Our children are being born and raised in a time of great and historic change. Today we should help our children grow into peaceful humans who have strong conflict resolution skills and who exhibit global understanding. Almost 100 years ago Dr. Maria Montessori wrote “Preventing conflict is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.” If as parents and educators we can establish qualities of peace among the children in our lives the work of world leaders in the future will be much less daunting than it is for the leaders of today.

Our children are being born and raised in a time of great and historic change. Today we should help our children grow into peaceful humans who have strong conflict resolution skills and who exhibit global understanding. Almost 100 years ago Dr. Maria Montessori wrote “Preventing conflict is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.” If as parents and educators we can establish qualities of peace among the children in our lives the work of world leaders in the future will be much less daunting than it is for the leaders of today. Dr. Montessori’s curriculum for peace education is as detailed, experiential and valuable as are the lessons of reading and mathematics.

In order for a child to be peaceful in a family, community, or with peers, she must first be at peace with herself. Cultivating certain skills such as independence, wonder, stillness and compassion can help a child learn to be at peace with herself first, and then the world around her.

Young children love to do for themselves and help Mom and Dad. Setting up your home so that your young child can dress themselves, become independent in grooming themselves and participate in the life of the house such as cooking, gardening, and helping care for pets will develop within them a sense of independence, self, and of how they fit into the world.

We often think of big movements and loud, bouncy places to help a child develop their motor skills. It brings great peace to a child to develop a control and stillness. When I observe children quietly watching a line of ants marching I can tell how important it is for them to practice and enjoy being still. Having a quiet space in your home where your child can sit and be still can aid in this development. It might be near a window that overlooks a bird feeder or a comfy place near a fish tank.

The world is a curious and wonderful place. Providing opportunities for your child to experience some of nature’s wonders gives them a great appreciation for this. Hang a crystal in a window and look at the rainbows that appear. Where do the colors come from? Are they really hidden inside light? Are there other things hidden in the world yet to be discovered? Snowflakes, plants that disappear in the Fall and return in the Spring, and caterpillars that turn into butterflies are all a source of wonderment.

Being able to recognize and express our own feelings is the first step in recognizing how the people around us are feeling. Playing a game where your child shows you how they look when they have different feelings is a fun way to help a child recognize the feelings being expressed by the people around them. Giving your child the opportunity to help a friend that is feeling sad or guiding them through resolving feelings of anger or frustration is an important lesson. We sometimes try to hide our feelings from our children, but showing your child that you are sad over a loss, frustrated when they do not listen, or proud when you achieve a goal will aid your child in developing social awareness and compassion.

Cultivating compassion, wonder, stillness, and independence in young children helps them develop peace within themselves. A child who is at peace is a joyful part of any family, school or community, and can help bring about peaceful change in our world.

Laura Morris is the Director of Education at Hopewell Montessori School. She has taught in an AMI Montessori school for eighteen years. For more information, visit www.HopewellMontessori.com