Have you seen the recent ‘Maria Montessori’ film? Watching this film has made it even clearer to me why so many people have continued to follow Dr Maria Montessori’s methods.
The film gave me even more reasons to read The Montessori Child. The book was written by two Montessori experts called Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike.
The Montessori Child was written for parents and walks parents through Montessori methods and how they can implement these ideas at home with their children in a modern way.
Ahead of Her Time
The book also showcases Dr Montessori as the trailblazer she was.
The development stages covered in the book (also known as the planes of development) range from the ages of 0 – 24 years old. This theory is based on Dr Montessori’s observations and gives parents a map showing the development of a child to a young person and to an adult, enabling the reader to guide their child through each stage. It shows that the idea that a young person truly becomes an adult around the age of 24 years old is not really a new concept.
Keep Calm
I think anyone who has children or who has worked in education can relate to dealing with the tattler: the child who always has to tell an adult when another child has done something wrong.
This topic is discussed in the book. Children often take on this role when they reach the second development stage (between 6 and 12 years old). The authors share their thoughts on this behaviour, stating at this moment children are trying to find and understand the world’s moral compass. The explanation around this topic is clear and perceptive.
The more behaviour can be understood, the more we can help the child in that phase.
Decision-Making
Ask a 3-year-old child whether they would like one ice cream while out and about or two when they get home. Even though the logical answer is two, they might just take the first option.
The Montessori Child jumps into this thought. The authors share the ability that children, in particular between the ages of 3 – 6 years old, hold: the ability to be present.
The authors’ explanation helps the reader to appreciate this gift that children have. The explanation also helps the reader understand the reasoning for the decisions young children make. (Even when you’re trying to convince them to get ready to do something fun, it’s highly possible they are in the moment and the future plans are exactly that, in the future.)
Countless Montessori Tips
Alongside these topics, the authors illustrate methods for helping children experience independence, talking about tricky subjects, and something I was happy to see: organisation in the home – the Home Edit team would be happy to dig into this part. But the book tackles even more than that.
Is Your Household Anti-Racist?
I’ve worked in education for over fifteen years. I worked in nurseries, primary schools, and secondary schools.
And it’s always clear when I’ve walked into that classroom: the classroom containing children who have never been around Black people, especially in the context of Black people having a leadership role or an expert role.
This has unfortunately led to some difficult situations.
It always makes me think, were these children brought up in an anti-racist household?
The Montessori Child offers parents methods they could use to ensure their household ideology can become antiracist. Anti-racism fits well into the Montessori ideas of respect as it aids the child’s social development.
Parents, this book is not a how-to-survive-parenthood guide. Instead, it’s a philosophy which encapsulates the ideas and methods of Dr Maria Montessori. You might not agree with every single word written in the book, but it will definitely give you a deeper understanding of the thought process of your child as they grow, change and mature.
Title: Navigating Parenthood with Montessori Principles
Author: Leonie Thomas
Date Published: 31.3.2024
Leonie Thomas 