When your kid is not in the Montessori environment, there are ways you may assist them by providing purposeful activities.
When you witness a Montessori classroom, you will notice that the youngsters speak softly and work independently. It’s a charming scene in which the children wander around with care. How is this achievable with a group of children aged 3 to 6 years old?
'Purposeful Work' is the solution to the question
The Montessori environment is built with a variety of activities that serve a variety of functions. These activities assist the youngster in meeting their developmental needs. The child, like the adults, requires a calm and concentrated setting. This is accomplished through a series of intentional activities that help the child focus and direct his or her energy.
'Purposeful Work' is much more powerful to redirect misbehaviour
My niece joined my school, and she is 2 years and 7 months old. When she enters the Environment, she sees all the activities laying on the shelves and organized. She chooses water activities and pouring activities. What she does is she over pours the water into one tumbler. Then she wipes it. She does this repeatedly.
Despite my repeated assurances that we do not spill and that we must be cautious, she continues to do so. I tried to say no because I could see she was misusing the materials.
I’ve failed every attempt. Meanwhile, I came across an article. It also explains how to assist the child in avoiding making a mess by abusing.
So, the article says that as Montessori Educators we do not act like others. Her incident was different, but it is a bit similar. What she has done was this… She has told the child ‘I see you like to pour things. Let me show you some lovely work’
She prepared some activities which fulfil the child’s needs for his development.
WOW! Now I’m in the process of doing the same to my niece. I understood that we always must follow the child’s impulses. As adults and parents, it is better for the child if we do not stand against their impulses. If we do, we will always fail.
Without saying ‘NO’ find what the child needs. If he is throwing sand find something that he can work with sand. If he is playing with the water activity, find an activity in which the child can work with water. If he is tearing the pages of a book, give the child to tear pages into small pieces.
These minor tasks will be accomplished with effort, but with time and practice, parents will become accustomed to this form of childcare. We won’t be able to find children who are calm and focused until the correct set of activities are provided to fulfil their needs and aid their growth.
This is much more successful than just saying ‘No’ to everything they touch.
