The Montessori Method Of Praising?

Montessori education emphasizes the importance of effective praise, which can be referred to as Encouraging Praise, Descriptive Praise, or Process Praise. The goal is to build intrinsic motivation and a love of learning in children. Descriptive praise, such as “I” or “You’re jumping rope!”, is used to highlight a child’s hard work, effort, concentration, and determination. It is important to be sincere and praise effort rather than the end product.

Motivational approaches, unlike traditional methods, focus on the intangible aspects of the environment, such as the absence of punishments and rewards. For over a century, Montessori education has helped children grow into confident, self-directed, and self-motivated adults. This approach can be applied not only in the Montessori classroom but also beyond.

For over a decade, Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford, has been advocating for a shift from praise to praise wisely. Specificity is key in Montessori-style praise, as it highlights the child’s efforts and achievements in a particular task or activity. Instead of simply praising the outcome, Montessori encourages adults to acknowledge the specific actions or behaviors that led to success.

Montessorians teach guides to offer acknowledgement, encouragement, and guide the child towards assessing their actions through thoughtful questions. For example, if a child worked hard cleaning, they can say “I really worked hard cleaning the house today and it looks so nice!”

In order for praise to be beneficial, it must first be sincere. Teachers should avoid saying anything to a child that they wouldn’t say themselves. Instead, Montessorians try to give encouragement rather than praise or descriptive praise. They aim to support and uplift their bright students.


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What is the difference between praise and encouragement in Montessori?

Praise can often cause pressure for the receiver to meet the standards of others, hindering independence in children. Instead, encouragement is empowering and doesn’t require conditions or judgment. It encourages the receiver to make judgments about their behavior, work, and worth. Encouragement statements can include “I appreciate your help”, “I knew you could do it”, “You did your best and didn’t give up”, “You must be proud of yourself”, “I have faith in you”, “I trust your decision”, and “I love you no matter what”.

However, it may take conscious effort to use encouragement instead of praise, as it may not feel natural or sound right to the receiver. Instead, words like “It was tough, but you stuck to it” and “You must be proud of yourself for accomplishing so much” can instill pride and accomplishment.

How do you praise a child correctly?

To use praise, encouragement, and rewards effectively, focus on small changes and successes, recognizing effort and improvement rather than perfection. Praise your child’s strengths and encourage them to feel excited about their interests. Praise is when you praise your child for their good behavior or accomplishments, nurturing their confidence and self-esteem. By using praise, you teach your child to think positively about themselves, recognize their successes, and feel proud of themselves.

How do you raise an amazing child in Montessori?
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How do you raise an amazing child in Montessori?

Montessori parenting emphasizes respecting children, providing enough space, teaching them about cause and effect, observing and adapting, adapting the home to accommodate them, involving other family members, being a model of good behavior, and not intervening in struggle or conflict. The Montessori method, based on the principle that children can learn best by working with their hands, emphasizes communication, self-discipline, and responsibility.

It contrasts with traditional educational methods that treat children as passive recipients of knowledge. An example of Montessori parenting is a two-and-a-half-year-old child dressing up by himself, demonstrating the importance of early childhood for social and cognitive development. The Montessori philosophy, originally proposed by Italian physician Dr. Maria Montessori, emphasizes communication, self-discipline, and responsibility in children’s learning process.

Which of kind of praise is most effective for preschoolers?

Descriptive praise is when you praise your child for their accomplishments, such as finding a spot for everything in their room. This helps them learn positive behavior in the future and is more genuine than non-specific praise. Encouragement is praise for effort, such as working hard on homework or studying hard. This can motivate your child to try harder in the future. You can also use encouragement before a task, such as showing how well you can put your toys away or expressing confidence in your child’s performance.

Why is there no praise in Montessori?

Montessori emphasizes the importance of nurturing intrinsic motivation in children, which can be achieved through self-correcting materials and self-reflection. However, praise reinforces external motivation, as children are often eager for approval from adults. This is because our brains are wired to bond with us, and approval is a way to recognize our presence. As social beings, we need to be attached to our children for their survival, but we have a responsibility not to exploit this dependence for our own convenience. Therefore, it is crucial to nurture intrinsic motivation and not exploit it for our own convenience.

What is positive language in Montessori?

Positive phrasing is a concise and declarative approach that emphasizes the child’s ability to do things rather than their limitations. It encourages positive thinking and encourages them to be on time. Positive language is affirmative and feels good, unlike negative words like No, Not, Nothing, Nowhere, or Never. It helps the child feel confident in their future and is easy to communicate the positive aspects of their actions. For example, instead of saying “I want to stay home”, the child can say “I want to go to the park”.

How to praise a child in Montessori?
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How to praise a child in Montessori?

