Here are a few simple tips to make the adjustment to Montessori discipline feel a bit easier and more natural. Montessori schools take a different approach to discipline. The revolutionary approach to education developed over a century ago by Dr. Maria Montessori has transformed schools across the globe. In this video we explore Montessori in 5 minutes, breaking down the core understandings to help you better apply the principles of Montessori in your home. Children dont just automatically know how to be a friend, express anger, or how to solve problems. | 20+ At Home Activities, 45+ Montessori Sensorial Activities and Materials, Montessori Practical Life: Activities and Ideas to Build Skills, The 13 Best Montessori Blogs for Tips & Inspiration, Treats children as equals with parents as a guide, Provides opportunities for problem solving, Allows children to process their own emotions, Focuses on internal motivation rather than rewards/bribes, Labels, acknowledges and defines emotions, Provide freedom within limits with clear, consistent boundaries, Allow quiet time for children to calm down and/or process, Practice respectful communication both ways, Demonstrate or assist the child with making amends, Help the child understand the consequences of their actions, Ask the child how those effected might be feeling, They cant exert independence in the ways they wish, They have been rewarded for bad behavior with attention. One of the things that aroused her greatest interest was that order and discipline seemed to be so closely united that they resulted in freedom. Take the time to evaluate what causes you to feel anxious or angry around your children. Whenever possible, provide age-appropriate activities. And if there are no limits, the child has license to do whatever they like without thinking of others or may have the feeling that no-one cares for them. As a matter of fact, many adults are still learning how to cope with these issues. We cannot expect children to control their own emotions if we ourselves are having meltdowns in front of them. If you are feeling overwhelmed by chaos at your house, I'll help you to set up your home Montessori-style. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Whether youve disciplined for years in a very different manner or are just learning with your first child, these tactics are practical and easy to implement. Thank you for posting this! Montessori, however, is only one component in the childs life. A lot of time and energy in this stage of discipline should go into modeling the behaviors we expect from children. As children move into elementary school, it is important to continue to talk about choices and consequences often. This means that we are getting our child to look to others to do something instead of developing internal self-discipline. Freedom might seem antithetical to discipline, but to foster true discipline, from within the child and not outside sources, we must foster an understanding of the freedom of choice and the consequences that come along with that freedom. A Montessori approach to discipline works both in the classroom and at home. Teach Grace and Courtesy! On Discipline - Reflections and Advice by Dr. Maria Montessori The Montessori Approach to Discipline by Mary Conroy and Kitty Williams Bravo Liberty and Discipline in the Montessori Classroom from Montessori for Everyone If we shout to solve problems, they learn to shout to solve problems. Explaining to them why certain activities or actions are not allowed helps build their understanding. Sometimes the reason doesnt seem to be clear or consistent. The Montessori School of Pleasanton is accepting new enrollment. Discipline in the Montessori environment is not something that is done to the child; nor is it a technique for controlling behavior. Learn more about my eBookMontessori at Home or School: How to. Ruby Red LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Awin, ShareASale, Impact, and other sites. Rather than punishing the child for not displaying acceptable social behavior, the Montessori Method encourages that we find ways to help the child understand the repercussions of what theyve done. The child learns such important skills as, how to shake hands and greet a friend, how to properly interrupt someone who is busy, and how to tell someone to please move out of my way. For instance, if a child is talking to neighbors in class, remind them that it is important to listen to the teacher so that they learn the lesson of the day. Tips To Maintain Discipline Through Montessori Approach. Every schools ground rules will vary but the essence is generally the same. Montessori said that children showed her "freedom and discipline are two faces of the same medal, because scientific freedom leads to discipline.". Below are some discipline strategies you can employ to protect yourself and them from harm while teaching them better ways of handling their feelings and managing their behavior. Their personalities havent formed yet, and they are incapable of making the critical decisions required for true discipline. It can be disheartening if your child or a child in your care shows aggressive behavior. If you havent already, please join us on ourLiving Montessori Now Facebook pagewhere youll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! First help them calm down. Sunshine