Welcoming Kindness, Community & Peace This School Year
As we joyfully welcome the new school year, we’re reminded of the beautiful harmony between Montessori education, the spirit of International Day of Peace, and the everyday kindness our community fosters.
Teaching Kindness: Building Friendly Hearts
A wonderful article from PBS, “Help Your Child Be a Kind Friend,” highlights how simple, everyday actions can nurture empathy and friendship in children. One memorable anecdote described a child offering to share her bus seat with someone who looked uncertain- that was not a spontaneous act, but one practiced in advance by thoughtful parents WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. This reminds us that kindness is a habit we can teach: helping our children look out for others- those who feel left out or quiet at recess, and giving them tools for inclusive behavior.
Montessori & Peace: A Natural Pairing
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating peace. The Montessori approach instills peace through respect, independence, conflict resolution, and global awareness. International Day of Peace, observed each year on September 21, invites us to reflect collectively on these values of empathy and social harmony.
At Home: Fostering Peace and Connection
Here are a few simple practices inspired by both PBS and Montessori traditions that families can enjoy together this month:
Foster Kindness: Encourage your child to name small acts of kindness, like offering help or a smile, and reflect on how they felt afterward.
Connect Globally: Read a story from another culture or talk about children elsewhere- this helps build empathy, understanding, and a sense of global community.
Express Gratitude: Start a family ritual of naming one thing you’re grateful for at dinner or bedtime.
Model Service: Involve your child in simple acts of helping others- like making a card for a neighbor or baking something to share with others.
Why This Matters
As families come together to start the school year, weaving kindness into everyday moments mirrors Montessori’s goal to nurture compassionate, confident learners who are ready to contribute to a peaceful world. When children see kindness modeled at home, in school, and beyond, they learn that peace isn’t just an ideal, it’s something we create daily.