Building the habits and attitude of a confident and self-sufficient student.
The Montessori primary classroom (Cycles 2 and 3) is a place of independence and freedom – coupled with great responsibility. The children are expected to organise their time, select work, set and meet their own goals.As children grow, we adjust our expectations and in response to their expanding capability. Here are 5 things you can do at home to respect their growing independence;
Give personal responsibilities. They should be responsible for packing their bag, making their lunch and getting themselves ready. Having a calendar with the week’s activities printed will help them to know the routine. Teacher’s email the weekly class schedule to you each term.
Give family responsibilities. Your child is an active and involved participant in their school life and they should have the same at home. Whether it’s preparing breakfast, or making beds in the morning, assigned chores will help your primary child feel grounded, accomplished and appreciated.
Protect unstructured free time. Your child will do demanding academic work at school, with periods of deep concentration, research and practice. Equally important for their development is also time to rest, explore, and imagine; whether it’s running around the playground, drawing or playing with legos, a portion of your child’s day should always be free of demands and external stimulation.
Limit screen time - screen time offers limited benefits, so have established rules and boundaries in place for your child.
Read together. Over and over again, we are learning that family reading time and the resulting relationship with books helps children in every possible measurable area, from academic performance to social skills. Whether it’s you reading to your child or them reading to you, this simple family activity is one of the most beneficial things you can do together.
Routines and responsibilities are important for children of any age, so that they can develop into capable independent people.