What Are The Benefits And How to Implement It at Home
The Montessori education philosophy places great emphasis on order and predictability, particularly during the first years of a child’s life. During this time, children have a strong inner need for order, including order in the environment, order in time, and order in adults’ actions. The need for order peaks in the first three years and internalizes by around 5-6 years of age. Later on, between 6-12 years of age, children are not as sensitive to external order unlike the 0-6-year-old child but rather, to intellectual order
Providing a calm, orderly environment where children can expect to find things in their proper place and in their proper order establishes a sense of security and trust within themselves and the world they live in. The external order becomes internal order.
Order helps children develop the ability to recognize patterns, cause and effect, and sequences. It promotes security and allows children to make predictions and assumptions based on experience, strengthening their development of reasoning. With structure and order, children are free to choose activities that interest them and align with their natural abilities, building their self-confidence and love of learning.
To implement the Montessori philosophy of order at home, it’s important to keep in mind that too much stimuli or a chaotic environment can create confusion and clutter in a child’s mind. Here are some tips on how to create an orderly environment for your child to thrive in:
- In Montessori education, children are encouraged to follow their interests and explore the world around them at their own pace. Providing a structured, but flexible environment allows children to make choices and pursue activities that interest them, building their self-confidence and love of learning.
- Provide purposeful activities that are adjusted according to your child’s ability, not too hard or too easy. Purposeful activities allow children to engage in meaningful work and build practical life skills, such as cleaning, cooking, or gardening. These activities should be age-appropriate and should challenge the child’s abilities without being overwhelming.
- Create a consistent routine for meals, playtime, sleep time, and other activities. This helps your child develop a sense of order and predictability, which can promote feelings of security and calmness.
- Keep things simple. Too many toys or activities can overwhelm a child and interfere with their ability to focus. Offer a few simple toys or activities and rotate them often to keep it interesting.
- Designate a place for everything. Toys, clothes, books, and other items should have their own space in the house. Make sure your child knows where everything belongs, and involve them in the process of putting things away.
- Involve your child in household tasks. Encourage your child to help with tasks like setting the table, folding laundry, cooking, or sweeping the floor. This gives them a sense of responsibility and helps them understand the importance of order in everyday life.
- Model order and organization. Children learn by example, so make sure you model the behavior you want to see in your child.
By following these tips, you can provide a nurturing environment that helps your child develop a sense of order and predictability, promoting their growth and development.
