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These choices go on all day, every day. It helps them build up a belief that they are in charge of their time, their work and their learning. The only rules about what they choose are connected to the ground rule of respect. They don’t to make the same choices as their friends and so are empowered to develop distinctly from others. That individuality of choice and interested is respected by the environment, the adults and the children.

The community of the 3-6 class is one of the earliest experiences of regular group life outside of the home that your children have. The 3 year age span is essential to this community. Montessori knew that the experience of social life in a prepared environment is essential to the human individual developing. The children need to see their place in a community that their value to the group. Montessori said “Social life is solving problems, behaving properly and pursuing acceptable aims. Self knowledge is one of the most important results of the freedom of the class.”

In our active classrooms, children can test themselves against limits, learn what is fulfilling to them and discover their strengths and weaknesses. Montessori teaches is to not just tolerate the individual personalities of our children but to value them as necessary to the strength of the group. In our class the different aged children help one another. The younger ones imitate the older. The older ones’ instruction is valuable because their minds are nearer to a 3 year old than ours. Not only age differences contribute to the group strength, but also different sorts of learners, different physical skills, different interests and different approaches to problem solving. We need all the diversity we can get to make the community strong. Children who are welcoming and friendly help make the shy ones feel a part of the group. Those who move slowly and notice small details help the more active to appreciate the things they may miss in their rush. Some who are good at drawing help others to learn by watching them. A child who enjoys bringing items to a show at line can, by example, give a more private child the courage to share something of his or hers with the class. Our job as teachers and parents is to support and encourage this individuality and the respect for others’ individuality.

Children who know themselves and their own value to the community as well as their responsibility to it will grow into adults who will be assets to whatever communities they choose to be part of. And they will contribute positively to the greater world community. It sounds idealistic, and it is. But it all starts at the young ages of your children now, when they are creating themselves with our support. 

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