Montessori, M., & Costelloe, M. J. (1972). Introduction, Childhood: A Social -Problem. The secret of childhood (pp. 7-12). New York: Ballantine Books. (Original work published 1966)

Thoughts after reading PART I: 1. The Era of the Child

“It is the spirit of the child that can determine the course of human progress and lead it perhaps even to a higher form of civilization.” (p. 7 para 3)

Parents have a huge influence on their children’s life, especially in terms of their mental health.  Scars from childhood are not easily cured.  Traumatic experiences may be suppressed, but not entirely forgotten.

I try to be aware of how I treat my children.  Like all parents, I make mistakes. I attempt to validate my children’s experiences by acknowledging my errors and communicating with them as best as I can.  I also try to allow them room to create and express themselves.

Maria dives into the subject matter, evaluating the subconscious mind and discussing the difficulty involved in “curing” adults with mental illness. Most issues stem from childhood conflicts with parents or other adults.  Children who are treated with respectfully and allowed the joy of spontaneity  have a much better chance of becoming psychologically healthy adults.