People outside Montessori-inspired classrooms or Montessori-motivated home environments may not be familiar with the Silence Game in Montessori.
I, as a trained Montessori teacher and the loving father of two (ages:7&5) pretty children, would like to assure you that it is a commonly practiced activity in Montessori classrooms. In addition, parents who nurture their children following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori often practice this silence game at home.
If you are a complete beginner or an expert in practicing Dr. Maria Montessori’s principles, this article, which covers the benefits, presentation, and examples of Montessori’s Silent Game, will be highly beneficial for you
Here’s a comprehensive guide:
Silence Game In Montessori:
Dr. Maria Montessori was inspired by an interesting incident to include the Silent Game as an activity in her classroom.
She had a teacher named Casa who was pregnant at the time. She went on maternity leave and joined the school when her baby was four months old. As soon as she entered the classroom with her 4-month-old baby, Maria Montessori took her little, sleeping, and almost silent baby in her arms and showed the baby to the children in the classroom.
Immediately afterward, all the 40 children gathered around her to see the little lovely tiny baby. Then she impulsively told the children “Look at this baby, she is not moving or making any noise. How many of you can do this?”
No sooner had the children heard this than they became silent. She then asked them to close their eyes. After that, she called each student’s name and broke the silence.
In doing so, she observed that children became more energetic, calm, and able to concentrate on their activities better than before.
Later ,she developed it into a full-fledged activity and started implementing it in her classroom.
Silence Game Montessori Presentation:
There is no other activity or game in the entire Montessori curriculum as simple as playing a silent game with children.
Whenever I enter the classroom I find my little students keep chattering for no reason. I, then, ask one of them to come close to me and announce before the whole class, ” Listen children we are going to play a new game today ” .
One of my students asks me” What is it, teacher?” . I then tell them to keep quiet for five minutes. I also cite examples of newborn sleeping babies.
After my announcement, the entire class started obeying my words and kept silent. In the meantime, I notice a little girl named Munia who cannot keep quiet and she cannot even close her eyes. I go to her and assist her in how to do it. Finally, she understands and completes the activity.
Meanwhile, I call each student’s name and ask them what they heard during their eye-closing session. They gently answer one by one.
On the flip side, whenever I get a chance at home, I invite my son and daughter to participate in this activity.
Montessori Silence Game Benefits:
- It helps building concentration in young children
- Makes children lively and active
- Helps to organize children
- Brings a sense of self-control
FAQ:
What Is Silence Game In Montessori?
The Silence Game in Montessori is a practical life activity that promotes concentration. In this activity, the teacher instructs young students to remain silent for a couple of minutes and then breaks the silence by calling each student’s name one by one.
How To Play Silence Game In Montessori?
To play the Silence Game in Montessori, teachers or parents gather with their students or children and instruct them to remain silent for a few minutes.
Sumanta De is an educator. He has been teaching students for more than 16 years following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. He has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
He is nurturing his children abiding by the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. His passion for Montessori methods goes beyond the classroom.
Hence, he shares his experiences and insights through a dedicated Montessori blog and a YouTube channel under the name “NewChild Montessori”. He aims to offer valuable guidance to both parents and educators.
Education: M.A. English, Masters in Child Psychology & Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Teachers Training