My very best friend since childhood is sending her three year old daughter to Montessori school for the first time this year (they live in Connecticut, otherwise you bet they’d be coming here). Prior to this, she went to a little 2 and 3’s program for half a day a few times a week. She cried every day at drop off, never wanted to go, if she saw her teachers outside of school she would hide behind her mom - BUT, this child came home with the most amazing craft projects. They were cute, meticulously made and she brought another adorable project home every day she went to school.

This September, Montessori school started. Walked right in, no tears, and my friend basically had to pry her child off the playground at pick-up. But, the art projects were non-existent and the papers that were coming home were… confusing. Here is what she sent me:

Now, thankfully, I’ve been educating my friend on Montessori for the last decade so she knew I’d give her an explanation that she would be satisfied with. Those art projects on the left are actually……..

MADE BY A TEACHER!

I know, I know, your child is capable, they follow directions, they listen, but, no, your two and three your old child did not make those (alone). They had a teacher sitting next to them, heavily guiding their hand so that they created a “cute” craft to bring home to mom and dad.

At Montessori school, we don’t do that. All those papers with little paint dots all over them? Your child made those, by themself, at their own will, because they decided to. One of those little projects on the right - if you look closely - is a button sewn to a piece of fabric. Your child did that! All by themselves! They saw the lesson, they saw the work on the shelf, they decided to try it, and they finished their work. That is what Montessori is all about. We present the idea and leave it up to the child to find it and try it. Works like a charm.

Now, of course, sometimes your child wants to make a holiday gift, or a Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift, and they’ll bring something fancy home. But, still, your child received a very specific lesson on how to create the craft and when it was their turn to make it, they did it all on their own. Montessori children become used to attempting something on their own and accept that their talent is their talent (not their teacher’s). After teaching art in a traditional public school setting and hearing time and time again - “I can’t do it, it doesn’t look good, I want to start over” - it is incredibly refreshing to facilitate learning and creating in a Montessori setting where I don’t think I’ve ever heard those comments coming from children.

So next time you empty those Friday Folders out and think you’re finding things for the recycling bin, take a moment to consider how your child decided to make that book, sew that button, draw that picture, gather the supplies, squirt the glue. Think about what they were thinking when they made those decisions - were they thinking of you?

How to Foster Creativity in Your Child:

*Model that behavior! Sit at the table with your child and use paper, glue, feathers, googly eyes and create something.

*Present them with age appropriate ideas. Your child probably loves crafts - access their cutting/glueing/drawing skills and show them how to make something based on that.

*If your child wants to draw something, show them. On your own paper. I have given some complicated drawing lessons where the child watches while I explain what I’m doing. Kids listen! “To draw a ladybug, I start with a circle, then I add four ovals for the arms and legs, a half circle for the head. Then I’ll add these lines for the antennae.”

*Creativity isn’t about ART. It is a certain way of thinking, it is about problem solving and organization.

Art and How To Foster Creativity In Your Child