The Capstone year within the Montessori environment is magical, unique, and special. Commonly known as the “Kindergarten” year, at Three Tree Montessori School we choose to call this special year the Capstone year.

Over the course of a person’s lifetime there are a myriad of natural “separations” and “attachments” that occur at just the right moment along the developmental continuum.

Children in our toddler and primary classrooms engage in Practical Life work inside the classroom. They learn how to care for themselves (through hair combing, teeth brushing, dressing), clean the leaves of plants, prepare snack, polish a shoe, wash a table, and many other important life skills. Children of these classrooms are interested in learning this practical life work for many reasons.

Parenting is ridiculously hard. So hard that it can lead to pure mental and physical exhaustion. My wife and I have two boys, ages three and five. They challenge every aspect of our being.

Children are born with great potential. Your child’s task is to develop their individual self and become a fully independent adult. However, they cannot complete the task of self-construction without purposeful movement, exploration, and active experiences in their environment.

Earlier this year, I witnessed a moment between two Capstone Primary children that touched me deeply. The children had been finishing up their work before recess and came into the hallway a few moments after their classmates had gone ahead. The younger child, who had recently turned five, calmly asked the older five year old child, “Will you help me tie my laces?”