Personal development, including self-esteem, are crucial aspects of Montessori preschool education. In the Montessori environment, this includes a variety of hands-on activities that encourage learning by doing. When children gain confidence through accomplishment, they gain a foundation to see progress even when things don’t go as planned. These 3 ideas for developing self-esteem were chosen as a starting point you can use for more advanced projects.
- Puzzle Play – Putting together puzzles has a lot to offer preschoolers. Like most Montessori-related activities, puzzles enhance a range of skills without appearing to be anything more than an enjoyable pastime. It develops fine motor skills, critical thinking, and provides a sense of accomplishment and self-worth with each piece of the puzzle which fits into place.
- Learning Logic – A fact of life is that we cannot always achieve our goals. On the other hand, every instance that falls short of success provides clues for doing better next time. Helping children see how their actions can be modified to get better results instills a sense of “can-do” that gives confidence in success waiting after another try. It isn’t always about being first so much as knowing they can cross the finish line.
- Gaining From Giving – We’re all familiar with the stereotype of the Boy Scout helping an elderly lady cross the road. The act of giving—whether it is our time or some object— is perfect for developing self-esteem. Once children discover that doing things for others makes them feel good, they’re more willing to participate in activities that benefit others and their community as a whole.
Every day holds an abundance of opportunities for preschool kids to build self-esteem. Helping dad pick up trash at the local park, assisting mom with dinner preparation, or making mudpies on a rainy afternoon may not seem like educational exercises, but they are all extremely valuable in terms of helping kids feel good about their actions.