The Montessori environment invites meaningful work. Meaningful work leads the child on a path to self-mastery and life long learning. Dr. Montessori described meaningful work for children that meets the following conditions (Montessori, 1967):
Freely chosen. Unlike a traditional setting that is teacher directed, Montessori teachers act as guides. Children are free to choose their own work in the Montessori environment. Activities are designed to support what Montessori referred to as “auto-education.”
Done with the hands. Movement is part of every activity in the Montessori environment. Meaningful work must engage the child’s mind along with their body. When children work with care and precision, their movements are refined and linked with intelligent activity.
With real objects. The Montessori environments offers children the opportunity to work with real objects. Did you know that research confirms that children have a preference for real objects over their pretend counterparts? (Taggart, Fukunda & Lillard, 2018). In a Montessori classroom, children have the opportunity to prepare real food, clean with real supplies, and learn with tangible materials. These objects are made with real materials, like glass and fabric. This approach differs from items traditionally offered to children that are made indestructible with plastic.
Accompanied by concentration. Concentration is the path to what Dr. Montessori referred to as normalization. Through normalization, children are able to direct and regulate themselves. To inspire concentration, adults carefully prepare activities that are interesting, engaging, and beautiful to young children. These activities engage children by following the principles of sensitive periods and human tendencies that all children experience. Montessori guides use their knowledge of child development to create these engaging activities.
Families can offer meaningful work that meet these conditions at home! Offer opportunities for work that is freely chosen, done by the hands with real objects that inspires concentration.
For glimpses of children busy with meaningful work, check out these videos of real Montessori classrooms in action:
https://montessoriguide.org/
References:
Montessori, M. 1967. The Absorbent Mind. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
Taggart, Fakunda, & Lillard. 2018. Children’s preferences for real activities: even stronger in the Montessori Children’s House. Journal of Montessori Research, 4(2).
