As a parent of a toddler, you’ve probably noticed your child’s fascination with lifting heavy objects, moving furniture, and carrying things. But have you ever wondered why they enjoy it so much? According to Maria Montessori, the famous educator and physician, toddlers have a strong need to exert their strength through “Maximum Effort.” In this post, we’ll explore what Maximum Effort is, why it’s important for toddlers, and how parents can support it.
What is Maximum Effort?
Maximum Effort is a natural stage in a toddler’s development, typically appearing soon after they have learned to walk. During this stage, children have an inner drive to exert their strength and energy. They enjoy hard and heavy work, such as carrying heavy objects, pushing boxes, and throwing things. For children, the focus is on the process, rather than the end result. They don’t need to accomplish a task, they’re looking to satisfy an inner need to move. Through purposeful movement, they refine their coordination and learn to coordinate movement with great effort.
“The greater the effort, the greater the child’s pleasure and the worse any interruption” Maria Montessori
Why is Maximum Effort important for toddlers?
Maximum Effort is an important stage in a child’s development, as it helps them build physical and mental strength, coordination, and independence. Through Maximum Effort, children learn about their own abilities and limitations, as well as their place in the family and society. It also helps them develop a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is vital for their emotional and social well-being.
How can parents support Maximum Effort?
As a parent, it’s important to understand the importance of Maximum Effort and how to support it. One of the worst things you can do is to interrupt your child during Maximum Effort, as it can discourage their natural desire to learn and grow. Instead, encourage and support your child by providing opportunities for them to engage in purposeful movement.
Here are some ideas for activities that fulfill a child’s need for Maximum Effort:
- Let your child carry their own bag of unbreakable items when grocery shopping.
- Allow your child to help unload the washing machine.
- Give your child boxes to fill with their toys and push around.
- Teach your child how to water plants.
- Show your child how to help set up the table for meals.
- Let your child carry their own furniture or objects, such as toy boxes, learning towers, stools, or chairs.
- Bring buckets and a shovel to the sandbox to fill, carry, and dump.
- Let your child climb stairs, Pikkler triangles, slides, playgrounds, ladders – always with appropriate supervision.
- Teach your child how to make their own bed.
- Take your child on long walks.
- Let your child pour water.
By providing opportunities for Maximum Effort, parents can support their child’s natural desire to learn and grow, build physical and mental strength, coordination, and independence.
In conclusion, Maximum Effort is an essential stage in a toddler’s development, and it’s key for parents to understand and support it. By encouraging purposeful movement and providing opportunities for hard and heavy work, parents can help their child build physical and mental strength, coordination, and independence, which are vital for their emotional and social well-being.
