by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

More than 100 years after opening the Casa dei Bambini, the Children’s House in Rome, Maria Montessori’s methods of educating children still have currency.

There are a reportedly 17,000 Montessori schools throughout the world and about 4,000 in the United States, primarily preschools.  An article in the July MetroKids deals with using Montessori methods at home, taking the lead from the child, following his or her interests.

Independence is encouraged. Teach the child to feed the dog or water the flowers. Activities should be small and inclusive; for example all equipment for the task should be available.
 
Proper names should be used. In arranging for flower watering, name the plant, have the watering can ready and a towel for the spills.  Allow the child to make mistakes and work at his/her own pace.

Whether you call it Montessori or not, a good reference for parenting is Teach Me to Do It Myself: Montessori Activities for You and Your Child by Maja Pitamic, part of Barron’s educational series.

The approach will foster independence, creativity and respect for a child to master a task alone.