Let the children be free, encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining, let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is damp with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control, is to betray the idea of freedom.

Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

A child's liberty should have as its limits the interests of the group to which he belongs. We should therefore prevent a child from doing anything which may offend or hurt others, or which is impolite or unbecoming. But everything else, every act that can be useful in any way whatever, may be expressed.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

The rules ought to be derived not from the adult's wish to impose his authority but from a desire to allow every individual freedom of independent activity as long as his freedom does not interfere with that of others.

Mario Montessori Jr, Education for Human Development

The factor which determines the course of this inner development is the material world with all its objective qualities, to which man must adapt himself in order to be able to utilize his own faculties freely.

Mario Montessori Jr, Education for Human Development

The freeing of a child consists in removing as far as possible these obstacles through a close and thorough study of the secret needs of early childhood in order to assist it.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

The concept of liberty which should inspire teaching is the liberation of a life repressed by an infinite number of obstacles which oppose its harmonious development, both physical and spiritual.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

The child who has extended his independence by acquiring new powers, can only develop normally if left free to exert those powers.

Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Real freedom is a consequence of development.

Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Since children have a natural need for a period of rest that breaks their continual movements, we have equipped the Children's Houses with small rugs. Children who wish to work on the floor must first get one of the little carpets, spread it out on the floor and then work upon it. No adult dictates the change of postures.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

Only the material which really interests a small child and which he will freely choose and regularly employ is suitable for a child's education.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

A child who shows a desire to work and to learn should be left free to do so even if the work is outside the regular program.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

There is only one basis for observation: the children must be free to express themselves and thus reveal those needs and attitudes which would otherwise remain hidden or repressed in an environment that did not permit them to act spontaneously.

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

Free drawings are possible only when we have a free child who has been allowed to grow and perfect himself in the assimilation of his surroundings and in mechanical reproduction; and who, when left free to create and express himself, actually does create and express himself.

Maria Montessori, The Advanced Montessori Method Volume 2

Freedom and discipline come together ... After a time the teacher understands that if

there is a lack of discipline she must be making a mistake. The children are not having

sufficient freedom. So discipline controls the errors of freedom.

Maria Montessori, The Child, Society and The World

Discipline and freedom are so co-related that, if there is some lack of discipline, the cause is to be found in some lack of freedom.

Maria Montessori, Source Unknown