People will often ask why we have breakables such as glass in a child’s Montessori environment. The answer is simple: children must learn cause and effect and how to care for the environment. The child who lives in an all plastic, non breakable world will find it harder to appreciate and learn respect for items in the environment if it bounces and is retrieved unscathed each time it is dropped or thrown. Experience handling these items regularly will teach they child to hold them with care and gentleness. In the Montessori home or school these items generally come in the form of the child’s plates, bowls, cups, jugs and vases (used for flower arranging).
The translucency of glass is also extremely helpful for children learning how to pour for the first time. If they can easily see the level of liquid in the jug and in the glass it makes way for higher success with this skill, lessening the chance for overflow. This is particularly great for vases used for flower arranging. How many times have I as an adult over flooded a vase because it filled too quickly without me seeing the water?Well, many!
The appearance of glass and ceramics is often a source of discomfort and tension for new parents in a Montessori Toddler Program. For those new to the idea, it is often the first remark made when they observe the room: “I see there is a lot of things that can break. I am afraid my child will go on a breaking spree!”
Yes, if your child is new to touching breakables, then something might get broken. However, once he sees what can happen when things are not handled with care, he will learn to be more gentle and mindful with items in the room. When I opened up my first toddler program and it was filled with newbies who had never had glass in their environment, there were things breaking each week. As the term went on, this stopped- children knew exactly what to expect from each material in the class and what their physical limits were.
It is important to remember that accidents will happen. Most breakables seem to being more proven to an earlier grave are items used for washing (hands, clothes, dishes). These jugs or bowls can get slippery if soap transfers on them but again-another amazing lesson! Children realise this and handle them with the utmost care. I was really pleased the other day when I popped into my old toddler program and saw the same old ceramic hand-washing bowl still in tact- several years and still going strong! Remember too that with the above I am talking about items in a program that see sixty different toddler hands a week–some which are brand new to the experience. In your home environment it is very easy to teach one or a few (or what ever number your tribe consists of) the expectations as they will have exposure to them every single day. My youngest just turned two and I can not remember the last time he broke something, I am actually the guilty one of most breaks in our home! (a.k.a Butterfingers)
Now for the honest truth: No, I do not leave out my most precious breakables lying around that would send me in tears if I found it in pieces. I would not recommend testing your child’s gentleness out with your most precious china or Aunt Edna’s heirloom vase. Keep items in your home that are okay for your children to touch and if not, set them aside until they have developed more self-discipline. All this being said, children will learn what is appropriate to touch and what is not. I have always had things that could break in my house and I have found that with consistency, redirection and providing my children with something more appropriate to handle, we have lived very harmoniously with minimal damage.
So, where do I source my children’s plates, cups, jugs and vases they use on a daily basis: my local thrift shop or dollar shops. Purchasing your items here is good for your wallet and and it can feel really good re-using or re-purposing things from the thrift shop. By all means, go and get your child those adorable $10 a pop plates or glasses, just know it is not necessary and if you are a person that stresses over the thought of having to replace something- $1 or less is usually more settling 😉
Hopefully I have enticed you a bit to give your child a little more wiggle room in this area if you have not already. I am here to encourage, to give new perspectives. Everyone must do what works best for them. I do hope you will at least give it a little go and trust your child’s capabilities. I would love to hear how it shapes out!
With gratitude,
Megan