Teachers Training is the FIRST and ONLY Training Institute Accredited by Badan Akreditasi Nasional Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini dan Pendidikan Non-Formal Akreditasi B K5662824, Jl. Never assume that a child understands what it means to be respectful of authority. Within this environment the child will be free to explore, but with this freedom comes responsibility. So toddlers are truly unable to control their urges or express their feelings. Children of different ages will require a different approach to discipline under the Montessori Method, working eventually to foster what Montessori called joyful obedience.. Praise your child for appropriate behavior and help explain how grown-up she is acting whenever she uses these tactics instead of hitting, kicking, or biting. There are no specific rules when it comes to using discipline in a Montessori environment. While the ultimate goals of writing and reading literacy remain the same, the Montessori approach likely differs from that which most are familiar. Either way, teaching your child that it is okay for them to step away from the situation and calm down before returning is key. Cempaka Putih raya No: 21, Jakarta 10510 Indonesia, BRANCH: Jl. The word discipline doesn't mean to punish. Traditional School: Comparison ChartContinue, The Montessori language approach is a very specific, structured approach to language learning that varies from many traditional methods. The educational choices for your child might initially seem quite straightforward: public or private school. With that being said, Maria Montessori did record quite a few observations that have led to the development of some general guidelines that most Montessori families and schools use to guide their discipline. On the other hand, if your child is older and more verbal, you can ask what they are feeling. At this stage the child has internalized obedience, or we might say, had developed self-discipline where he sees clearly the value of what is being offered to him by authority and rushes to obey. Such courses as Redirecting Childrens Behavior, Active Parenting, or STEP, dove tail the Montessori approach to discipline. Educators can use role-play and pretend play, which are important for advances in language acquisition and cognitive development, to model the behaviors they expect. Positive Discipline is easy to read about, but it can be challenging to put into practice. Categories Behavior and Discipline, Montessori Parenting, Home Montessori Parenting Montessori Discipline: Why Toddlers Bite and How to Make it Stop. They say prevention is better than cure. If youd like to know more about positive discipline (Montessori-friendly) strategies for kids 2-teens, be sure to register for the free Positive Parenting Solutions webinar by Amy McCready! Help your child come up with a solution for how they will handle the situation again in the future. Your email address will not be published. Similar to simplifying, providing age-appropriate activities helps avoid any meltdowns that might occur due to feelings of frustration, inadequacy or shame. Translate for them I love the idea all behaviour is communication. I once explained to a parent its like we have to be their translator. Tantrums or meltdowns are nearly inevitable with children, as they are experiencing big emotions for the first time. Children, especially younger children in the first or second levels of obedience, will be prone to outbursts of emotion. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Take the time to evaluate what causes you to feel anxious or angry around your children. Please contact us to schedule a school tour. There is a common misconception that Montessori children are allowed to do whatever they like. The Montessori approach to discipline stems from the same principle and is adaptable to every age group. Read 7 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. To have any meaningful discussion of these questions, it would seem that our first priority should be to define this thing called discipline. She linked the hands of the angry children and rubbed their backs as she encouraged their negotiations. * this podcast episode with Nichole Holtvluwer and I about why children needboundaries link to Montessori School: Is It Right For My Child? If they love to move around, provide more opportunities for motor skills activities, and create safe spaces that they can move around freely. When schools and families develop a partnership there is greater opportunity for consistency and continuity. Treat elementary students with the respect that you expect them to exhibit and give them freedom to make their own choices. link to Promoting Independence the Montessori Way. Your email address will not be published. Typically, toddlers hit or bite, not because they are angry, but because they are trying to explore a physical impulse. She is then able to learn and grow freely in the security of a community of respectful individuals. . Treat others with respect; if you cross a boundary in any relationship make it right. Im a proud mom of two and Montessori enthusiast. My top Ikea picks for Montessori children, My favourite Montessori colour activities . Although it might feel like youre in the, Read More The 24 Best Montessori Books for Parents and TeachersContinue, Sandpaper letters are traditionally