Help Me Do It by Myself

Maria Montessori was a Catholic scientist, doctor, and ultimately, educator, whose discoveries about what she called "the true nature of the child" have had a profound effect upon parents, educators, catechists, and children around the world. One of the key tenants of Dr. Montessori's understanding of the child is the silent plea to the adult: "Help me do it by myself."

When adults are aware of this need and desire of the child, amazing things happen. From toddlers who drink out of regular cups, make bread, and carefully clean out fish tanks (without killing the fish!), to 4 year olds who dress themselves (including coats and shoes) and who prepare and clean up their own snacks (including washing and putting away the dishes and sweeping the floor), the examples of what a child can do with the proper presentation and prepared environment are astounding.

A young child in our toddler
environment washing mirrors

It is not a matter of the adult pushing the child to independence, but serving as a humble guide who offers all the child needs to take his independence for himself.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, as you may know, is inspired by the work that Montessori added to the field of education as well as spirituality. We seek to prepare an environment where the child, even the youngest child, can be independent in the very important work that only a child can do: building a man (or woman).

Our scope in our parish CGS program, of course, is limited by the time frame (less than 2 hours per week for only part of the year) and our purpose. We seek to prepare a place where the child can fall in love with God. Yet the child does not wish for us to do this work for him/her.

Much like the Montessori dressing boards that prepare a child to dress himself, fasten his own coat, and tie his own shoes, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd seeks to offer formation to the child (and adult) that will prepare the child to take responsibility for his own "white garment" which he received at baptism. The catechist prepares the presentation (usually pertaining either to the Liturgy (Mass) or Scripture, offering rich food for the child's wonder, but the majority of the child's time in the CGS atrium is for his own personal work. In this way, his faith formation is an active response of the child, a seeking to discover more, to understand better.

A relationship with God is not something that any person can give to another, however, we can seek, both in our parish and in our homes, to prepare an environment that will help the child feel and respond for himself to that inner longing for relationship with the Lord that was placed there by God Himself.

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." St. Augustine