Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/purposeful-work-a-montessori-approach-to-everyday-challenging-behavior/5016451/
Seeing the world through the eyes of my grandchildren has been a fascinating journey and one that has confirmed for me the unyielding drive in all children for independence, self-care, and the enjoyment and obsession for work. I observed this phenomenon in our own three children 30 years ago and then, once again, as I have taught and observed at our Montessori preschool for the last 20 years. My third confirmation of this behavior began with the arrival of my three grandchildren.The drive for independence, self care, and the enjoyment of work supports the development of responsibility. It calls children to a deeper sense of calm, purposeful activity and gives the child a sense of self-confidence. It also eliminates all kinds of negative, challenging behaviors.
When my grandchildren come bursting through the door, they know they will not find any toys to play with at our house, except for a small box of animals, insects, and sea creatures. They will find a collection of materials to explore: paint, clay, wire, beads, crayons, markers, glue, and an assortment of papers. They have many toys at home but are content to entertain themselves with these items at our house. Yet their greatest ...