The Physical Needs of the Child

While participating in my Montessori training, we spent quite a bit of time discussing the needs of children at various developmental stages. Since during the school year it’s often impractical (at least for me!) to revisit philosophical topics, I enjoy getting back to the basics, if you will, over summer break. I find it to be a good way to reflect on my teaching and finding ways to improve my practices.

Today, I was going back to the very beginning of that training, reviewing my information on the needs of the child, as they were presented to me in my training at Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR). Just thinking back on what we talked about being the physical needs of the child in the Elementary classroom and how those are met. Here’s my list:

Movement – A child’s need for movement can be met by providing the ability to move freely through the classroom. This is achieved by children choosing where they work – whether it be at a table, on the floor using a mat, or at a table outside. Movement is also included in various physical activities during recess and PE time, as well as with music and movement, or dance.

Food – Nourishment has been available to students during the morning work cycle with snack. We have handled this in different ways depending on the age of the children and the needs that year. Some classrooms provide a community snack, brought in weekly by different families. In upper elementary, children provided their own snacks, which they brought in their lunch boxes and then ate when they were hungry throughout the morning.

Water – having a water fountain in the classroom had made this quite easy so far!

Quiet place to rest – having silent reading time is a great way to meet this need. Depending on the class and the schedule we have, silent reading has been after lunch for 30 minutes, or just before lunch. Personally, I prefer the after lunch period to give everyone a chance to cool off and find a little calm after lunch and running around outside.

Bathroom access – Providing a bathroom for the children’s use in the classroom has made this pretty simple. Fortunately, this has been the case in each room I’ve been in thus far in Montessori schools. While this is not the case in every school, allowing children the freedom to visit when needed, rather than a prescribed time, seems to be the respectful choice to meet children’s need.