How To Promote Independence In Your Child

Posted February 1, 2019

In Montessori School in Guelph, Montessori tips for Parents, Promote independence for Guelph children

Independence is an important skill for all children to have, but it’s an essential part of a Montessori education. Encouraging your child to be independent can have positive, lasting effects and contribute to their development into well-rounded, confident adults.

While independence is taught in the Montessori classroom, we encourage you to teach it at home as well.

1. Teaching Independence Through Personal Success

If your children are able to complete and even master certain skills or lessons, they will build confidence in their ability to take on new tasks. Allow your children to choose their activities based on what interests them. This will help them learn to be independent in choosing their activities, it will give them a feeling of pride and accomplishment when they have mastered an activity they have chosen and it will help to build confidence in their ability to make decisions.

2. Reducing The Need For External Correction

When you give your children the space to choose their own activities and make their own mistakes, you limit the need for external correction. External correction, such as from a teacher or parent, can lead to a sense of failure or stress for the child. Montessori activities tend to be self-correcting, so they teach your children when the task has been completed right or wrong without the need for parent or teacher intervention.

3. Practical Life Skills & Self-Reliance

We have mentioned before the importance of practical life skills in a Montessori education and they are one of the best ways to teach self-reliance in your child. Getting your children involved in daily home tasks helps them to learn useful life skills that they will carry into adulthood. It’s important for parents to show children the right way to complete a task and let the child attempt it themselves. Making mistakes and trying to correct them without any parent intervention is important to develop self-reliance.

A combination of Montessori practices at home and a Montessori education at school is essential for your child’s success. Montessori School of Wellington in Guelph accepts enrolment year round! Start your child on the path to success with us.

Glynis Hamilton

I am Glynis Hamilton, the owner of the Montessori School of Wellington. When I had my children I knew exactly what I wanted for them in terms of early childhood education. It was only when I visited a beautiful Montessori school in Toronto that I knew I had found what I was looking for. I became intrigued by Montessori and so, at the ripe old age of 44, I went back to school and then switched career from legal secretary to Montessori teacher. Since that time, Montessori has become a way of life for me. The past 20 years have been a joy rather than a job. I have moved from being front line in the classroom to the office doing more administrative work. But, my office door is almost always open to the classroom where I can hear the children’s laughter and welcome them in for a visit. I truly love what I do.