“Now the adult himself is part of the child’s environment; the adult must adjust himself to the child’s needs if he is not to be a hindrance to him and if he is not to substitute himself for the child in the activities essential to growth and development.” – Dr. Maria
Montessori, The Secret of Childhood.
To support the child in their endeavour to construct themselves, the adult (teacher or parent) ought to undergo a spiritual transformation. A transformation of dropping one’s biases, fears and inhibitions. It’s not an easy job to observe the child, cater to their needs, spark their interest, introduce new lessons while maintaining positive discipline. It’s a choice one makes daily, to follow the child and not thrust one’s own ideas upon them. The real preparation therefore is the study of one’s self. It’s more than the learning of ideas, it is the training of one’s character and the preparation of the spirit.
Here are some articles to help one understand the role of the adult, ways of communicating with the child and nurturing one’s own spirit while at that.
Resources:
- Adult in Environment (15 min read)
- Communication (20 min podcast)
- Nurturing your Spirit (50 min read)
- Self-Care for Teachers (25 min podcast)