Building Confidence and A Sense of Belonging at Home

Belonging is defined as "a sense of connectedness to others, an individual’s experiences of being valued, of forming relationships with others and making contributions as part of a group, a community, the natural world."

Developing a sense of belonging is important because it helps children feel:

• secure
• valued
• connected to the people and environments around them

When children feel like they belong, they have more confidence to explore, take risks and engage in learning.

How Educators Are Developing A Sense of Belonging at Schools

This is how teachers are encouraged to develop inclusion:

1. Recognize Uniqueness - Caring for children by respecting and recognizing that each child has unique needs, feelings and personalities.
   
   
2. Support Children Through Transitions - which we know can be challenging for most young children, including the transition from home to starting school, new classroom environments and moving between activities.
   
   
3. Encourage Friendship and Kindness Between Students - educators help children to play together, work together and form meaningful relationships.
   
   
4. Involve Families and the Community in Meaningful Ways - parents, caregivers, and community members are valued for their ideas and experiences. Schools might host community events or support their parent council in these events.

How To Develop Your Child's Sense of Belonging at Home

This can be done in so many Montessori-aligned ways:

1. Involve the child in daily tasks and routines.

As adults, we think of maintaining the house (cooking, cleaning, etc.) as a chore or obligation, but for children, it’s an opportunity to contribute and learn that they’re part of your family community.

This isn’t to say that children should be forced to cook and clean. It's more about inviting them to participate, looking for indicators that they want to help and then giving them to tools to do so, i.e. child starts showing a lot of interest in washing the dishes, so you give them a bowl of soapy water and a few of their dishes to "wash" or child keeps grabbing at the broom when you sweep so you find a child-size version they can use alongside you.

2. Invite them to make decisions and listen to their thoughts and opinions.

Invite them to decide what to have for dinner, what game to play together, book to read, route to take to the park, etc. You don’t have to do this all the time, but when possible, giving children an opportunity to make decisions helps them to develop a sense of ownership in their role at home and builds confidence.

And if your child has an opinion on a decision you made, like having broccoli with dinner, listen to them. Listening to their thoughts and opinions doesn’t mean you have to change what you’re doing to accommodate them ("I hear you. You don’t like broccoli and that’s ok. I’m going to put it on the table and you can try some if you feel like it.") Simply listening and showing the child that their voice is an important one in the household will benefit them greatly.

3. Recognize their contributions.

Notice and acknowledge the ways they help or participate. Whether it’s tidying up, helping a sibling, or showing kindness, positive feedback reinforces that their actions matter.

4. Explore nature and your community.

Go on walks, notice plants, birds, or insects, visit local shops, and talk about what they see. Encourage questions and curiosity about the world around them.

Belonging is about feeling seen, valued, and included.

By inviting your child to contribute, explore, and engage with the world around them, you can help them develop confidence, curiosity, and meaningful connections that will positively impact their learning and relationships outside the home.