Why you won’t hear ‘Good Job!’ in our Montessori-inspired classrooms at Children First

In our Montessori-inspired classrooms, you may notice that we don’t often use praise in the way you might expect. Rather than saying things like “Good job!” or “You’re so smart!” We offer encouragement in a way that helps your child build something even more powerful: confidence from within. As Maria Montessori once said: “The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”  This happiness comes not from our praise, but from their own sense of accomplishment.

At Children First, we help children feel proud of their own efforts, not just seeking approval from adults. Instead of “Good job!” we might say, “You really focused on that puzzle. How did that feel?” This helps your child reflect on their own hard work and feel good about what they’ve achieved.

Montessori teachers comment on how your child does something—not just the end result. For example, Instead of: “That’s a beautiful drawing!” We say: “I see you spent a lot of time choosing colours and adding details to your garden picture.” This helps your child value effort, creativity, and persistence.

In our bilingual school, we encourage children to self-reflect. We ask questions like: “What part are you most proud of?”, “Was that easy or tricky?”, or “What would you like to try next time?” These help children become thoughtful and self-aware learners.

We still acknowledge your child’s work, but we do it in a way that supports independence and real self-esteem. This approach empowers your child to grow into a confident, capable person who learns because they love it—not because someone’s watching.

Let us know if you’d like help using this approach at home—we’d love to partner with you!

Article by Karyn Wynn

Montessori, M. (1949). The absorbent mind (C. A. Claremont, Trans.). Adyar, India: The Theosophical Publishing House. (Original work published 1949) p. 249