Children fall over, a lot. Most times they escape without a scratch, but other times they may not be so lucky. This is a universal truth to all kids everywhere, whether human or not.
And still, there are those children that realize they aren't hurt at all, get back up, and continue having their fun, placing entirely zero significance on the fact that they fell over. On the other hand there are also those kids that may have accidentally bumped into something, not gotten hurt at all, and still require their mummy or daddy to “make it better”.
Have you ever noticed that little sweet spot when children first start to fall over? That little period of two or three seconds’ right after they've fallen over where they just watch you. It is that period in which they gauge what it means to have fallen over. Parents or elders around will often start screaming and running to the child, fallen down and is now literally just scared for its little life having witnessed the hullabaloo. And then the wailing begins.
When a parent or elder reacts in a funny way or a supportive way after the child has fallen over, the child realizes that falling over is no big deal – and the next move is to get up and get going.
The drastic differences in these two small reactions shapes a lot of who the child will be as an adult. Whether they need someone to constantly reassure them for every little mishap in their lives, or they are able to let the little things go and just move on with their life.
Our reactions as adults are taken as the “right way” to do things for young impressionable minds. Whether the child has fallen over, made a mistake, thrown a tantrum, or just been extremely fussy. It is the way we engage with the situation that teaches them how to behave in the same situation.
This applies in every aspect of being around a child. The way you react to disagreements, conflicts, achievements, or compliments. The way you celebrate will be the way they will teach themselves to celebrate. The way you deal with you stress is the same way they will deal with their stress. Although the effects may not be immediately visible, it will be evident as the child grows and starts interacting socially with other people. Maintaining your own discipline becomes essential in raising a child that will eventually be self-disciplined and obedient of the rules of the land.
Still, it is not only the parents that the children look up to. Here it becomes important to choose the right school, and before that, the right schooling system. The chosen system should be empathetic with the child and its needs instead of a system where emotions are left unattended.
The Montessori method is the most acknowledged form of educating young minds both emotionally and academically. The method lays focus on the child's inner curiosity and intellect. Having understood the depth and functioning of a child's mind, any good Montessori will have well trained teachers who will know exactly what sort of reaction affects the child in which way.
At AIM Montessori, this is exactly how things work. Every child feels like a part of the family, and it is the reason children want to come to school, even on the holidays!