What should you know about ‘Montessori’ learning for your child?

As a parent, one of the biggest responsibilities to start and enable the child’s learning process. And research has shown that 80% of the child’s brain develops within 0-4 years. So will it be prudent to wait until our little one starts going to school?

At the same time, we definitely don’t want to burden such tender minds with studies or performance targets!! A way out probably is a method that allows us to follow child-led, hands-on learning -yes you guessed it right! It is Montessori.

With widespread usage of the term ‘Montessori’, one’s often at a loss to understand what really is it. Well, it’s a vast subject but I am making a fair attempt to share my knowledge about Montessori in a series that will follow.

This blog will help you understand the basics of Montessori and what to expect when you send your child to a Montessori school or follow the methods at home for your child’s learning.

1. Child driven learning: The teacher closely observes the child, and allows the child to lead to the next activity. In other words, the teacher doesn’t tell the child when to start learning the next activity, instead the child moves on to the next learning once she is ready. The teacher is there only to show ‘how to do it’ and observe the progress, and is not bogged down with a timeline to finish the curriculum.

2. Focuses on practical life activities from early childhood Montessori Method focuses more on practical life activities. Wherein the children learn to take care of themselves at a very young age, thus giving them a sense of confidence to do things on their own. For example, two years old Montessori children learn to put their own shoe and button their shirts.

3. Child friendly environment: At Montessori, you have a child sized space and everything is at the child’s eye level. Children are free to explore within this surrounding which emphasizes freedom of choice.

4. Natural Materials are used in the classroom and that is why you would see bamboo baskets and wooden trays stacked in their shelves.

5. Focuses on important skills: All the materials used are designed to develop a child’s movement & motor skills

6. No rewards or punishments are given and the child works only for her own sense of satisfaction.

7. ‘Hands on Learning’ method instead of text based lessons. The child learns about shapes, by getting to hold the shapes in her hands and use them in practical lessons.

8. Grace and courtesy is learnt by practising them in everyday life. The discipline is cemented in a child’s home environment and they carry it forward in their lives as they grow up. Shall share more on this in my next note to you.

If you are a parent who would like your child’s learning to be more than what is in the text books, I suggest you  experience the Montessori learning even if it is byte sized. Trust me you won’t be disappointed!

So, stay tuned for more and keep sharing with peer moms 🙂

Read More On Baby