Independence

Help Me to Help Myself”: Independence and the Montessori Philosophy

Maria Montessori had an innovative perspective regarding education. She did not look at a set of skills or a body of knowledge. Instead she focused on the development of the whole person over the course of gaining maturity. When developing her first school in Rome circa 1907, Maria Montessori observed that children between the ages of one and a half to six years delighted in helping to care for their classroom. Montessori created child-size tables, chairs, brooms, mops, and other materials so that children could practice sweeping, mopping and cleaning. She noticed that children enjoyed helping prepare food, set the table, do laundry, garden, and clean as adults do. An entire curriculum was created to fulfil the child’s need to contribute to his/her community and the Exercises of Practical Life were born.
 
The Practical Life exercises are organised into three main areas: Care of the person, Care of the environment, and Grace and Courtesy. The Dressing Frames introduce such skills as Buttoning, Zipping, Snapping and Tying. Other activities such as hand washing, baby doll washing, and teeth brushing are also considered Caring for the person. Under the area of caring for the environment are exercises such as Pouring, Spooning, Sweeping, Cloth Folding, Dish Washing and taking care of animals and plants. The lessons of Grace and Courtesy provide the child with the opportunity to learn and practice everyday social norms, such as blowing one’s nose, saying excuse me, greeting a guest, introducing oneself, and walking around a work rug.

The aim of all the Practical Life lessons is to promote independence, responsibility, coordination, concentration, respect for one’s self and their environment, and provide the child with the opportunity to develop their identity as a contributing citizen of the community.

Children who are increasingly independent and motivated to do things by themselves, are not only better equipped to apply themselves to their future academic endeavours, but also go on to lead happier and more fulfilled lives.