Wed
Jun
15
“ It is independence the child is striving for – that is what he has to achieve and he has to achieve it through his own actions. This is why the small child becomes upset, appears to rebel, when we try to do things for him that he can do for himself. We are not allowing him to function independently. Once again, this is why the small child asks us – “help me to help myself”. Not abandon me to my own devices – the child could
then never learn all that is necessary for his independence. Not help me, because that would be to carry out the actions for the child instead of letting him do them for himself. Instead, to learn how to measure out, for each individual child, remembering each one is different – to measure out the exact dose of help needed by each individual child. That is where the artist in each of us needs to come in. Because that individual measuring of the exact dose of help needed, requires an artist’s eye and touch. This is another reason why Dr. Montessori speaks so forcibly of the adult’s need to learn how to observe. Observation of needs is the key to knowing how much help to offer and when to offer it. Unless we are very careful, very observant, we can spoil the independent work of the child, by thinking we are helping him, when the real help should consist in being able to stand back and let the child do all the work for and by himself, offering help only when the child can no longer do any more.
Margaret E. Stephenson, The Art of Montessori in the Home: Three to Six Years
then never learn all that is necessary for his independence. Not help me, because that would be to carry out the actions for the child instead of letting him do them for himself. Instead, to learn how to measure out, for each individual child, remembering each one is different – to measure out the exact dose of help needed by each individual child. That is where the artist in each of us needs to come in. Because that individual measuring of the exact dose of help needed, requires an artist’s eye and touch. This is another reason why Dr. Montessori speaks so forcibly of the adult’s need to learn how to observe. Observation of needs is the key to knowing how much help to offer and when to offer it. Unless we are very careful, very observant, we can spoil the independent work of the child, by thinking we are helping him, when the real help should consist in being able to stand back and let the child do all the work for and by himself, offering help only when the child can no longer do any more.
Margaret E. Stephenson, The Art of Montessori in the Home: Three to Six Years
