Follow the Child: 3 Months
I am reading Maria Montessori’s book on her educational philosophy and it is fabulous. I had to buy myself a copy off of half.com because I want to highlight and write notes all over the book! She was ahead of her time. I’m going to try to compile my thoughts once I’ve finished the book but for now I have been thinking about one of the main principles of the Montessori Method: following the child. Montessori advocates observing, observing, observing. We shouldn’t try to impose our ideas of growth and development on the children but let them develop in their own timing. Our job is to assist them along the way and help them pursue their interests.
I have been finding myself just watching Ze a lot as he explores his world. I want to give him the freedom to give his full attention to something that interests him. We have a little gym from IKEA with interchangeable toys. So far I haven’t changed the toys but he spends a part of his day every day just looking at the toys. Yesterday he laid for 45 minutes staring at the red spiral on the side. Every once in awhile I would reach over and spin it but not say a word. I didn’t want to interrupt his focus. I want him to learn to find his enjoyment in discovering things for himself, not just because I am ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over what he is doing. I find it fascinating that he is so intensely interested in things in the world around him that he will talk and smile at them: for now this is mostly ceiling fans and a picture we have in our bedroom.
Almost every day we also have tummy time in front of the mirror hung next to his bed. He has just started noticing the other baby in the mirror and sometimes he smiles at himself. In this time I try to let Ze take the lead also. He is trying so hard to roll over. He can start to get frustrated, but I try not to step in and help him in any way but to encourage him with my words and by patting his back. When I can tell that he’s too overwhelmed, we move on to something else. I am in awe of how God has uniquely designed us to grow into the world around us and I see it as my goal to lead Ze through this world but not to stand in his way.
