The Developing Child - Desire for Order

"Everyone thinks only of the child´s tomorrow, 

of his future existence, no one concerns himself with the present"

The Child in the Family - Maria Montessori

What a Mindfulness exercise this can be! Such a valuable thought to reflect on today in our hectic and wonderful world.

 

If we only think of tomorrow, this will make us worry, because we want our children to learn quickly, to get ahead, be better than others.

Paradoxically by pushing children to succeed will most often slow their progress. So instead we should make sure that both the care and the material things provided meet their present needs, only this will allow progression at a rate they can cope with!

"Teach me to do it by myself"

The Montessori Method - Maria Montessori 

If your child wants to and can do something for himself, even if it is not perfectly done, let him/her try.

Because by doing it for them, especially if you are better at it - is humiliating! 

The most valuable gift you can give your child in this particular moment is.....TIME!

And through example and encouragement lead your child to perform more and more tasks for himself. The tendency for the adult to step in with a helping hand, because this is easier and quicker, must be firmly resisted if your child is ever to gain the sense of joy through a task completed.

The concept of independence applies not only to the physical sphere but also to the intellectual and emotional ones as well.

Adults should be aware of projecting their own ideas of independence on their child. Your child must be given room for choice and must be able to exercise patience to allow him/her to develop.

Parents who over-protect their child actually retard the child´s movement towards independence and increases the difficulties of the teachers´s task when your child starts school. 

In a Montessori school there are plenty of suitable exercises in the area of:

1. the control of self
2. the control of environment
3. the social aspect of life

At home you can help your child in many ways, for example by simply putting up coat-pegs low down - this will encourage tidiness.

Low shelves for toys and books. 

Toys and books should be sorted out from time to time, as too many choices are confusing.

Look for other things that will enable independence. 

 

Every child has a strong natural desire for order, they will feel more secure if they know where to put things and where to find them!

A place for everything and everything in its place

  the child who is in harmony with their environment 

will demonstrate their enjoyment in keeping it tidy!