The social development of the three to six year old child is something, which is often over-looked, in our increasingly academically focused world. It's something that is essential to the overall development of the child. The social development of the child is aided by the role of the family and the role of the casa.
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| While the child in the center is smaller, she eagerly took on the responsibility to show her two new friends our casa. |
Independence must be fostered at home in order for the child to be successful and independent outside of the home. Fostering independence at home includes encouraging the child to do anything from dressing himself or herself to helping to prepare each meal.
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| Spontaneously making a pitcher-full of orange juice. |
At school, the children are experiencing independence, responsibility, choice and limited materials. As we have talked before, the Practical Life area of the casa supports and develops concentration, independence and control of movement that feeds into the later work of the child in the other three areas (Sensorial, Language and Math).
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| This child of about 5 helps a younger friend of 3 complete her Small Button Frame. |
The children in each primary casa accept the unspoken responsibility to be willing to help one another, which is helped with the mixed ages in our classrooms. The younger children look up to the older children and the older children take care of the younger children. And sometimes, the younger ones find ways to help the older ones.
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| Helping to zip up a jacket. |
Our active community lends itself to responding to the developmental needs of each child. The children have the freedom to choose where to work and with whom to work. Choosing with whom to work provides the children with opportunities to foster relationships with their peers in learning to work with each other. These relationships offer real-life situations that require problem solving.
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| And learning to offer just enough help... |
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| ...allows for a chance at success and building confidence. |
“Our schools show that children of different ages help one another. The younger ones see what the older ones are doing and ask for explanations. These are readily given and the instruction is really valuable, for the mind of the five-year-old is so much nearer to ours than to the mind of a child of three, that the little one learns easily…There is a communication and a harmony between the two that one seldom finds between the adult and the small child." (Dr. Maria Montessori)
