The child has a deep love and need for purposeful work. The young child is attracted to the activities in a Montessori environment because they allow him to function independently in the adult world - buttoning his coat, washing his hands - spontaneously repeating the exercises as he works on mastery. He works, however, not as an adult for profit or completion of a job, but for the sake of the activity itself. It is this activity which accomplishes for him his most important goal: the development of himself - his mental, physical and psychological powers. His play is his work, and his work is his play.

Last updated on 7 08 10 by Carol-Ann McKinley