Grace & Courtesy
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH
SEPTEMBER
When children enter our early years environments, it is often their first opportunity to engage in a social system outside of their home. Montessori believed this was an age when children, moving into the conscious absorbent mind, were able to interact, regulate, and even learn to negotiate with others. Grace and courtesy lessons introduce these social norms to children and help them understand the importance of respect and responsibility within their new social environment.
As we settle in new children and welcome back returning ones, we often have to go back to the beginning. After a long summer, it sometimes takes time to return to the routine and to set expectations. For true freedom to exist, there must be clear limits—and children often need to be reminded of these limits within the environment. These limits create safety and trust and lay the foundation for respect. Respect is a cornerstone of cosmic education and a guiding force within Montessori philosophy: respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the environment.
"Through practical exercises…the children develop a true ‘social feeling,’ for they are working in the environment of the community in which they live, without concerning themselves as to whether it is for their own, or for the common good. " - Maria Montessori
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