When you ask a young child how old they are, they will likely hold up fingers like a badge of honor while proudly announcing their age. Birthdays and ages are one of the first tangible markers of time that children understand. They anticipate their birthday for months, excited about advancing to the next age. The rituals and traditions around birthday celebrations become beloved memories as children grow. Their love of birthdays also reflects children’s natural desire to understand themselves and their place in the world as they grow. Montessori supports this desire in children by offering a unique birthday celebration that centers the child’s individual growth within the earth’s cycles.

Known as a “Montessori Birthday Walk” or “Walk Around the Sun” ceremony, the Montessori birthday tradition honors each year of a child’s life and development as they age. In the Montessori classroom, a depiction of the sun is placed in the center of the room and a small candle or light is placed on top. The classroom of children all sit around the sun in a circle while the birthday child stands and holds a globe or representation of the Earth. Just like the Earth completes one orbit around the sun each year, the birthday child completes one “orbit” around the circle for each year of their life. After each time around the sun, the child, a parent, or caregiver shares memories including photos and stories about that year of the child’s life. For example, after the first “orbit” a parent may share baby photos and stories about the child learning to crawl. The child completes as many orbits as they are years old. 

This special Montessori birthday tradition allows children to tangibly experience the journey of aging while self-reflecting and sharing beloved memories with friends and teachers. The celebration centers the child while connecting their personal history and growth with the world around them. Next time you celebrate your child’s birthday, you can try a version of the Walk Around the Sun at home! Print out pictures of them at each age and prepare to share some of your favorite memories. You can also ask your child to share their own favorite memories from each year. This can be a wonderful opportunity to help your child integrate their memories while reflecting on the joy of early childhood.

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