Key Takeaways
- In a Montessori school, emotional regulation is one of the primary skills children gain.
- Young children develop emotional intelligence in an independent learning environment.
- Learning to express and regulate their feelings at an early age sets children up for future success.
Whether babies are tired, hungry, or in pain, their natural instinct is to cry. However, as infants grow into toddlers and then preschool-age children, regulating their emotions can be particularly challenging.
Many early childhood education programs focus on building emotional intelligence, though the Montessori approach to emotional regulation reigns supreme. Learn how the Montessori philosophy helps children understand their feelings and cope with them.
How Can Children Benefit From Attending a Montessori Preschool in Miami Lakes?
Parents gearing up to enroll their children in early childhood education programs should consider a Montessori preschool in Miami Lakes. This unique school setting centers around independent learning. Students will choose activities that appeal to them and tie into one of the five core elements of the Montessori curriculum.
Preschoolers will expand their knowledge of language, mathematics, and sensorial skills. They’ll also develop practical life skills and learn about cultural studies. As students work toward meeting these educational goals, they’ll build communication skills, learn to lead, and even grow their emotional intelligence.
While a conventional classroom may help children master the alphabet and learn their numbers, Montessori preschools foster their development in several different ways.
How Do Montessori Preschools Teach Emotional Intelligence?
Montessori preschools teach emotional intelligence by giving students a safe space, letting them express their feelings, and helping them gain confidence through self-driven learning. With a Montessori education, emotional regulation tends to come more easily compared to traditional classrooms. Below is a breakdown of the driving forces of emotional development in Montessori children.
Classrooms Promote a Sense of Calm Curiosity
Taking your child out of their familiar environment can fill them with fear and anxiety. That’s why so many children cling to their parents’ legs when they drop them off at school, or begin crying when it’s time to say goodbye. Montessori schools begin fostering emotional regulation in children from the second they set foot inside the classroom.
The environment is designed to help students feel at ease, rather than overwhelmed. Many of these classrooms feature a calming color palette and comfortable lighting. There may be independent workstations scattered around the room, which give children their own space to complete various activities.
Even the class roster highlights the unique Montessori support for children’s emotions. These preschools tend to have smaller class sizes. As a result, kids are free to learn at their own pace and receive individual attention when needed.
Teachers Respect Every Student’s Emotions
In a Montessori school, emotional regulation strengthens due to the ways that adults interact with children.
Picture a traditional classroom where all students follow the same lesson taught by the teacher. If one student doesn’t grasp the material as quickly as their peers, they could become frustrated and express those emotions to their teacher. The educator may respond by telling them not to get upset, assuring them that they will master the lesson.
This scenario would play out differently in a Montessori program. For starters, kids will choose their own activities instead of following a teacher-led lesson. When they express difficult or frustrating emotions, teachers don’t scold or tell them how to behave. Instead, they do the following:
- Acknowledge and respect every emotion: A Montessori teacher allows children to express whatever they’re feeling without judgment or consequences.
- Give each student the space to process their emotions: Young children will have time to process their emotions and what triggered them.
- Help children verbalize their feelings: Teachers encourage children to say what’s bothering them so they can work through it. For instance, instead of crying and acting out when another student takes one of their puzzle pieces, Montessori students may use their words and say, “They took my puzzle piece, and I’m upset because I wasn’t finished with it yet.”
- Offer guidance for regulating their emotions: Montessori teachers don’t tell their students to behave a certain way. However, they will gently guide them toward a solution that keeps their emotions in check.
There’s no denying that the Montessori philosophy promotes emotional intelligence among toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age kids.
Children Build Confidence and Independence
Finally, Montessori schools support emotional regulation through independent learning. Students in these settings are encouraged to learn at their own pace, which helps them gain confidence. When children feel capable of doing tasks on their own, they are more likely to take initiative instead of letting negative emotions get the best of them.
Traditional classrooms limit students by giving them regimented lessons and little autonomy. The Montessori philosophy flips this on its head by letting kids pick activities that appeal to them and giving them uninterrupted time for each activity. They’ll become more confident and learn to trust themselves, which could lead to fewer tantrums or meltdowns.
What Tactics Do Montessori Programs Use To Regulate a Child’s Emotions?
A Montessori school supports emotional regulation with a few different tactics tied to the core curriculum. Practical life skills and sensory skills are among the most important elements in a Montessori education. Both of these come into play when it comes to teaching children to cope with their emotions.
Check out some of the ways that your child could gain emotional intelligence in the classroom.
Relaxing the Senses
When your toddler starts crying out of frustration, giving them a big hug might help them calm down. By hugging them or speaking to them in a calm, loving manner, you’ll help them relax and gain control over their feelings. While this tactic may be successful at home, you won’t be available to help them in the classroom.
Montessori preschools often include a designated space where students can relax their senses and calm themselves down. They could sit in a comfortable chair, experience peace and quiet, and focus on their breathing. After a few minutes, many children are able to collect themselves.
Learning these coping skills at an early age will be incredibly valuable for your child going forward.
Tackling Conflict in a Calm Manner
Plenty of children get upset while playing or working with others. Montessori programs support emotional regulation by taking a positive approach to conflict resolution.
In many cases, a teacher, parent, or other adult will discipline children and tell them to behave a certain way to resolve or avoid conflict. This tactic may not be effective in the long run, as children could continually rely on adults to handle their conflicts. Allowing kids to work through problems and improve their social dynamics is a staple of the Montessori education.
What does this look like in practice? Maggie and James are four-year-old preschoolers who typically get along well, but when Maggie suddenly wants alone time, she yells at James and hurts his feelings. Under the guidance of a Montessori educator, both kids can work through their conflict by sharing their feelings and listening to each other.
The teacher may mediate their interaction by asking both students to explain why they’re upset. Once they recognize each other’s emotions and what triggered them, they could try to find a solution that suits both of them.
Role-Playing in Storytelling
The children in a Montessori preschool or lower elementary program could greatly benefit from storytelling, particularly when they’re acting out the story.
Imagine kids putting on a puppet show. No matter what story they’re trying to tell, they’ll be the ones conveying the message through their characters. Role-playing gives them a unique opportunity to express different emotions and practice conflict resolution.
Why Learning Emotional Intelligence Early Matters
A Montessori education and emotional regulation go hand in hand. Children exposed to a different type of schooling may not build these skills as quickly, which could hinder them in the future.
Learning valuable life skills is a core component of the Montessori philosophy. Within the classroom, students can naturally discover ways to express their feelings without fear or judgment, along with ways to cope with negative emotions.
As children grow and continue in school, interpersonal communication becomes even more important. The emotional intelligence they build in their early childhood education program will guide them through future interactions. Parents who recognize the value of emotional awareness will notice notable improvements in their children after enrolling them in these programs.
Set Your Child Up for Success at Montessori Children’s House of Miami Lakes
Would you like your child to attend a Montessori preschool for emotional regulation? See if Montessori Children’s House of Miami Lakes is the right fit. Our preschool programs cater to toddlers ranging from 15 months to 2 years old, plus children between the ages of 3 and 5.
Dedicated teachers guide students through hands-on activities for child development, allowing them to learn valuable skills for a bright future. To learn more about admissions or to schedule a tour of our facility, call (305) 823-5632.