Kingsley Montessori

How could you even be mad about something so clever? Yesterday I wrote about appreciating the genius in all children and today we have this wonderful example on display. Given a toy mop, this toddler creates a scenario in which it can be put to appropriate use. When you put yourself in his shoes, it’s a perfectly reasonable line of thinking - drawing upon the both his past experience and understanding of the object’s function. It’s also one that this mom had the inclination to appreciate and document, rather than overreact to. (Though I can’t help but think this filming was followed by some gentle redirection.) This isn’t a suggestion that parents adopt an “anything goes” approach to raising toddlers, but it is a reminder that when you adopt the right mindset… one informed by a true understanding of your child’s development and attuned to the wonder of childhood… you’re likely to look at “misbehavior” with very different eyes. This little genius was shared to IG by cjoanw.