In our home, we eat Montessori pancakes at least once a week. You might be asking yourself, “Who is she kidding? There’s no such term!” And you’d be right. But Montessori pancakes are actually pancakes that my one-and-a-half-year-old kids make by themselves. Well, not entirely by themselves, but they do prepare the batter on their own.
I love managing my kitchen, cooking in my own way, and I don’t like anyone interfering. My friends joke and call me “the kitchen dictator.” When I started learning about the Montessori method, I realized it was an area I would struggle with. However, once I understood how important this experience is for the children, and the realization that I want to raise independent children and allow them to experience the satisfaction of being an active part of preparing their breakfast, it helped me to deal with my control freak tendencies in the kitchen.
A bit of theoretical background:
As Maria Montessori famously observed, "The first instinct of the child: he seeks to act alone, i.e., without help from others." From birth to age 6, children are driven by an innate desire for independence, a fundamental aspect of their development. As parents, fostering this independence in our children is not just beneficial, it's essential for their growth and development.
Dr. Montessori observed that children have a natural inclination to act autonomously, seeking to accomplish tasks on their own without relying on others. From getting dressed to making a snack when hungry, they're eager to be independent. However, there are obstacles that can hinder a child's path to independence, many of which are rooted in the adult. Our well-meaning interventions, small corrections, inappropriate environment, and doubts about their abilities can inadvertently stifle their self-reliance and confidence.
To promote independence, it's crucial to create a child-friendly environment. Start by organizing your child's bedroom and kitchen to make it easier for them to access items like clothing and breakfast items independently. Additionally, ensure that the tasks they need to perform are physically manageable for them. Consider whether your child can open the lid of the milk bottle or if you need to provide a different type of bottle. Once they have the physical ability, demonstrate how to perform the task. You can have various bottles in your workspace for them to practice opening lids independently.
Lastly, provide gentle guidance. Be available to assist your child as they develop their independence. Especially in the beginning, if they seek your help, offer support until they gain enough confidence to do it on their own.
And remember, independence is a journey, not a destination, so be patient and supportive as your child learns and grows. Together, let's empower our little ones to embrace their independence and take on each day with enthusiasm and confidence.
For those who are now craving pancakes, here’s our recipe: (makes 15 small pancakes)
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions:
Mash the banana, add all the wet ingredients and mix – milk, maple syrup, and egg.
Add the oat flour and baking powder and mix well.
Using a spoon, pour the batter onto a non-stick pan (no need to add oil).
Cook for about 2 minutes until bubbles appear on the pancake, flip and cook for another minute.
Serve. We like to eat them with Greek yogurt on the side :)
Enjoy!
And to make the preparation even easier, I use this
Comments