This year, our Lower Elementary students are participating in the Let Grow Program, an initiative designed to strengthen independence, confidence, and real-world competence in children. These goals align closely with Montessori principles, which emphasize trust in the child’s capabilities and the importance of learning through meaningful experience.

At its heart, Let Grow is about giving children appropriate freedom and responsibility so they can grow into capable, resilient individuals.

The Origins of Let Grow

The Let Grow program was co-founded by Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, along with Lenore Skenazy, a journalist and longtime advocate for childhood independence. Both have spent years studying and writing about the sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and fragility among children and adolescents.

In The Anxious Generation, Haidt explains how modern childhood has shifted in two major ways:

• Children have less freedom in the real world, with fewer opportunities to explore, solve problems, and take age-appropriate risks.
• At the same time, they have more exposure to screens and constant adult oversight, limiting opportunities to build independence and self-trust.

Let Grow was created as a practical response to this imbalance. Rather than focusing on what children should avoid, the program focuses on what children need: trust, responsibility, and the chance to practice independence.

The Purpose of the Program

The purpose of Let Grow is simple but powerful. It encourages children to do things on their own that they are developmentally ready to handle, without unnecessary adult intervention.

For Lower Elementary students, this might include:

• Completing a task independently at home
• Navigating a small responsibility in their community
• Solving a problem without immediate adult rescue
• Practicing decision-making and follow-through

These experiences help children learn that they are capable. They build confidence not through praise alone, but through action.

Research shows that when children are allowed to take manageable risks and responsibility, they develop:

• Stronger problem-solving skills
• Increased resilience
• Better emotional regulation
• A deeper sense of self-efficacy

In other words, children learn not just what to do, but how to trust themselves.

Why Independence Matters

Independence is not about pushing children too far, too fast. It is about recognizing what they are already capable of and giving them space to practice those skills.

In a Montessori environment, independence is foundational. From choosing work to managing materials and caring for their environment, children are encouraged to act with purpose and autonomy. The Let Grow program extends this philosophy beyond the classroom and into everyday life.

Jonathan Haidt’s work highlights an important truth: when adults remove all discomfort, frustration, or risk from childhood, children miss critical opportunities to grow. They may appear safe in the short term, but they are less prepared to handle challenges later on.

Let Grow helps restore balance by allowing children to experience small struggles now, when the stakes are low and support is nearby.

How This Supports Montessori Values

Montessori education is built on trust in the child. Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children thrive when they are given responsibility and freedom within clear, thoughtful limits. Let Grow supports this belief by reinforcing that independence is learned through experience, not instruction alone.

By participating in this program, our Lower Elementary students are:



• Practicing responsibility in real-world settings
• Developing confidence through action
• Learning that mistakes are part of growth
• Strengthening their sense of agency

Looking Ahead

The Let Grow program is not about doing more or pushing harder. It is about stepping back in thoughtful ways so children can step forward.

As families and educators, our role is not to remove every obstacle, but to prepare children to meet them. By supporting independence now, we are helping children build the skills they will need for adolescence, adulthood, and life beyond the classroom.