Essential Montessori Perspectives

By Silvia N. Smith, Bluebonnet Montessori

Freedom

"Free the child's potential and you will transform them into the world." ~ Maria Montessori Children who are given the liberty to choose, explore and discover freely are naturally happy and open to respecting others. When given freedom to explore, children learn with joy because learning is their passion just like growing is their purpose. Control tends to limit while guidance invites to expand. Montessori presents ways to control the environment around the child while freeing the potential within the child.

Independence

"No one can be free unless they are independent." ~ Maria Montessori Children crave for independence from the moment they are born! Independence is one of the most essential keys for a child to grow as an individual with a driven mind and a happy heart. We all remember the precious image of the joyful sparks in our child' eyes the day they took their very firsts steps. Overcoming the challeng- es of life independently is at the heart of a child's growth. When children acquire new skills without being giv- en external reward, they feel intrinsic joy of accomplishment and naturally build their self-esteem. Trusting our children's hidden potential and letting them independently experience by themselves and think for them- selves, early on, is one of the best gifts we can give them!

Respect

"Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future" ~ Maria Montessori In a well prepared Montessori environment children are respected, trusted and guided to explore on their own. They are continually set for success by carefully moving from easier to more challenging exploration. Montessori children's self-confidence grows slowly but surely as they blossom through the development of their social skills while interacting and connecting with others.

Experience

"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by expe- riences in the environment." ~ Maria Montessori Experience provides independence and confidence. Allowing children to experience through hands-on activi- ties is an interactive and divergent way of learning. We call these experiences intelligent work, the work of self-creation and self-perfection. Children develop inner strength, perseverance and respect for themselves and discover the joy of simply being who they are in the present moment!

The Intelligence of Love

"Is it not a characteristic of love, that sensibility that enables a child to see what others do not see? That col- lects details that others do not perceive, and appreciates special qualities, which are, as it were, hidden, and which only love can discover? It is because the child's intelligence assimilates by loving, and not just indiffer- ently, that he can see the invisible. This active, ardent, meticulous, constant absorption in love is characteris- tic of children." ~ Maria Montessori Children come into our lives to remind us about a forgotten truth: the power of unconditional love.