Gifts of Grace and Courtesy

Two incredibly important gifts we give to children are the gifts of grace and courtesy. It is often called “the invisible curriculum” in the Montessori classroom. There are no specific materials to teach it, but it is integrated throughout the Montessori curriculum and classroom. Visitors to MSH are often shocked at how well-behaved the students are in class. It is because our teachers (and families) work hard to instill empathy, compassion, patience, thoughtfulness, and forgiveness by word and deed every day.

Knowing social graces and how to navigate social structures are skills that serve children throughout a lifetime. Our job is to give the child the language to deal with conflict, make new friends, express their own emotions, and understand each other.

We have always known that academic achievements were necessary for future career success. Now the business world has started to notice the importance of what Montessori educators have known for over 100 years: social skills are equally necessary for a successful career. Check out the following from Amy Morin of Forbes Magazine:

[Being] smart isn’t enough to guarantee a meteoric rise in the business world anymore – leadership requires you to be socially adept. In fact, your social skills may be just as important as your intelligence when it comes to achieving success.

Read the full article here.

As we enter the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the materialism of giving. However, the greatest gifts we give children are intangible and never go out of style. The love of learning and the ability to interact with others will take our children wherever they want to go.