Learning to Observe your Child: A Montessori Approach

09/12/2016

Learning to Observe your Child and Follow her Lead

Written by Tim Seldin
President, The Montessori Foundation
Chair, The International Montessori Council

As parents we often feel the need to direct our children, but Montessori believed we should follow them instead. How much time do you spend watching your child? I don’t mean watching half-heartedly while you are doing something else. I mean focusing your attention completely on your child for an extended period. There is no better way to begin using Montessori’s principles in your home than by sitting back and observing what your child is looking at, what he says, and what he does. Children have so much to teach us about their needs and interests if we will only take the time to pay attention.

How to Observe:

You may want to keep a bound notebook or journal in which you can make notes and keep a record of your observations. Regularly set aside some time to observe your child. Sit somewhere comfortable close to him so that you can easily see and hear him and any other children with whom he is playing. Make notes every so often about what you see. Over time, your notes will form an interesting record of your child’s behavior at different ages, as well as helping you to notice if a pattern of behavior is emerging at a particular time. Try to interpret what your child’s behavior means. When you notice that your child displays an interest in something new, try, without overwhelming him, to nurture it. Think about ways to introduce some new activities that will appeal to your child’s activities and achievements.

What to Observe:

Remember, the only thing that you can count on day after day with children is that, as they grow, their preferences, interests, and abilities change in unpredictable ways. Every time you observe your child, try to forget about previous experiences or perceptions and focus on what is really happening right now. While your child is playing, notice which toys he selects. How does he use them? Does he tend to play alone, or with others? Do you notice any patterns over time? Watch how your child moves about the house. Does he move from place to place quietly, moving gracefully, or does he race about? Is there a room in your home that your child prefers to be in? What seems to attract him to that room? When eating, note what your child most enjoys. Can he drink without spilling and use a fork and spoon appropriately and with good eye-hand coordination? How does your child behave at mealtimes? Is this a time when he likes to talk about his day? As you observe, think twice before you interfere with your child’s activity. Your goal in this exercise is to learn from what he is doing, not to keep jumping up and correcting him.

Brite Studios opened doors September 2010 with three preschool classrooms and a handful of recreational programs that included dance and karate running in the evenings.

A year later, our school expanded due to its popularity and we expanded to the upstairs facility. In this new space we began the kindergarten program and one half day program.

The success of our location continued to grow and by 2012, Brite Studios added 6 preschool classes, half day, full day kindergarten and extended child care. We also introduced a Spanish and French Montessori program.

Due to high demand, starting September 2016, Brite Studios will offer a Toddler program for 18 month to 2.5 year olds. This program is full-day and offers before and after care options, for 2, 3 or 5 days a week.

Brite Studios preschool program is a unique combination of 3 key aspects for education: academic programming, art focus (music, drama, art), and a strong physical education program.

Our complementary recreational program allows us to access teachers and programs other schools are not able to afford. The nature of our physical space, both inside and out, enables Brite Studios to have meaningful access to gym-based programs that help set the stage for an active lifestyle.