The start of the term saw the introduction of some new equipment into the Montessori environment. When Kai (18 months) first used the steps and ramp in the Toddler Area he went slowly, gauging the gradient of the ramp. This week an hour into the session Kai was running down the ramp squealing, then crawling through the red tunnel to do it all over again!
At the same time, Jim (approx 20 months) also made use of new equipment, choosing the job of rolling the coloured balls down the tube. The tube is just long enough that the child has an opportunity to hear the ball rolling and wonder where it is before it drops into the bucket.
Meanwhile at 10 am Ruby (2 years) was overheard telling her dad Dave quite clearly that she would put the mat away. In the Montessori environment the child is given the freedom to choose their own jobs and are encourage to see the job through to completion, including packing the job away and returning it to its place on the shelves. The ability to persist with a job through to completion is a valuable life long skill to attain.
Great post Shona - it is a really important part of Montessori for children to develop the full cycle of activity - from choosing the job all the way through to packing it away. Ruby obviously enjoys the independence she has in completing a job to this point, and Dave has recognised the importance of allowing her this independence.
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