Montessori Radmoor

Hello P1 Families,

Welcome to a brand new year in our wonderful classroom community. It has been a pleasure meeting and getting to know all of our new families. Of course, it is always great to reconnect with our returning families. We are very excited to see what this new school year has in store for us.

The three or four year journey through the primary environment is a very exciting time in your child’s development. This is the time when children lay the foundation for their personality. The child’s primary goal at this time is self-construction. They are striving to become independent and learning all they can about their environment, like the language, culture and movement. The child at this stage prefers working mostly by himself and for himself. Although, towards the end of their primary journey they begin to show an interest in working with others and for others. Collaboration and contribution within their community usually starts in their kindergarten year.

But how does this self-construction happen? It is through the work that the child does bringing together the hands and the mind. The very first step on the ladder to self-construction is independence. When we talk about independence, we mean both functional and emotional independence. The functional independence is the first to arrive, and this happens in our environment through the exercises of Practical Life. Ranging from simple to complex, these activities are deeply rooted in our everyday lives. They are simply tailored to the appropriate size for the child. These include activities like pouring grains or liquid from one pitcher to another, dusting the materials, watering the plants, polishing wooden or metal objects, arranging flowers for the room and preparing foods for snack, button or zipper frames, tying laces and sewing buttons. These activities call to the young child because they have seen these performed often in their homes and schools by adults and it appeals to their inner sense of wanting to be a contributing part of their environments. As they repeat these simple activities, it gives the children the skills they need to independently contribute at home and in the classroom. They are able to help themselves dress and undress, they are able to set the table at lunch so others can enjoy a meal with them and they are able to take care of the environment that is so dear to them. With this independence comes the deep sense of belonging and a wonderful sense of self-confidence that allows them to then go out further and explore beyond their comfort zone.

So what can you do to help your child along this path of self-construction? The activities of practical life are definitely not restricted to the shelves of your child’s beautiful Montessori classroom. In fact, they are just as easy to do at home. Here are some ideas of things to do at home:

  1. Give them the time to dress or undress themselves slowly. If you are showing them how to do something like zip or button, do so slowly and in simple steps.
  2. Have a low space in the kitchen where they can keep their things like plates, cups, silverware etc. so that they can help themselves to a snack or drink.
  3. Allow them to make their own snack or pack their lunch for school. Give them the means to make healthy choices.
  4. Invite them to help set the table, fold laundry, unload the dishwasher or sweep the floor. Allow them the space to make mistakes and give them the chance to repeat often so that they can become more precise.
  5. Give them a step stool so they can easily reach the things they need to, like the bathroom sink or the toilet.
  6. Let them have some low shelves for their toys and books and hooks for their bags and coats.

More than anything, allow your child to participate in the daily happenings within your home so that they may feel a sense of involvement and pride. Don’t forget to set clear guidelines and limits too, so that your child can participate successfully.

We look forward to seeing all of you at our Fall Family Potluck on September 29th from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Please bring a dish to pass and enjoy socializing with the rest of the P1 families. Don’t forget to let your child share their favorite works with you. You can sign up for a dish to pass on iVolunteer.com. If you can any questions you can contact Tracey Epley (classroom coordinator) or email me at asardar@montessoriradmoor.org.

Archana Sardar

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