highlighted at every opportunity. Whilstthe children are engaged in solitaryactivities, working in pairs or three andfours, they are well aware being part ofsocial unit which expects politeness andrespect.

In practical terms it means that childrenwill be encouraged to use please andthank you appropriately. They will beshown how to ask to share an activitywith a friend, using words rather thanactions – “May I join you” or “May Iwork with you” is more effective thansnatching. Offering a friend a biscuit or adrink, knowing how to behave duringsnack, when getting ready to go outsideor for an outing and welcoming a visitorare all part of helping children adopt anappropriate etiquette encouraging co-operation and respect. These behaviourscan be demonstrated to children throughrole-play but above all, they need to bepresent, visible and evident in thebehaviours of the adults as well as theolder children in the classroom. That waythey will become part of every day lifefor all the children both at nursery and athome. They reflect children’s “socialembryonic stage” as well as their“sensitive period for social aspects”.Montessori noticed that there werecertain periods of particular sensitivitythat kept occurring in the children. In thenext issue, the Sensitive Periods childrenmove through will be explained. !Barbara Isaacs, principal, MCI London

There were certain things thatMontessori saw were veryimportant for children’s naturaldevelopment. As part of a seriesof articles, Barbara Isaacs willexplain some of the keyprinciples of the Montessoriapproach including practicalideas which can be used athome.

Visitors to Montessoriclassrooms usually commenton the calm atmosphere whichthey encounter. The key

contributing factor is the environmentwhich offers children an extensive rangeof activities from which they can choseaccording to their interests, and whichresponds to their developmental needs.

They engage with the environment in apurposeful manner; this engagementsupports concentration and developmentof physical, social and cognitive skills.The challenge, risk and achievementthese activities offer the children alsoboost their self esteem and self worth.The outcome usually is a satisfied childbehaving in a reasonable manner,reflecting the example set by the olderchildren and the adults in theenvironment.

Modelling is an important aspect ofchildren’s learning during the early years.They do not only model what their olderor more able friends do, but they oftenmodel how they work with the activity.The teachers are very important in themodelling process as they, too, set anexample for the children. Often, they arethe first adults outside their families withwhom the children establish a lastingand meaningful relationship.

Integral to the calmness is the grace andcourtesy we see in the environment.There is an expectation from the teachersas well as the adults, that they act in arespectful and polite manner. Calmvoices are encouraged and time is takento explain consequences of inappropriatebehaviour. The ground rules are setwith the well-being of the group in mind,this social aspect of the classroom is

Montessori International, October – December 2006 15

[ parenting ]

Montessori explained -Grace and Courtesy

BOOK REVIEW

MontessoriInsights forthe parents of youngchildrenBy Aline D. Wolf

Aline D. Wolf’s slim booklet (51pages) is for parents/carers of childrenprimarily under the age of seven.

Her purpose is to offer what sheconsiders to be the best of MariaMontessori insights to today’s parents

and to suggest howthese principlescan be applied in aworld that issignificantlydifferent from theworld in whichMontessorideveloped them.

The importance ofthe early years,preparing yourhome for atoddler, sensitiveperiods, gaining independence, the selectionof toys, the question of television anddiscipline are some of the areas looked at inthis booklet.

The reader is taken through many of thefundamental principles of Montessori in aclear, informative and thoughtful mannerwith plenty of references made to more indepth works should the reader choose todelve a little deeper. In addition, eachsection is complemented by numerouspractical activities.

As a Montessori teacher I found the contentof the book very parent friendly with just theright amount of information for today’s busyparents. It is thoughtfully written, offering awonderful, practical insight into Montessoriat home for today’s parents/carers.

The booklet is priced at $6.00 (£3.20approx.) and can be ordered fromwww.parentchildpress.com

Terri Micallef, owner and principal of RiggFarm Montessori Nursery, North Yorkshire.

Helping each other wash-up after a snack