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In Montessori education, '''Independence''' is a fundamental principle that aims to foster not just self-reliance, but also a range of competencies and self-regulatory skills in children.<ref>Montessori, M. (1949). The Absorbent Mind. Clio Press.</ref> Normal developmental milestones such as weaning, walking, talking, etc., are viewed as a series of events that enable the child to achieve increased individuation, autonomy, and self-regulation. Throughout the four planes of development, the child and young adult continually seek to become more independent, echoing the sentiment, "Help me to help myself."

== Montessori Quotes ==

*"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behaviour towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself."<ref>Montessori, M. (1936). The Secret of Childhood. Longmans, Green and Co.</ref>

*"One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child."<ref>Montessori, M. (1912). The Montessori Method. Frederick A. Stokes Company.</ref>

== Research and Critiques ==

*'''Pros''': The emphasis on independence in Montessori education can foster intrinsic motivation, self-confidence, self-regulation, and decision-making skills. Research supports the benefits of fostering independence in early childhood education, with studies indicating that Montessori students often exhibit high levels of autonomy and self-directed learning.<ref>Lillard, A. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.</ref>

*'''Cons''': Critics argue that the Montessori emphasis on independence may overlook the importance of social learning and collaborative skills. Some suggest that too much independence too early may not be developmentally appropriate for all children.<ref>Egan, K. (2002). Getting it wrong from the beginning: Our progressivist inheritance from Herbert Spencer, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. Yale University Press.</ref>

== Comparisons to Other Methods ==

Many traditional education models adopt a more teacher-led approach, while Montessori education encourages children to take charge of their learning within a structured and supportive environment.<ref>Mooney, C. (2013). Theories of Childhood, Second Edition: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky. Redleaf Press.</ref>

== See Also ==

*[[Montessori Method]]
*[[Prepared Environment (Montessori)]]
*[[Planes of Development (Montessori)]]

{{Glossary of Montessori Terms}}

== References ==

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