The Child’s Work.

“Play time is never wasted. So as long as children are busily absorbed, they are working at their own development - for children would rather work than play.” - Maria Montessori 

Montessori’s lecture to parents explains that children are ALWAYS working on their development. This is their “work” and they do it tirelessly in those early childhood years.  

In the Montessori approach, we intentionally prepared the child’s environment for our child based off our observations of our child’s interests and needs in hopes we can support them in their “work” to develop themselves. BUT we don’t always get it right because a child’s inner developmental need the child cannot possibly tell us exactly what it is and it changes constantly. Some days, it can seem like our efforts are pointless.

After reading Maria Montessori’s lecture to parents this week, I took videos (posted below) of Coney engaged in activities that weren’t on his shelves prepared for him. Sure enough, Conley found numerous activities outside of what I prepared for him to try work on his development. Proving to me again, his inner developmental need I try to guess what it might be in order to support him. But the truth is, only he knows what that need is and he can’t possibly explain it to me. So who am I to tell him, “Stop stacking plastic cups, stop open and closing drawers, stop ripping apart leaves, stop dragging clothes around the house, stop climbing on and off the couch and go play with your toys I have prepared for you.” 

Whatever your child is doing - it is a constructive work he is doing to develop himself. This work is NOT our work - it’s the child’s work. 

So take the pressure off, mama! A child’s developing work goes on despite our greatest efforts to support them and even without having the fancy toys, DIY activities, or insta worthy playrooms.  

I suppose we could say, the best way we can help our children in their constructive work isn’t always through all the “stuff” but rather by getting out of their way. 

How do we get out of their way of our child’s constructive work? I am not suggesting you let your child do whatever he would like. Montessori was very clear that this is not what she meant either. But rather, this means that we get out of their way buy respecting their work within the limits we set. We avoid interrupting when your child is focused on any activity or task. If they are engaged in some activity that is not safe or harmful to themselves or others we step in and set the limits and can redirect to a similar activity that is acceptable and safe.

-Calli