Have you ever seen a young toddler wanting to carry something larger than their own body?  Or a young child deeply concentrating to twist open a container?  Or a child carrying something back and forth across a room in a seemingly endless pattern? Almost all of us could answer these questions with a resounding “yes.”  More so, have you noticed that when a child is engaged in a task such as these; they often will struggle repeatedly and not give up until the task is accomplished?  This behavior is known as Maximum Effort, and it is extremely beneficial on many levels.

Probably the simplest example of maximum effort is watching a young baby pull herself up and begin walking.  After gaining balance and some coordination while standing, she will reach out her hands, take a hesitant step forward, fall, and almost immediately struggle to pull herself back up and try again.  She will continue to do so as long as her strength will allow.   Over time, she will be able to pull herself up, walk, and eventually run without even thinking.  However, it is those earliest moments that exemplify maximum effort -- the desire to engage in difficult work that requires determination, strength, and power.

Most days you can see children, regardless of age, engaged in a task that involves maximum effort.  Most often these activities seem a purely physical endeavor:  carrying a large ball and climbing up a slide, to name a few.  Even adults involve themselves in maximum effort tasks!  All of us have seen or heard of someone who pushes themselves to their personal limits:  running in marathons or doing intense workouts.  However, examples of maximum effort are not just physical.  They are also things of intense mental focus; such as concentrating on a fixing a difficult problem.  These examples are really one in the same.  They all require willpower and a firm resolve to finish what was started.   The key component in all of them is the nature of the task or “work.”  Whatever the work, it is one that is not forced upon someone else.  It is freely chosen, and leads to a sense of personal fulfillment.    

Maximum effort activities have physical and spiritual benefits.  On a physical level, they can help children further develop their proprioceptive sense.  That is, body awareness.  The more a child engages in maximum effort exercises, the more she understands about herself in relation to the objects in the physical world.  Carrying heavy logs makes a child become aware of weight, strength, the power she needs to use to lift her arms.  Maximum effort activities also help further the vestibular sense.  Our vestibular system is what helps a person control movement and balance.  Going down a slide helps a child become aware of maintaining her balance so she does not fall over the edge.  Spiritually, maximum effort activities lead someone to accomplishing great goals.  Again, this goes back to the nature of the work.  Maximum effort activities are fun and of great interest!  They often start out small in correlation to a child's young age and ability; but with time can become harder and more physically and mentally challenging.   By allowing a child to choose work that is interesting, exciting and demanding to her, she will further develop her senses of concentration, determination and independence.  Furthermore, by allowing time for repetition, a child will be able to refine her skills, and soon will show a desire to do even more.  It is for this reason that a free and independent work time, as allowed in Montessori classrooms, is so critical.  A child is given time to truly explore how to figure out a difficult task; an important skill that she will carry well into adulthood.

There are many ways you can encourage your child to engage in maximum effort work around your house.   Some fun activities that children enjoy include:  helping with yard work, carrying laundry baskets, bringing in groceries, pushing chairs into the table, or putting heavy books on a bookshelf.   Sometimes we as adults discourage some maximum effort exercises out of our own fears in a child's capability.  We automatically assume that the log that a child is trying to carry will be way too heavy and she will get hurt.  While safety is obviously of the upmost importance, it is also important to not let your own personal fears be transferred to the child.  If you are unsure about her carrying that heavy log; perhaps you can carry the log together then slowly let it go in order to gain a sense of what the child is capable of doing.   Really observing your child will help you gain a better sense of the level your child can handle.  Most often you would be very surprised at how capable your child can be!  Remember -- the more they do for themselves, the better children feel about themselves!  Maximum effort activities are simple and fun way for your child to learn and grow!       

Register today for our Open House at The Hockessin Montessori School to learn more how a Montessori Education empowers children to be strong and independent at every age!