Friday, January 30, 2009

Control the Environment, Not the Child

A few days ago when I made the final decision to do my Rainbow-Mama-Montessori-Method at home with Lovely this year, & decided that I wanted to go back to basics, I picked up my copy of The Essential Montessori: An introduction to the Woman, the Writings, the Method, and the Movement by Elizabeth Hainstock (here's an Amazon excerpt) and read it within 24 hours! That was such a feat for me! It can take me months to get half-way through a book at times ;) I picked it up when I first woke up in the morning & read it when I could throughout the day (luckily it was a lovely rainy long weekend with T at home) and finished it at midnight. Woops! Slight problem of a sleepy-Mama the next day but totally worth it.

This was the first thing that jumped off the page at me. Control the Environment, Not the Child. Wow. So simple and so on-the-money. The book hadn't even started, it's in the foreword!  I made up a little sign & this is it stuck up on my pantry. 

I've made a bunch of notes and have been thinking a lot about it since so will hope to write a bit more about my favourite bits soon....


Fb Comments
9 Comments
Disqus
Comments :

9 comments :

  1. Hi Amber

    I have been blog hopping and have come across your inspirational blog.

    I love this quote - sounds so simple and one of those statements that you think to yourself: why didn't I think of that?

    I have a little girl who is two and a baby boy who is nearly seven months old. I am also consumed by offering our children an education that teaches them to think for themselves and isn't just about teaching from the neck up and to one side.

    I have enjoyed reading through your blog and was delighted to see that you are a fellow Aussie.

    I look forward to following you on your journey.


    Kindest regards
    Elise.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Amber,
    This is one of the basic (and simple, you are definitely right on that) principles that I always try to remind to myself. The most encouraging thing is to witness this genius principle implications on my son. So simple and so true!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love that quote! Can't wait to read more...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thankyou for your lovely and inspiring blog and this quote! It certainly summarizes the Montessori method. I am reorganizing my home for my 15 month old son so we can implement the Montessori method and this is just what I needed to read.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am sure I already commented on this post, but I was just coming by to say that I found Snow Cake on You Tube! There is a link at the side of my blog xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Children learn so much from their environment.Montessori recognized how important it was for a child to be stimulated by their senses. An excellent environment is one which enables the child to gain independence.I wish you good luck on your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that simple message.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Amber,
    Through blog hopping I landed at your site. You have so much to say, and I felt I knew you from such a long time.
    I love your quote about the environment.
    I had been a Montessori teacher for twenty years, a Montessori mama for two daughters and soon to be a grand ma. I do jewelry now and write in my web site- some Montessori related articles too. Wish you all the best- Dita.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks *everyone* for your wonderful messages. This is such a simple but also such a STRONG motto to stand by.

    Big love to you all & keep those comments coming :)

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...