The 15 essential principles to educate happy children
In teaching there is a before and after for María Montessori. This revolutionary pedagogue changed the educational landscape with her renewed ideas based on freedom of learning and on the responsibility of the student himself in his content acquisition process. It stirred consciences and, inevitably, collided with the most conservative sectors of education.
To this day, its educational model continues to be an example of innovation that can be accessed in private institutions that reproduce its peculiar pedagogy of freedom: classrooms where children of different ages mix, and in which, through specific teaching material , the child can develop their abilities intuitively and effectively. Orderly spaces in which direct manipulation is essential for learning, and in which the teacher is no longer the direct source of knowledge, but rather a guide, a companion on the path of knowledge . Only in this way did María Montessori think that children would become responsible, autonomous and social adults .
But what role do parents play in all this? How can we apply the Montessori philosophy in our children’s day to day? For María Montessori, the support and care of parents was essential to raise happy future children. To do this, he formulated a series of principles that can serve as a reference when treating our children.
List of 15 principles
- Your child imitates his surroundings. Be her best role model and she will strive to be like you.
- Use constructive criticism with him. If you only criticize him harshly, he will learn to judge negatively.
- On the contrary, if you support him , he will understand what it is to value effort.
- If he receives hostility he will become aggressive and will defend himself by fighting.
- Do not ridicule him , because you will only make him develop his shyness.
- If you despise him, a terrible and destructive feeling of guilt will grow in him.
- If you want him to trust others, make him feel safe and loved always, his environment is very important.
- Accept and take their opinions into account, this will increase your self-esteem.
- If you live in a home where love and affection reign , feeling that your presence is necessary, it will be easier for you to find love throughout your life.
- Never speak ill of him , neither when he is in front of him nor when he is not.
- Values their growth positively , taking into account the good so that there is no room for the bad.
- Whenever he approaches you with a comment or question, answer him . Let him know that he can count on you when he needs you.
- Respect and support him even if he made a mistake. There is time for you to correct it, now or later.
- You must let him find only what he needs. But if he asks for your help, go along with him.
- Offer him your best version every day, the greatest of yourself. Your positivity, your joy, your hope … That will make him spread with good feelings and values.