used in a Montessori education, but can be easily incorporated whether you follow Montessori principles or not. Ruby Red LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Surprisingly enough, Montessori found that it was through the very liberty inherent in her classrooms that the children were given the means to reveal their inner or self-discipline. The magical spell that enables the Montessori Child to become disciplined is his love for meaningful activity. No, they cant have another cookie; no, they cant choose their own outfit; no, they cant play outside at lunchtime. If your child calms down, give them another chance to play with the other kids. Engage students in role-play exercises such as practicing greeting people, politeness in conversation, and conflict resolution. For example, if a child wants to eat a lot of sweets before bed, ask them, How do you feel when you eat a lot of sweets? Its almost bedtime.. Try providing calming activities such as coloring or teaching them breathing techniques to calm their anger. Regardless of how well you understand and know the pillars of Montessori discipline, youll never be able to incorporate these methods without practice, adjustment and real life experience. These types of situations can be avoided by simplifying the environment. Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials, More Than Ten Years Worth of Free Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities. Whenever possible, say yes. How you respond to hitting will influence how likely your child is to hit again. In order to provide your child with the appropriate amount of freedom and responsibility, youll need to create a safe and fully child-proof environment. Depending on the rate of language acquisition and cognitive development, children in Kindergarten may or may not be ready to advance to the third level of obedience. Before long, they act this way because it has become who they believe they are. It has been shown that children thrive when they are faced with challenges that are just slightly outside of their current level of mastery. Preschool-aged children are generally in what the Montessori Method designates as the second level of obedience. Be patient this can take 30 minutes or more at times. Inner Discipline A number of different perspectives can be helpful, too. This is not blind obedience at all, but is a fully informed choice by a personality which has grown in freedom and developed to its fullest potential. Does freedom mean license to act as he or she chooses or does freedom of choice carry with it certain responsibilities in the classroom community? From here, you can offer an alternative reaction for your child, like asking a grownup for help, or telling your childs friend your child is not done playing with the toy. Look for a quiet spot and practice deep breaths together or sing a calm and happy song together. This can help to foster a strong parent-child relationship based on mutual respect. Get rid of the clutter and set up beautiful, engaging spaces for your children. Many of this information triggers emotions. Montessori reading in itself is taught in quite a, Read More How to Teach Reading the Montessori WayContinue, Using Montessori at home might require a bit of initial work as you set up, but once you get started, you might be surprised to find that it feels quite natural. Rather than using a timeout, the Montessori Method encourages gluing in both the classroom and home. The Montessori discipline approach focuses on positive reinforcement instead of punishment, helping children to learn desired behaviors. Not using bribes and rewards or punishment - Bribes, rewards and punishment are all extrinsic motivations. However, if you observe a family or classroom that uses this approach, you might be surprised to discover that the children respond quite well to Montessori discipline methods. Two-Year-Olds hitting can sometimes be a very effective way to handle new emotions. Children under the age of three, i.e., children who are not yet in preschool, are unable to obey outside of their vital urges. Treat the child with respect so that they will respect you in return by helping them to learn from mistakes rather than scolding or using negative reinforcement. With respect for self and others comes self-discipline. Your childs brain is flooded with information on a daily basis. Natural consequences can sometimes be hard for children to understand, which is why it is important for parents to both talk about natural consequences and provide them in certain instancesnot through negative reinforcement but thorough modeling. And always reinforce and praise behavior when you catch your child being kind and gentle. The first step is preventing behavioral issues before they can occur. Beautiful classrooms with age appropriate Montessori learning material. Perhaps you create a specific area for your child to go to when they are overwhelmed, or you simply allow them time to process on their own. Tell them that they can choose which toys to play with or which books to read rather than asking them what they want to do. Practicing self-regulation. Building a garden, teaching them simple housework tasks, and framing failures as opportunities for learning are all a part of helping your child to feel respected. 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