Normalization in the Montessori classroom

Normalization is a term that is used for children in Montessori schools who work freely and can concentrate on their work in the Montessori environment. But this in no way means that children who cannot concentrate and work freely are not normal. This phenomenon means that children are in different stages of their development and the journey of their personal growth.

Stages of Normalization

There are three stages of normalization. In the first stage of normalization, the children do something because they want to do it. This type of behavior is depicted by toddlers and children who are at the age of two. In the second stage of normalization, as the children mature, they do the thing they are asked to do. In the third stage of normalization, the child does something because they know about the pros and cons of that particular thing and what the right thing to do is.
In Montessori Childcare, the environment is built in such a way that it leads the kid to move through different stages of normalization gracefully and naturally. Every child has a different time frame of development. They grow according to that particular time period. Children are unique in their learning skills. The same age as a kid can be in different stages of normalization. It can not be forced or coerced. The gentle and loving support of the teachers can help the children grow through these normalization stages. The kid presents the learning challenges incrementally with the help of the materials developed by the Montessori school.
​
How long does normalization take?

​While being a guide or a teacher in a Montessori preschool, the questions often go through the mind why is the kid not listening to you? Why are they not focusing on the task? What is taking them so long to complete the task? When will they be normalized?
In this certain situation, the teacher or the guide needs to be patient because normalization is like a three-period lesson. It occurs gradually according to the learning ability of each kid. The children build their personality and character by following a work cycle that is

• The preparation of the work
• The work
• Rest or completion

This work cycle consists of initiating a task till the completion of the task by gathering the relevant material for work.