As I mentioned in my earlier part, Montessori is a philosophy/mindset/a way of living. Montessori is like magic, it transforms whatever it touches. – you, your thoughts, actions and even the things around you.
Toys
Buying toys is every parent’s favourite activity, at least mine is, but now I understand children really don’t need that many toys. Now I am careful while buying the right toy or making the right DIY toy/activity. It has to be realistic, simple, appropriate for her age group, with purpose.
Pre-Montessori time I observed my daughter loved opening zips. So I made a board for her with different coloured zips sewed on it at different angles. I was very happy with my idea and thought she would love it. But she didn’t. She opened all the zips and that’s all, she didn’t even close them back. Now I understand how that activity lacked a purpose. She loved opening zips to peek inside a purse or bag. She just didn’t love opening zips. Post Montessori if I have to redo the zip activity it will be zip pouches with mystery items inside.
Apart from change in types of toys, Montessori also brought all the toys out of the box- literally. Earlier they used get dumped in big box. Every day we used to pull out everything out of the box and then dump it back. Some days she would want to be with them even in the box.
Now I know better. Only few, relevant toys are displayed on shelves – at her eye and hand level for her to see and choose. She actually stands in front of her shelves, ponders and then choose!
Montessori also helped us to choose the right kind of story books- happy and realistic.
Montessori Method brought our parenting out of the box – giving us an unconventional, unconforming, a totally different perspective on child and child rearing, questioning all our prior prejudices and beliefs. It is like a torch handed over to parents faltering in darkness. Now no more stumbling, no more second guessing. Path of parenting is well lit and clear!
(Now even the difficulties and obstacles can be well seen but why worry when we have our Montessori Magic to sail us through! )
Author: Priya Chaudhary, Montessori Parent
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