Learning to be Independent

Te Whariki Learning Outcome: ‘Children become

capable of moving confidently and challenging
themselves physically.’
Rawan, you are showing keen interest in to be
independent. You have mastered dress up with the
dressing up clothes. You just love dressing up specially
one particular pink dress that you would wear
everyday. I have noticed that when you arrived in the
morning you would find that pink dress and wear it.
And you don’t need any help to put on or take off that
great big pink dress.
Anyway you surprised me with your skills with shoe and
socks. The other day after morning tea I asked you to
put your shoes and socks on to get ready to go out to
the play ground.
I was happy to see that you did listen to me and took
the shoes and socks and sat on the floor proceed to put
them on. I was expecting that you would ask for help,
However you didn’t.

Rawan you amazed me with your self-help skills and

how very calm and relaxed you were. You stretched
your arm, open the sock wide before put the toes in.
Using two hands you pulled the sock up into the right
position. You used the same skills to put the shoes on.
Twisting your arm and leg, and bending over,
manipulating the shoe in such a way that your foot fits
perfectly inside the shoe. I could see the socks were
more difficult to put on than the shoes. What surprises
me more is that the expression in your face which was
pure joy to watch you so calm and quiet and peaceful.

Although parents and carers often find it easier to help

children to dress and wash but for the children to be
competent in caring themselves it is essential that they
should be shown how to do things and given time to do
that. Competence in caring for one’s own body and
clothing is necessary for one’s independence and
dignity. As Dr. Montessori mentioned, “Every
unnecessary help is hindrance”.

Written by – Teacher Rosy, August, 2021.