05 Jan Activities to Promote Peace & Courtesy in the Home

Montessori is not just a method of education, but also a way of life. At Sugar Mill Montessori, peace education is a fundamental part of our education. However, methods to promote peace can be helpful and effective in making a difference in your family’s life. It is crucial for us to understand that peace must be incorporated in everything we do, and that starts within the home.

Follow along to learn how to promote peace and courtesy at home and contact us today to speak to a Montessori educator!

How does your family define & understand peace?

If you are looking for ways to create a more peaceful environment in your home, you must first address the definition of peace with your family. Peace can mean something completely different to you than what it means to your children or partner. Some may see peace as small moments of silence or a world without conflict and war.

Set up a way to communicate with your family about what peace means to you and ask for their thoughts on peace.

Ensure that everyone is open to hearing each other’s thoughts, opinions, and ideas. It is important that everyone involved is able to speak about their thoughts on peace – this could lead to new waves of thought and perspectives. Children have vivid and unrestricted minds that may shed light on a new perspective you could gain about peace, so be sure to allow your child to speak on their thoughts and opinions as well.

Practice Yoga & Meditation

Many Montessori classrooms have implemented yoga and meditation exercises as an activity to increase peace and courtesy. Fortunately, the practice of yoga and meditation can be implemented anywhere, especially in the home to produce the same outcomes. It is best for your child to use their own mat to achieve a sense of independence and responsibility in the practice.

The activity of yoga, which is an ancient method of meditation, can be just as effective as other activities you can find on a shelf. Multiple studies have confirmed the mental and physical benefits of practicing yoga are endless. Some benefits include:

• Decrease stress and promote relaxation.
• Reduce anxiety.
• Help protect against certain diseases caused by chronic inflammation.
• Increases general quality of life.
• Improve sleep quality.
• Enhance spiritual well-being
• Improve social function
• Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Encourage mindful eating, a concept that encourages being present in the moment while eating.
• Increase strength.

Create a Peace Table

A popular and effective way to bring peaceful education into your home environment is creating a peace table or peace shelf. A peace table or shelf allows your child the space to take a break, refocus, and relax during conflict and stressful situations.

To create a welcoming and tranquil area that promotes inner peace, you can implement items to facilitate calm recollection of the mind. Some of these items may include:

• Zen garden
• Inspiration stones
• Rain stick
• Stress ball
• Plants
• Labyrinth

These are just a few items that bring about a sense of peace in your environment, but there are countless other things to incorporate in your family’s peaceful space. You can even create a peaceful area with a rug or chair that will serve the same purpose as a table or shelf.

Role Play Behavior

In Montessori classrooms, role playing is an effective conflict resolution technique that promotes courtesy. Not only does teaching courtesy help develop the child as a well-rounded individual, but also promotes peace for all involved. Role playing will give your child a chance to use their manners during family dinners, get-togethers with friends, and other social interactions.

There are many ways to promote peace and courtesy in the home when conflicts arise. Conflict is an opportunity for growth and understanding and we must implement methods of peace to achieve this opportunity. Try going over some of the situations your children may encounter and teach them how to be successful in them. Let your child practice with you, so they are prepared for whenever that situation may occur.

There are countless situations where conflict can be avoided and you can help redirect your child by demonstrating the correct behavior. Here are some examples you can practice role playing with your family at home:

• Passing food during dinner
• Apologizing
• Inviting friends over
• Solving a disagreement
• Patience
• Declining an invitation
• Saying thank you
• Offering help

Reading

Reading is a universally peaceful activity that can be utilized by anyone for recreation, education, or relaxation. This is also an activity you can implement in your peace table or shelf by having peaceful reads available. There are countless books in the world that teach concepts of peace and courtesy to adults and children.

Encourage your child and family to read books about different cultures and other parts of the world. Along with educating your child on diversity, you are also teaching them that there are countless ways to establish peace and tolerance in an environment. Reading with your child establishes a sense of comfort in your bond while providing a peaceful narration to a calming read.

Understanding How to Promote Peace & Courtesy in the Home

The Montessori education method of peace does not go extinct once your child leaves the classroom. It is not necessary to implement every one of these activities, but even incorporating just one into a daily routine with your family will go a long way.

A routine that promotes peace and courtesy can begin in Sugar Mill Montessori’s classrooms, but a supportive home environment is necessary to maintain that routine.

If you would like to learn more about how to promote peace and courtesy in the home, please contact us today!