Q: How can developing a sense of independence help students as they grow physically and mentally?
A: “When a child is in an environment where independence is the focus, they develop a lot of self-esteem and self-confidence,” says Erin Mandalfino, children’s house directress at Ruffing Montessori School. “They have a can-do attitude and then they’re not intimidated if they get up against something that might be a little challenging or something that maybe takes a little extra effort. They have a sense that they can do things and they can persevere through that challenge. It also keeps them from being inhibited from exploring and trying new things. So it’s a large part of the early childhood development. It’s part of the [Ruffing] parent guidelines that we have — to sit on their hands and let their child have a comfortable amount of struggle before jumping in and doing it for them, so they learn to be a little more self-reliant. It’s very emotionally empowering to do things on your own.”Ask the Experts: Developing Independence
education
8:00 AM EST
October 1, 2018