Autonomy as a Daily Goal

In the Montessori-inspired educational journey, autonomy is not a milestone to be reached in the future but an objective to be cultivated every day, starting from the very first months of life. Every small daily action can become an opportunity to strengthen the child’s trust in their own abilities. Autonomy is built through concrete experience, when the child has the chance to choose, try, make mistakes, and try again, within a safe and welcoming context.

Simple activities such as dressing, eating alone, washing hands, or tidying up toys are precious opportunities to encourage independence. It is not just about “doing it alone,” but about being recognized as a competent individual, capable of contributing to daily life. This approach nurtures self-esteem and fosters a genuine sense of responsibility.

At home, we can support autonomy by preparing a space that allows the child to easily access the objects they use every day: low hooks for clothes, toy bins divided by category, or a small pitcher of water to serve themselves. Time also plays a key role: it’s important not to intervene too quickly but to give the child the time they need to experiment and complete a task, even if the result is not immediately perfect.