This article describes the Montessori work cycle as published in the 18-month-4-year-old playgroup.
The Montessori Work Course creates a difference between parent and child to approach all jobs in the same way, and to ensure that the child gets into the right frame of mind to fully appreciate the job.
The first step in choosing a job
The first step is to allow the child to take the appropriate job of his or her choice from the shelves and bring it to the work area. This work area can be a table the size of a child or a rug laid on the floor before choosing a job. It is important that you do the job right and treat it gently and carefully.
Second Step: Show the job
When both the parent and the child are seated, the parent who is called the “parent-manager” takes a “turn” and ideally demonstrates the job to the child. The child gets to see the operations and see what the job looks like once it is completed. This is important so that the child can try to repeat the function as it was shown.
The child allows the parent-manager to explain because the child knows once it’s “his turn,” the parent-manager will allow the child to “enjoy” the job fully, without interruption.
Despite the fact that we start children from the age of 18 months, this “turn” process proceeds without a hitch. Usually, we ask parents to start indoctrinating their children before they even get to the playgroup. The ‘game’ we use to make children understand taking turns is played while brushing – the parent says ‘it’s my turn’ and proceeds to brush their children’s teeth. However, once this is done, the parent-director will say “Now, it’s your turn” and allow the child to use the toothbrush until the child is finished. Even after only a week or two of this game, the child will be ready to start our cycle.
Step Three: Explore the job until complete satisfaction
With our simple, unadorned guidelines and expectations, new parents are usually blown away to see their young children live up to our expectations. This is not unexpected – it is simply the way the Montessori system works to help a child feel comfortable in the prepared environment.
Step four: put the post back on the shelves
Once he is satisfied and when he has finished exploring the Montessori job, the child puts it back on the shelves, again holding the job with both hands. The parent-director only helps if the child is struggling to physically coordinate moving the chair, table, function, and walking to the shelf.