March | 2015 | Primary 1

Independence is one of the four cornerstones of the Primary Montessori school experience. First, order is introduced to the students to help guide the development of concentration, and then the manipulation of the work fosters overall coordination.

But the true aim of the process is to facilitate each child’s sense of their own independence.

In the classroom, we take deliberate steps to foster independence in the children. For example, when they approach us with their coat in hand and ask us to help put it on; instead of acquiescing to their request, we ask the child to look at the sleeves of the coat and make sure that each one is pulled out.

Then, as the jacket is ready to put on, we may place it over their shoulders or use a hood to place it on the body. At that point, the child senses they can put both of their arms through the sleeves quite easily.

It usually takes longer to learn how to use a zipper, but even with the young students, we will start the zipper and then let them pull it up.

As parents and teachers, we want the very best experiences for our children. Sometimes, we feel that by attending to their every need, we are caring for our children at a very high level.

In fact, by allowing a child to be responsible for some of their daily routines, provides the space for the child to build their independence from a very safe place.

The more our children learn how to care for themselves, the more confidence they enjoy and their sense of independence grows.

Dr. Montessori had a keen eye for the pivotal role true independence played in the development of a positive self image.

Early on in her work she observed that “it is not just a case of deciding to “set him free,” or of wanting him to be free;his independence is a physiological state, a change wrought by the process of growth.”

Step by step, as a child follows patterns laid out by their teachers and their parents, they begin to refine their sense of accomplishment and experience a clearer picture of themselves functioning in the world.