Will and Attention Go Together

Maria Montessori observed and was fascinated by the span of time that an individual child could concentrate on an activity and the depth of that concentration. Montessori made a point of explaining how uninterrupted child-centered work actually lengthens a child's attention span.  For that reason, we should not interrupt a child who is concentrating unless it is truly a necessity. It is also why even television programs that are planned for children may do more harm than good.

Another kind of attention span can be found in the Montessori classroom. The "work cycle" is a phrase that describes the span of time during which each child in the classroom moves from an easy level of work to more challenging work within his own sphere of activity and comes to a sense of deep satisfaction. The work cycle stetches over a span of about three hours every morning in the classroom. Montessori graphed these cycles which are included in a chapter called "Experimental Science" in her book Spontaneous Activity in Education. 

While Montessori focussed strongly on attention span, Rudolf Steiner, who founded the Waldorf movement, accentuated the need to develop a child's will. He believed activities that required effort, both physical and psychic, would strengthen a child's will. Small motor muscles as well as large are required to do purposeful work. In the Waldorf classroom, special waxes are used as sculpting material. The waxes require patient warming in the children's hands and then strong use of the fingers to mold them into objects. Making and kneading bread once a week in the kindergarten provides a similar effect. Most recently Waldorf teachers have added felting projects to the curriculum. In each of these activities the children's hands come into play, supported by the arms and torsos. They require the exercise of strength and rhythm to achieve a desired product.

It seems to me as though these two characteristics are important compliments to each other and may be needed now more than ever. In his blog Wisdom of the Hands Doug Stowe asks the question, "Does modern technology in which everything is made "easy" and "user friendly" present the level of challenge that children need to develop as resilient and resourceful human beings?" Stowe has his doubts, as do I. Children's bodies, especially their hands, need to be incorporated in their education and the adults who work with children need to respect their concentration and encourage their efforts.