Praise and encouragement are two different ways to communicate with a child. Praise is about actions and behaviors, not the child themselves. It emphasizes the effort the child exerted and the reasons behind their actions. In a Montessori classroom, praise is not heard, and the child is uniquely equipped to learn at the exact pace and in the way that is developmental and individually appropriate to them. This approach brings deep inner satisfaction and aids in the construction of their self.

The adult’s role is to set up a learning environment and enable the child to work in it, not to intervene in the process through negative or positive reinforcement. The Montessori system has worked for over a century, helping children grow into confident, self-directed, and self-motivated adults. It doesn’t need to be limited to the Montessori classroom.

What are examples of positive language?
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What are examples of positive language?

Positive language is a skill that can help individuals communicate more effectively and positively. It involves expressing oneself in a positive way, avoiding negative language that is filled with negative statements. Positive language can have a significant impact on our self-image, outlook on life, and behavior. It is essential to use positive language from childhood to adulthood, as it conveys affirmative messages, helps instill a positive mindset, and improves overall well-being.

Customer support employees are the most aware of using positive language. They are more likely to use positive language in conversations, as they are more likely to provide helpful information rather than relying on negative language. By using positive language, individuals can learn from their interactions and improve their overall well-being.

In summary, positive language is a valuable skill for individuals to communicate effectively and positively. It helps in conveying affirmative messages, instilling a positive mindset, and improving overall well-being.

What is an example of positive language in childcare?

Positive language can help reduce negativity bias, which is a tendency for our inner voices to be more negative than positive. Instead of saying “I don’t know”, use “Let’s find out”, “Thank you for waiting for me”, or “I can try”. To change this, we must make a conscious effort to recognize the differences between positive and negative language. As adults, this means unlearning deeply rooted habits, such as speaking to children in a pessimistic tone, as kids can internalize these words and adopt them as their own inner voice.

What is an example of praise in the classroom?

It is recommended that educators utilize positive reinforcement to acknowledge exemplary behavior. For instance, a student who maintains appropriate conduct, such as keeping their hands at their sides while walking to lunch, should be commended.

What is the Montessori method of praise?
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What is the Montessori method of praise?

In a Montessori educational setting, adults acknowledge and encourage children’s accomplishments, rather than offering praise or rewards. The objective is to instill in children an appreciation for their own accomplishments, rather than relying on external praise or rewards as the primary motivators.


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The Montessori Method Of Praising
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Rae Fairbanks Mosher

I’m a mother, teacher, and writer who has found immense joy in the journey of motherhood. Through my blog, I share my experiences, lessons, and reflections on balancing life as a parent and a professional. My passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom as I write about the challenges and blessings of raising children. Join me as I explore the beautiful chaos of motherhood and share insights that inspire and uplift.

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3 comments

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  • wow this article is so relevant for me today. It seems like I just can’t help to say “awesome” or whatever when I notice my daughter(3 year old) doing something properly that I haven’t seen her do before. Just today she was playing with a little “trumpet” toy and she was blowing exactly on beat with a song so I was genuinely happy/impressed so I said ” wow your exactly on beat! ” but then She totally stopped and it’s not the first time she stops what she is doing after I say something.She almost look embarrassed then stops. I need to work on holding back, I think it’s also because I come from a more negative background, so I have a tendency to want for her to know that “she can accomplish anything” and that I love her and I am proud of her no matter what. Very interesting topic and makes me self-reflect a lot <3

  • Having seen your article, I am now convinced that there is no need to encourage you to make more articles like this, nor will it be necessary to celebrate the making of this wholesome contribution from 3 years ago. Indeed, I believe you are already very proud of yourself for having done so; there is no need to hear anything from me because you already “got this,” and you’re very likely totally content already, reveling in your own accomplishment. If, after your amazing feat, you happen to read this comment and see my smiley —> 🙂 <--- the fact that I'm proud of you will shine through. There really is no need to say anything more about this situation; however, I'd like to compliment you for placing all your Montessori books on the shelf behind you. I also like the way you have explained the post-Skinnerian psychological concepts of child education and the color choices you made when selecting your dress all by yourself. Since you have enabled the comment section, I conclude that you are perhaps accustomed to receiving praise already and might be eagerly waiting to read more comments people are going to write. In such a case, I will add a simple "You did it!" to please yourself. Enjoy!

  • I grew up in Taiwan so praise is so NOT normal to see when I grew up. So I was having a hard time seeing children be praised by their parents by just saying they are great, or they are doing good jobs! I am not saying Praise is good but it’s really making lots of children to be too used to hearing it and expecting it as you said. But after being a parent, I just realized how hard not to praise my own child because it’s so easy to just praise a child instead of paying the details to say something nice to encourage my child to improve. Thank you so much for bringing it up to remind us to pay detail attention on our children’s behavior <3

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