So you've heard about the benefits of Montessori education, but you're not sure what makes it different from a normal preschool. Or maybe you know what Montessori is, but are wondering if it's right for your child.
There are plenty of pros and cons to consider before making this big decision. But ultimately, it's up to you—and your child—to decide if this type of schooling is right for them.
Here's what we think:
The Montessori method was developed by Maria Montessori, a physician and educator who observed children in the classroom and noticed that they were naturally inclined toward independent learning. She then developed a system for teaching children that would support this natural inclination.
The goal of Montessori education is to help students develop skills in three different areas: practical life skills, academic skills, and social skills. Practical life skills are things like dressing yourself or washing your hands; academic skills include reading and writing; and social skills include things like playing with other kids or communicating with adults.
Montessori educators use educational toys to support these goals by providing materials that allow students to explore on their own, at their own pace, without the guidance of an adult teacher. Some examples of such toys are magnetic boards for practicing letters or numbers; sand tables for studying geography; pegboards for math games; stringing beads for counting exercises; etc. Montessori education uses materials that are specially designed for each child's developmental stage. These materials encourage children to explore different ways of understanding the world around them, as well as how they can interact with it.
One of the key differences between Montessori education and other types of preschool is that Montessori schools focus on self-directed learning rather than direct instruction by an adult. Children are encouraged to explore and experiment with materials independently, while teachers act as facilitators in this process rather than teachers in the traditional sense.
In addition to being able to develop critical thinking skills at an early age, Montessori students also tend to be more confident because they have had more practice taking risks without parental intervention or supervision. This freedom can also help them develop higher levels of self-esteem because they are given opportunities to master new skills independently rather than having their parents do everything for them from an early age.
The focus on self-directed learning means that children have more opportunities for hands-on experience with the world around them, which leads many parents to believe that their children will be more prepared for for the next step in their education when they leave their Montessori school. It also means that students in a Montessori school are encouraged to experiment with making choices about how they want to spend their time—and as a result, they often become more creative thinkers than their peers in other schools.
The downside of this freedom is that some children aren't ready for such responsibility—and some don't want it! So for those children, an option is to find a Childcare Centre or Family Day Care service who have knowledge of the Montessori method and can show how they implement it into their daily play and intentional teaching program.
Personally, in my service, I have developed a program that incorporates several early childhood educational philosophies including Steiner and Reggio Emilia inspired activities and educational toys, and I adapt my program to best suit the individual children in my care, their need and interests. And you can do this at home too. With some research into how children learn through play, you can create a beautiful educational play space for your child in your own home.
Yours Truly
Vanessa - Early Childhood Educator/Owner of Preschool Toybox
