“I did it!” is one of the most satisfying phrases you can hear a young child say. Their excitement is contagious. The satisfaction and pride they feel when they complete a task independently are unmatched.
So, why don’t we give young children more opportunities to be independent? This is something Dr. Montessori implemented as part of her core curriculum. Discover why independence is so important for young children and read about strategies to support independence in the early childhood setting.
Independence Aligns with Childhood Development Needs
Children have a natural urge to achieve independence. Dr. Montessori explained, “Whenever possible, the child has a tendency to render himself independent of the help of others, especially of the adult.”
Psychology supports Dr. Montessori’s observations:
- Developing independence is essential for children to build their ability to make decisions, solve problems, and participate in society.
- Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson noted that young children (starting around age 2) need opportunities to have control over their lives. This helps them develop a healthy personality.
- Children require opportunities to experience appropriate risk. Without opportunities to handle situations independently, children may be unable to cope in everyday scenarios in the future.
- Research shows that children who don’t get opportunities to be independent may experience higher rates of anxiety. On the contrary, when children can be independent, it can lessen stress and anxiety.
Independence Supports Positive Behaviors
When teachers and parents meet the child’s needs to be independent, children are naturally happier. This means they’re more cooperative and regulated.
As Dr. Montessori said, “When the child has acquired this independence, his relation to the adult is changed. He is sweeter and calmer. He no longer lives under a repression (the mental suggestion of the adult); therefore, he loses any antipathy.”
Additionally, when caregivers create space for independence, children are less likely to engage in power struggles. Instead of immediately responding with “no!” or fighting every transition, they feel empowered to make choices and participate.
Benefits of Fostering Independence in Early Childhood
Independence is about more than positive behavior; it helps children grow into well-adjusted, happy adults! Appropriate independence for children offers many benefits, such as:
- Responsibility: When children are expected to help and contribute from a young age, it becomes a normal part of life. From cleaning up toys as toddlers to helping prepare meals, young children can gain a sense of responsibility through independence.
- Self-Confidence: Every time a child does something independently, they grow their confidence and self-esteem. When children can do things for themselves, they feel capable instead of needy, building pride and competence.
- Builds Skills: Hand-eye coordination and motor skills grow with practice. The more children do for themselves, the more practice they get. Even simple activities like using a dustpan and brush or combing hair help children build motor control.
How Montessori Supports Independence in the Classroom
In early childhood Montessori classrooms, independence is built into everyday routines. Here are a few ways the Montessori method supports independence:
- Work Routines: Children get out their own materials and return them to the shelf without help. Plus, they have access to child-sized cleaning tools if they spill something or make a mess.
- Practical Life Lessons: Specific lessons and activities help children learn basic skills that boost independence. For example, children practice spooning dry grains to build their eating skills. Or, children use the dressing frames to practice buttoning, tying ribbons, and doing snaps to build dressing skills.
- Grace and Courtesy Lessons: In the Montessori classroom, teachers offer lessons that teach children social skills. This helps children learn to advocate for themselves. For example, they can learn “How to introduce myself” or “How to ask for a turn.” This way, instead of complaining to an adult, they can resolve conflicts independently.
- Freedom: Freedom of choice is built into the Montessori classroom. Instead of the teacher also telling children what to do, children can often choose activities and lessons. This means children get to practice prioritization, making choices, and decision-making as a natural part of the day.
How adults interact also plays a major role. Dr. Montessori encouraged teachers to take a step back and avoid intervening when children make mistakes or struggle with an activity. As she said, “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” Instead, teachers only step in when a child is in danger, isn’t respecting others, or requests assistance.
Children learn through doing. Just as you usually remember a mistake you make, so do children!
If we don’t allow children to experiment and make mistakes, they won’t learn as much. They’ll also learn that failure is “wrong” because the teacher always steps in. When children get more space to try things, they not only practice independence, but they also build skills.
5 Strategies to Boost Children’s Independence in the Early Childhood Classroom
How can you bring these benefits to your daycare, preschool, or Montessori classroom? Here are some tips to boost independence:
Create Opportunities for Freedom
Create a time in the schedule when children have the freedom to make their own choices. For example, you may offer a few centers or activities and allow children to choose freely.
You can start small, allowing freedom for even 15 minutes or so. Then, as children learn to manage this amount of freedom, you can increase the time and offer more options.
Intervene with Intention
It’s tempting to step in when a child is struggling or asks for help. You can support independence by letting children try to work things out on their own. Sometimes, children are so accustomed to everything being done by an adult, they won’t even try to do activities or tasks on their own.
When children are old enough to understand, you can offer some guidelines such as:
- Before asking a teacher for help, I ask a friend.
- Before asking a teacher for help, I try to do it myself.
- Before telling a teacher about a problem, I try it myself.
Some situations absolutely require a teacher’s support, such as if a child is hurt, in danger, or is upset. Teachers can also support learning by strategically intervening. But by stepping back a little bit, we can help children see how much they’re capable of!
Teach Practical Skills
Take time to actively teach skills that will help children be more independent, such as:
- How to open a snack container
- How to put on a jacket
- How to change shoes
- How to wipe up a spill
These lessons not only help children build skills, but also set the expectation that they really can do these things independently!
Offer Choices
When possible, offer children choices such as:
- A choice between colors
- A choice between two activities
- A choice of book
- A choice of game
These small decisions help children feel more autonomous, in control, and empowered in their learning environment.
Independence in Early Childhood: The Building Blocks for Success
Taking small steps toward independence supports children’s development. Encouraging independence requires practice and strategies to foster each child’s unique needs.
Would you like to learn strategies and activities that support early childhood independence? Learn strategies, activities, lessons, and how to support children with our Certified Montessori Early Childhood Diploma Course! Offering an in-depth curriculum and support from experienced instructors, this course also provides key insights into childhood development.
Are you ready to get started? Write us a note! Our friendly team will be happy to answer your questions and walk you through the registration process. Email us at info@mmttc.ca to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
