{"id":1414,"date":"2025-01-08T11:39:58","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T16:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/?p=1414"},"modified":"2025-01-08T11:39:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T16:39:58","slug":"independence-in-the-early-childhood-montessori-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/08\/independence-in-the-early-childhood-montessori-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Independence in the Early Childhood Montessori Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow does he achieve this independence? He does it by means of a continuous activity.<\/em>
How does he become free? By means of constant effort\u2026<\/em>
Independence is not a static condition; it is a continuous conquest,<\/em>
and in order to reach not only freedom, but also strength,<\/em>
and the perfecting of one\u2019s powers, it is necessary to follow this path of unremitting toil.\u201d<\/em>
~ Dr. Maria Montessori (The Absorbent Mind)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maria Montessori recognized early on that there was a need for a form of education that looks at the whole child, at what drives them and what their true needs are. She observed the need for independence in children and began experimenting with different ways to guide children to become more involved in their own education, which was in opposition to the typical thought on Early Childhood Education in the 1900s. Montessori also recognized the importance of having children feel that they belong to a group, that they matter, and that other people care about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young children on the road to independence want to be given the opportunity to do things on their own. On average, a child falls 17 times an hour while learning to walk, but the child doesn\u2019t give up on this task until he has succeeded by repetition, thus learning by trial and error. Mistakes are a vital part of learning because they help children to adjust and motivate them to try again. When a child is learning a new task through direct experience, each small achievement creates a new connection in the brain, and before you know it, this new task has become automatic.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maria Montessori allowed children to become actively involved in their own education. She discovered that when children were able to freely choose an activity and follow what she called \u201cthe child\u2019s inner guide\u201d, they were able to engage for a longer time and were more deeply connected to their activity. Their concentration also deepened, compared to the more traditional practice of the teacher assigning the activity or work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This discovery was made in Italy back in 1907 at the first Montessori School, Casa dei Bambini, during an interesting observation. A teacher had accidently overslept, and as she rushed into the school, she stepped into the Prepared Environment and was astonished by what she found. All of the children had already chosen work on their own, without her being present. At first she was upset, but then Dr. Montessori urged her to observe the phenomenon before her. This is how one of the Core Principles of the Montessori Method, \u201cFollow the Child\u201d, was born. It was very clear that the children seemed more engaged, content, and happy, and were able to socialize, share, and help each other based on their own choices. Many core principles of the Montessori Method are based on Maria Montessori\u2019s early observations. She observed that children make choices that are influenced by developmental needs and that the children will continue to repeat an activity over and over until their needs have been met.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWe must, therefore, quit our roles as jailers and instead<\/em>
take care to prepare an environment in which we do as little as possible<\/em>
to exhaust the child with our surveillance and instruction.\u201d<\/em>
~\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Maria Montessori (The Child in the Family)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Montessori Prepared Environment, we always encourage and allow repetition as the children are born with a natural instinct to repeat. Young children are very capable of following through with an activity on their own. The role of the adult is to demonstrate how to do it and then take a step back and observe the child as she independently finishes the task. The Prepared Environment also allows children to make their own choices in a beautiful and inviting setting. Children of mixed ages work together as a community where everyone matters and everyone is able to follow their own inner guide, independently choosing meaningful and purposeful activities that foster a lifelong love of learning.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cHelp me to do it by myself\u201d ~ Maria Montessori<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development \u201cHow does he achieve this independence? He does it by means of a continuous activity.How does he become free? By means of constant effort\u2026Independence is not a static condition; it is a continuous conquest,and in order to reach not only freedom, but also strength,and the perfecting of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[275,274,28,280,303,277,261,279,278,3,87,272,273,1],"tags":[10,84,4,144,259,147,304,260],"coauthors":[16],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Independence1.jpeg?fit=240%2C320&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7icff-mO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1267,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/25\/practical-life-for-life-how-montessori-students-learn-to-care-for-themselves-and-the-world-around-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":0},"title":"Practical Life for Life: How Montessori Students Learn to Care for Themselves and the World Around Them","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"March 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jacqueline Pisciotto, Early Childhood Head Teacherand Becky Weaver, Early Childhood Head Teacher \u201cIt is interesting to notice that where life is simple and natural and where the children participate in the adult\u2019s life, they are calm and happy.\u201d ~\u00a0Maria Montessori Cleaning mirror work \u201cSo, my daughter said she has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care of Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Care of Environment","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/care-of-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PL-Cover-Pic.jpg?fit=408%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1304,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/12\/understanding-montessori-math\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":1},"title":"Understanding Montessori Math","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"June 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Arati Joshi, Early Childhood Head Teacher \u201cChildren display a universal love of mathematics,which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.\u201d~ Maria Montessori Dr. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori Method of Education, believed that a child is born with a \u201cmathematical mind\u201d. From birth, children\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-12-at-4.04.15\u202fPM.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1235,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/29\/the-absorbent-mind-supporting-mcas-youngest-learners\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":2},"title":"The Absorbent Mind: Supporting MCA\u2019s Youngest Learners","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"December 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bernadette Fasolas, Director of Hiring and Montessori Educationand Tori Inkley, Executive Director \u201cAbsorbent Mind\u201d is a term coined by Dr. Maria Montessori to describe the natural absorption of information by a child from birth through the age of 6 years. A child in this age range has been described\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MMCM1.jpg?fit=440%2C650&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1425,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/08\/the-montessori-movement-comes-to-america-a-brief-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":3},"title":"The Montessori Movement Comes to America: A Brief History","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"March 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Developmentand Tori Inkley, Executive Director The very first official Montessori training course was held in Rome, Italy in 1913. While the course attracted international attendees, the majority were from America. Maria Montessori taught the theory lessons in Italian at her home and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/IMG_1358.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":89,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/10\/a-joyful-start-to-the-montessori-journey-with-mmcm\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":4},"title":"A Joyful Start to the Montessori Journey with MMC&M","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"May 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Camilla Nichols-Uhler and Alex Chiu This fall, The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy (MCA) proudly launched an exciting new program called Montessori, My Child, & Me (MMC&M). \u00a0Designed for children ages 18-30 months, this program offers young children the opportunity to explore a modified Montessori environment with their parents or caregivers.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0153.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0153.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0153.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0153.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_0153.jpg?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":461,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/23\/moving-on-from-montessori\/","url_meta":{"origin":1414,"position":5},"title":"Moving on from Montessori","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"May 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Montessori Early Childhood model promotes children joining the classroom at age three (or younger in some schools) and staying through the end of the kindergarten year (or age six). There are many benefits to following this course, as children become part of a school-family community, build on and develop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Montessori Elementary"","block_context":{"text":"Montessori Elementary","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/montessori-elementary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Montessori Elementary","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Moving-on-from-Montessori.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Moving-on-from-Montessori.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Moving-on-from-Montessori.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Moving-on-from-Montessori.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Moving-on-from-Montessori.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1423,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414\/revisions\/1423"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1414"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}