At a young age, your child
will strive to do what he or she feels is the right thing. Maria Montessori
firmly believed all young children have a sense of dignity instilled in them
which guides them into pleasing the adults around them and behaving in proper
manners. There are techniques you should follow to help your child know what is
considered proper manners. Montessori has set some guidelines for you that will
enable you to teach your young child at home what is regarded as appropriate
toddler manners.
Opportunities
to Practice Manners
Role-playing is an excellent
way for you to show your child manners. Greeting others can often be a
difficult action for toddlers, and by role-playing, you can show them good ways
to meet others. Pretend you've met a friend at the store and go over how he or
she can say 'hello' nicely.
Repeat
Lessons that are Difficult
If your child has a difficult
time greeting others, don't push them. Repeat lessons whenever they appear to
make your toddler feel uncomfortable. They will find their way and time on how
to greet respectably as long as you continue to demonstrate proper etiquette
yourself.
Lessons on
Specific Manners
If you've decided to teach your toddler about manners, you should approach each lesson separately.
Learning how to greet others, expressing thanks, or when not to interrupt, for
example, should all be separate lessons. If you've decided to use the
role-playing method, you should only go through one of the manners at each play
time.
Be Specific
with your Praise
After your child nicely
greets another, be specific with your praise and let them know how happy it has
made you. Tell them, "I am so happy with how nicely you said hello to Mr.
Johnson." It is an excellent idea to reinforce their good behavior by stating
precisely what they've done and how it has made you feel. Acknowledge that it
was a friendly greeting and let your child know how it pleased you when they
spoke so nice.
Do Not
Criticize
Do not criticize your child
if you feel they've not greeted another properly. Embarrassing them in public
or in front of others will not teach them proper etiquette techniques. If you
think they are acting incorrectly with purpose, a gentle reminder on how to
greet would be appropriate, but criticizing, especially in public, is never
advised.
Practical
Life Activities
Practical life activities
help your child develop order, coordination, independence, and concentration.
By implementing these activities with your child, you will provide them with
graceful movements and the inner discipline needed to conquer proper etiquette
skills and manners.
Your child needs to feel
secure and loved and in return will learn how to use self-control and good
manners. Children learn what they know from those around them. Know that how
you conduct yourself and use good manners will be mirrored by your child. The teachers and staff at the Montessori School of Flagstaff Sunnyside Campus understand the important role they play in leading and guiding students through their daily lives, both inside and outside of the classroom. Contact us today to schedule a tour!
The toddler years are an
exciting time for parents and their kids, but they can also be some of the most
challenging times as well. Children who are three or four often go through
frustrating phases in their lives that can test the patience of even the most
tolerant parent. However, knowing proactive, positive ways to reach your child
during these difficult times will make life a lot easier for both of you.
A
few tips that help:
Minimizing
the yelling
Understanding
what's going on
Know how
to redirect
Set clear,
simple boundaries
Don't fear
timeouts
Be
consistent with your child
Don't
Yell So Much
Even though yelling seems
like a good way to let out frustration, it is less likely to bring out better
behavior. Too much yelling and other harsh measures can have a negative impact
on how your child's brain develops. Taking a minute to calm down before
disciplining your child can work wonders.
Understand
What's Going On
If you're attuned to your
child's needs, you can likely guess what may be going on at any given time.
Understand why your child is acting out can help you take steps to resolve the
problem. In many cases, better awareness helps you prevent problems before they
start.
Redirect
Your Child in Creative Ways
Redirecting a child in a
positive way can help eliminate a lot of bad behavior. Try reading to a child
who is whining or get a child who is being pushy or grabbing to do some
physical activity. Redirection always needs to be done in a loving way.
Know
How to Set Boundaries
All children need boundaries,
but they need to be simple for better retention. Remind your child of these
"house rules" every day. Make sure you praise your child when he or
she sticks to the rules. Understand that this is an age where your child is
likely to test out how much they can get away with.
Sometimes
Everyone Needs a Timeout
A timeout, possibly one
minute for each year, can distract your child from bad behavior and give them
time to think. If the bad behavior focuses on a specific toy, consider giving
your child a timeout from using the toy. Make sure your child has access to the
toilet and doesn't have access to toys or games.
Consistency
is Key
Make sure you address bad
behavior consistently if you don't want it to continue. Don't expect your child
to follow the rules one day and let them off the next. Above all, use positive
methods to correct bad behavior.
At Mission Valley Montessori, our teachers work with children starting at the toddler phase. They continue throughout their elementary years, learning through play-based activities that are self-guided and self-directed. To learn how to help your toddler through this challenging phase, contact us today to see the positive impact Montessori education can have on your child.
One of the hallmarks of the Montessori
method is the integrated curriculum. We are all familiar with the approach
of traditional education, where school is divided up into compartmentalized
"subjects," such as reading, language arts, social studies, science,
and math. Even preschool programs are often structured this way. The Montessori preschool
curriculum is different. Instead of compartmentalizing the different areas of
learning, the Montessori method integrates them into a single curriculum for a
richer learning environment and more memorable lessons. For example, a Montessori
preschool class that studies Africa doesn't just limit the topic to a block of
time during the day set aside for social studies. They bring the studies of
Africa into all the subjects studied in the classroom. For example, the
children will read African stories, sing African songs, play African games,
make African-themed art, and learn about African plants, animals, and
ecosystems. Using lesson plans like this one,
the Montessori method builds what is called the Spiral of Learning, where each
lesson and skill leads into the next. Many different subjects that would be
compartmentalized in a traditional learning environment are integrated in a
Montessori classroom, allowing children to make connections that strengthen the
lessons and fuel their natural desire to learn.
Early education provides the
foundation for your child's attitude toward learning for the rest of his or her
life. To see firsthand what an integrated preschool curriculum looks like, and
to learn more about how it can benefit your child, schedule a tour with our Pleasanton school today.
