Creating Space for All During the Holidays

“The needs of [humankind] are universal. Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child should come to relish the texture of that diversity.”

– Dr. Maria Montessori

Montessori = Inclusion

As Montessori educators, our job is to teach about the world around us, helping make sense of what our students can observe as well as providing an environment that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all. Montessori IS inclusion.

Providing lessons on different ways that people celebrate holidays is a perfect way to share all of the amazing culture and diversity in our school community while also ensuring that students and families are not “othered” as outliers who may celebrate (or not celebrate) differently from the masses. The Montessori philosophy is rooted in inclusion, with peace education being at the forefront, geography and culture being a key area of the classroom, and the history of Maria Montessori teaching students across the developmental spectrum.

De-centering The Obvious

In the United States, it can be easy to default to Christmas as the main holiday during the winter months but shifting focus from a single, dominant holiday to a broader understanding of differences not just in the school, but around the world, is a gift to our students!

 Including the focus on the changing seasons is also relatable to young children. Their clothing may change so getting dressed each day changes. The change in weather may mean a difference in routine when getting home from school. Some families may even eat different foods during the colder months, use firewood to heat their homes, or need to change their mode of transportation to keep warm. 

We all have a lot to learn from each other and it starts with creating a community willing to share and celebrate as one!