Apples, but Also, Something More

You might guess that we’ll be talking about apples, and I suppose we will be.

Because I did ask: Would you like to cut the apples for snack?

And the child responded excitedly, ready to get started.

And the child’s mom, as she had done since their first day at Clementine, got up to follow and join. The child had asked for and needed continuous connection up to that point, but something told me that today might be different.

Why don’t you try watching from here?

And we both held our breaths a little as I headed into the bathroom to help with handwashing. And the child didn’t even notice that mom was still on the rug, and in fact, only called her back to the table after several minutes so she could see the beautiful bowl of apples, ready to share with the class.

How long might the child have been ready for this independence? We’ll never know, but I’m not sure it matters. What matters is that the adults trusted her to show us.

This is called scaffolding, and since Montessori is based on respect for the child, what it means is that because of all the work you and your child have done for her entire life, she is probably ready for one step past what you know she can do now. She is ready to wash an apple, or cut the apple, or to do it all, and maybe even without you. If you suspect it, you’re probably right. The only way to know is to try.

On this day, cutting the apples was the activity, but the work was something more.