Logical Consequences is a popular topic for FMS families and our recent webinar was a great opportunity for us to partner with parents to help you implement logical consequences at home.
For those who missed it, this article offers a brief overview of the presentation. You can watch the video recording here and use this parent guide as quick reference when needed -stick it to your fridge!
A brief introduction of our presenter:
Erica is the lead educator in our 6-9 classroom and the Assistant Principal at FMS. She is a dedicated Montessori educator with over 15 years of experience working with children aged 6 through to adolescence. Erica holds a BA (Philosophy), a Masters of Education, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) 6-12 Diploma, and will soon complete her AMI 12-18 Diploma. Her extensive teaching experience spans the globe from America to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and now Australia. Erica brings valuable insight from diverse educational settings. We are glad to share her experience and wisdom with our community.
Here is a summary of Erica’s presentation on Logical Consequences:
The Montessori Approach to Discipline
In her decades of study and work with young children, Dr. Montessori observed that rewards and punishments meant very little to her young students. As a result, Montessori teaching approaches seek to guide and develop behaviours and choices based on logic, self-reflection, experience and consideration of others.
In a Montessori classroom, we don’t use rewards and punishments. If children are motivated to work only to achieve a gold star or to avoid disapproval, it becomes difficult for a teacher to understand their personal interests and motivations.
Natural Consequences
Natural consequences are a cornerstone of Montessori discipline. Unlike punishment, which uses fear to enforce behaviour, natural consequences help children understand the impact of their actions. During our Q&A session, a parent shared a scenario where their child left some colouring chalk outside during a rainstorm. The natural consequence was that the chalk got wet and was no longer usable. This was a great illustration of the natural consequence of forgetfulness or lack of care for one’s property. When a child can see the impact of their actions (or inaction), they learn to take responsibility for their behaviour.
Logical Consequences
When natural consequences are not feasible, logical consequences come into play. These are created by adults and linked to the child’s behaviour. For instance, if a child wakes their parents multiple times at night, the logical consequence might be a simpler breakfast the next morning due to the parent’s fatigue.
Logical consequences should be related to the behaviour and presented calmly, without threats.
Implementing Logical Consequences
Logical consequences should be respectful, reasonable, and realistic. They should not be punitive but aim to encourage ethical and moral capacities in children. The tone and attitude of the adult play a crucial role in how the consequence is perceived.
It’s important to address the behaviour, not the child’s character.
Reflecting on Experience
Self-reflection is a key aspect of logical consequences. As noted above, children have much to learn from reflecting on their own experiences. Intervening with logical consequences and encouraging self-reflection is an opportunity for adults to guide children on how to make more constructive choices in the future.
Three Types of Logical Consequences
- You Break It, You Fix It: Children take responsibility for fixing any problem or mess they create. For example, if a child hurts another’s feelings, they might write an apology note or include the hurt child in a friendly activity.
- Timeout or Take a Break: A child on the verge of losing control is asked to take a break and return when they are ready to participate positively. This helps them regain control and think about their actions.
- Loss of Privilege: If a child does not follow the rules, they might lose a privilege, such as using scissors for the rest of the art lesson if they were not acting responsibly.
Balancing Individual and Group Needs
Logical consequences help balance the needs of the individual with those of the group. For example, if a student disrupts the class, they might be asked to take a break or work separately from the group, until they are ready to follow the rules. This ensures that the needs of the group are not compromised by one individual’s behaviour. It also provides time for the excluded child to reflect on their behaviour, and how it affects others.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Practice Skills: Instead of using loss of playtime as a consequence, practice the desired skill, such as lining up efficiently, playing safely or sharing more easily during playtime.
- Take Breaks: Use the term “take a break” instead of “timeout” to avoid negative connotations. Show children where to take a break and what to do during that time. Tell them they are welcome to rejoin the activity when they feel ready to do so calmly/responsibly/ safely as per the situation.
- Empathy: Implement consequences with empathy. If you’re unsure about a logical consequence, take time to think and come back to it later. Consider the child’s perspective and what they might learn from the consequence implemented.
- Collaboration: Involve children in creating rules and consequences. This helps children grasp the logic of consequences and provides further opportunity for reflection. In the process, children will engage in creative problem solving, consider justice and fairness, whilst learning responsibility and accountability.
Logical consequences are a powerful part of your child’s education at Forestville Montessori School. We hope this session, this article and this parent handout helps you implement logical consequences at home too.
By implementing logical consequences thoughtfully and empathetically, parents and teachers can help children develop important life skills and a strong personal code of morals and ethics.
It’s another excellent example of how we prepare children not for school, but for life.
