Paper
Mindfulness Practices in Education: Montessori’s Approach
Published Feb 17, 2011 · DOI · Angeline S. Lillard
Mindfulness
53
Citations
12
Influential Citations
Abstract
Mindfulness training has had salutary effects with adult populations and it is seen as a potentially helpful to children’s development. How to implement mindfulness practices with young children is not yet clear; some meditation practices, like sitting still for long periods with internally-self-regulated focused attention, seem developmentally inappropriate. Montessori schooling is a 100-year-old system that naturally incorporates practices that align with mindfulness and are suited to very young children. Here I describe how several aspects of Montessori education, including privileging concentrated attention, attending to sensory experience, and engaging in practical work, parallel mindfulness practices. These aspects might be responsible for some of the socio-emotional and executive function benefits that have been associated with Montessori education, and they could be adapted to conventional classroom methods.
Montessori education, which prioritizes concentrated attention, sensory experience, and practical work, parallels mindfulness practices and could potentially benefit children's development and executive function.
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