“A child who achieves a goal through their own efforts is a happy child.” – Giving from the heart at the Montessori Children’s House IBZ
The Christmas season is a time of lights, anticipation, and community. At the Montessori Children’s House IBZ, however, it is also a special occasion to pause and reflect. In keeping with Maria Montessori’s philosophy, we want to teach the children values that go beyond the material during these weeks: compassion, helpfulness, and the experience that sharing enriches one’s own heart.
In our daily work, we encourage the children’s independence. But holism also includes the awareness of being part of a community and taking responsibility for others. During this time of year, we want to teach the children in an age-appropriate way that not everyone is as fortunate as we are – and that we have the power to make others smile.
For this reason, we collected donations for the pediatric diabetes ward at Charité Berlin this year. A chronic illness such as diabetes is a heavy burden for children and their families, especially during the Christmas season.
Our pre-schoolers were able to visit the children in the ward on December 18, 2025. They got to know some of them and their parents and put a smile on their faces. Thanks to numerous donations collected at the children’s home Christmas party, we were able to fulfill a few wishes and provide a brief distraction from everyday hospital life.
Our children learned what it feels like to be in the hospital. They were able to consciously appreciate the health and safety we enjoy and learn that even small gestures can make a positive difference in the world. They experienced empathy, gratitude, and self-efficacy in a very special way.