Cultivating Stillness in Montessori Classroom

What could be more beautiful than being in silence and listening to the sound of morning birdsongs, the rhythm of the rain, the whisper of the wind, or the chirping of the crickets at night?  Yet an article by The New York Times magazine revealed that more and more natural sounds are in danger of becoming extinct. In our modern world today, the sounds of nature have been replaced with sounds of cars and traffic, non-stop television and commercials, radio and music, computer games and telephones. Surrounded by these constant noises, Aline Wolf stated, many of today’s children have never known the tranquility of silence (Nurturing the Spirit, 1996).

Maria Montessori believes in the importance of cultivating silence and stillness in children.  Many visitors who visited Montessori classroom expressed their opinion about how quiet it was in the classroom.  Contrary to the common belief that harsh silence were forced upon them, children in the Montessori classroom actually are permitted to speak freely as long as they are being respectful to others.  By giving children freedom to work in the prepared environment, they build within themselves self discipline, which spontaneously manifests in form of order and quietness in the classroom.  “Silence”, Montessori said, “often brings us the knowledge which we had not fully realized, that we posses within ourselves an interior life. The child by means of silence sometimes becomes aware of this for the first time” (E.M. Standing, Maria Montessori:

Her Life and Work, p.226).



Meditation time before work!

 Another way to help children cultivate stillness in a Montessori classroom is through what we call as “Silence Game”, which can be played in the group or individually. In this game, silence and stillness are presented to children as a special challenge. It helps children to develop their control of movement and bring awareness of self and the surrounding environment and perhaps because it encourages an inner quiet and searching of self, silence seems to promote the child’s creative power as well, Paula Polk Lillard added(Montessori Modern Approach, 1972).

Life can be so loud and hard  sometimes. Perhaps, not just children, but we all can learn to find our quiet place inside – a place where there is stillness and silence, a place where we can listen to inner guidance.

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light,

and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. (Mahatma Gandhi)