This post is from the newest section of the monthly newsletter, the Montessori Corner, which delves into the various aspects of your child’s Montessori classroom. Posts are copied here for you to explore.
In Montessori, you will often hear teachers and children refer to classroom activities as “work” rather than “play.” As Dr. Montessori wrote, “The child can only develop by means of experience in his environment. We call such experience ‘work.’” The materials in the classroom are not toys, but carefully designed tools that invite children to explore, repeat, and discover. Choosing work allows children to engage in meaningful activity that builds independence, concentration, and growth.
Dr. Montessori also reminds us, “The child’s work is not the work of the adult. The child works for the sake of growth itself. He works to build the man he will become.” While adults may work toward an end goal, the child works for the joy of the process and the development happening within. Calling it “work” honors the child’s effort and gives dignity to their activity. We also value play as an important part of childhood—within our space it is framed as imagination, creativity, and social connection that beautifully complements their purposeful work.
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