"Care of the Environment" in a Montessori setting refers to children learning to take responsibility for their surroundings, fostering a deep sense of respect and stewardship for the world around them. A well-prepared environment is central to the child’s development, offering opportunities for children to actively maintain order, beauty, and cleanliness. Through purposeful activities such as cleaning, organising, gardening, and caring for plants or animals, children develop concentration, coordination, independence, and a sense of responsibility. As they care for their environment, children refine their motor skills while internalising values of respect, interdependence, and community. This practice extends beyond the classroom, helping children to recognise their role in caring for the wider world and nurturing environmental awareness and a commitment to sustainability.

“When they arrive in the morning, there are many things to attend to. The children look after the classroom. They sweep with their own small brooms and dust and scrub and polish. Then there is their personal cleanliness. When a child’s hands are dirty, we do not take him to the basin and wash his hands or hold his face while we do the washing. The children learn to do these things for themselves as a matter of course.” (Montessori, Maria, Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents, pp. 48-49)