1) Treating a baby or child with complete respect, just as we would speak to another adult.
2) The fact that they are encouraged from birth, to explore what they love and are interested in (freedom within limits). I think that following the child is crucial, because it allows for the state of flow - when they are ‘in the zone’ and fully immersed in what they are doing. Maria Montessori suggested that deep concentration and flow was at the heart of education and lifelong development.
“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.”
― Maria Montessori
I believe that giving children a lot of opportunity to work in a state of flow, introduces them to this wonderful concept and, if nurtured in the right way, will hopefully inspire a lifelong love of learning.
My hope is that children who love to learn and have had an environment to support this, can develop into adults who enjoy being in the state of flow often. I think that this would lead to more people with increased job satisfaction and overall life satisfaction, because they are doing something that they love and often lose track of time because they are so immersed in it. If this activity, work or skill also aligns with their personal values and life purpose, plus serves other people or helps in the world, then I think it’s an ideal situation.
3) I firmly believe in and feel very hopeful about Maria Montessori’s philosophy of World Peace through the child. She believed that through meeting their developmental and spiritual needs, by providing freedom to grow independence and by giving purpose to their work, the child will exist within, and embody peace. Then the peaceful Montessori child becomes a peacemaker as an adult, enabling World Peace through the child. “Education is the best weapon for peace.” - Maria Montessori
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