Why Consent Matters in Montessori?

What is consent?
Depending on nature, consent basically refers to permission and choice, where the subject initiates and decides on her/his level what is good for him /her. It is basically an acceptance sign towards interventions, activities, behaviors or any kind of implementation based on behavior or learning. 

Everyone has a right to know what is being implemented or chosen for them, no matter where they are. It has no age, gender or any specification limits. Every person of every age has a right to it. If a basic issue, like if the person we are talking about is not mature enough, arises then we go with his/her very trusty attendant, that mostly are parents. From a Montessori perspective, consent is very important as the complete personality of the child that will develop in Montessori will be there with them all along their life.

Consent and Montessori perspective for Parents

Everything, including all factors, environment, freedom, content, and techniques the teachers will be implementing in Montessori, must be shared with the parents. The parents should permit all the rules and methods before they are on implemented. 

Consent and Montessori perspective for Children

A child on a Montessori level or daycare totally relies on others, and if we go with research and perspective, all scholars state that the first years of every person's life have a lot of importance. Things taught here and behaviors implemented in Montessori will be part of a child's personality forever. This is why it is very important for both parents and teachers to tell the child their opinion matters and how to say no to anything they do not want to do.

Consent always starts at home, and the parents can implement it by offering the child choices or asking them questions. You can ask the child if they want a snack or provide options and ask them to choose from a few options what they would like to have for a snack. This can be practiced where ever possible.
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Things might get frustrating when the child says no to important tasks like putting on shoes, eating food etc. But both teachers and parents need to stay calm and accept and explain why performing the task now is important, and the child should only do it with his/her consent. This is when the child needs to be persuaded and not forced so that they know that their consent matters.