori method
  • how to teach to put in order according to the Montessori method
  • how to transform the house according to the Montessori method
  • how to bring the Montessori method into your home
  • how to celebrate a birthday according to the Montessori method
  • how to promote inclusion according to the Montessori method
  • Christmas according to Montessori
  • Montessori books

Questions and answers

What are the purposes of the Montessori activities?

All Montessori activities have specific purposes: the refinement of the 5 senses and the development of the child's autonomy. Furthermore, children can learn for themselves by correcting their mistakes.

How to create a Montessori style bedroom?

The child's bedroom is the first Montessori room in the house: create a simple and tidy place divided into four rooms: one for bedtime, one for changing, one for eating and one for activities. Don't forget to indulge the children's personality and allow them to play and have fun independently.

How to make tactile alphabets?

At the base of Montessori teaching are frosted letters: build your own tactile alphabet at home, cutting out the letters one by one and attach them on colored supports, so that the child can compose the various words.

Updated on 31.08.2022

TAG:
  • montessori method
  • pedagogy
  • children education
  • 3-5 children years
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