Author: Hong Kong Christian Service (Early Childhood Service)
Have you noticed that some children, when they grow up, become highly dependent on their parents, while others are more independent? It turns out that this is related to parenting style. Montessori believes that if you don’t want children to rely on others for everything when they grow up, you should provide them with stimulation from an early age and let them learn independence unconsciously.
Children are part of the family, and parents can prepare an environment that respects the needs of the child, allowing them to touch, explore, use, and master everyday items. The emphasis is on active participation, and their opinions are respected.
If you also want your child to learn independence from an early age, you can…
Bedroom
In the bedroom, place a bed, bedding, and pillows suitable for the child’s size. Choose a lower position in the wardrobe to store the child’s clothes, allowing them to fold the bedding, place the pillows, and organize and fold their clothes in the wardrobe. Place children’s books and toys at a height suitable for them on bookshelves and toy racks that are easily accessible. Let them put the books back on the shelves and store the toys on the rack independently, promoting order and consistency, which enhances their independence.
Kitchen or Living Room
In the kitchen or living room, set up a table and utensils suitable for the child’s size, allowing them to set the table, prepare food or drinks, and clean the table after meals. Children can also pour water, squeeze oranges to make orange juice, spread butter on bread to make toast, etc. This not only develops their coordination skills but also enhances their concentration. Children will also be delighted to discover that they can take care of themselves!
Let’s stimulate children’s intrinsic motivation for self-directed learning and cultivate their concentration through “work.”
“Pouring water”, a seemingly simple task in the practical life area, as an example, children use both hands to hold the glass container and pour water from one container to another from left to right. After observing correct demonstrations by the teacher or an adult, children attempt to complete the task independently. Additionally, transferring water between the containers helps strengthen their hand-eye coordination. After completing the task, they need to restore the materials and neatly place the tools back in the material cabinet, establishing a sense of order. When children become accustomed to completing a series of work processes, it helps develop their logical and reasoning abilities, enabling them to accomplish tasks systematically from an early age.
Through daily life work, children not only develop intrinsic self-discipline, self-directed learning motivation, and concentration but also experience the importance of responsibility. Dealing with accidental spills, watering plants, and sweeping the floor are all part of their daily work. During these activities, children also learn communication skills while working together with their peers.
Lifelong Benefits of Daily Life Work
Daily life work is the earliest practice children engage in. It aligns with their abilities, focusing on their immediate needs. Every time a child can independently complete a task, it enhances their concentration and builds their confidence. Children’s daily life activities can be broadly divided into two levels: the first is self-care, starting with themselves and developing self-reliance, while the second involves caring for the environment around them after acquiring skills. The life skills they learn during this process are beneficial for a lifetime.
References:
- 王美玲.(2019). 《蒙特梭利日常生活教育理論與實務》第二節：5-9 http://ir.lib.cyut.edu.tw:8080/bitstream/310901800/36643/2/%E6%95%99%E5%B8%AB%E7%B7%A8%E8%A3%BD%E6%95%99%E6%9D%90
