Benedict's Montessori Experience

Now that Benedict is going through Montessori, I must say that I should have signed Augustine up for Montessori when he was younger. The Montessori does not focus so much on linguistic and numeracy development, like the Shichida or the Rightmind programmes that Augustine went through, but it focuses on self discipline and self-care.

All the children are required to do self-directed work, be it having snacks, playing with Montessori toys, or simple handicrafts, or even simple household chores. But every child has to follow certain groundrules, such as taking turns, washing hands the moment they arrive and before they take their snacks, putting their hands behind their backs as they move from the classroom to the playground and queue up in an orderly manner, only working on their mats and keeping one item before they embark on another one. This really instils self directed discipline, and this carries over at home. And the children were allowed to handle delicate things like glass and vases and flowers and animals, just like adults, so they learn to be gentle with things. So Benedict can handle delicate things much better at 20 months, like a real steel fork, and pour water from a glass jug, than Augustine at 30 months. And he is better at putting away things and keeping things in their rightful place too.

If only Augustine learnt all these when he was younger! Then I would probably have an easier time disciplining him now. Alas, I wasn't around for him when he was younger to explore the possibilities of Montessori education. I just hope that Benedict will stick to the good habits he learnt at Montessori, and not follow his big brother's (sometimes) bad example.