Early childhood is one of the most important parts of your child’s formative years. When done right, early childhood education can reap a lifetime of benefits. While many preschools and childcare centers will have a cookie approach when it comes to education, no one child is different and each will have a different learning style that will benefit them the most.
Montessori education offers a more personal alternative to traditional learning that can not only help you to raise a more well-rounded child, but one that will have a completely different view of learning as well. But what is Montessori education exactly, and why should you consider it for your child?
An Introduction to Montessori Education
Montessori education is not a fad; it is an educational program with a century of proven results behind it. The educational philosophy behind Montessori schools was developed by Maria Montessori. The Montessori Method seeks to guide children as they learn their individual skills, explore their interests and learn about the world through their natural curiosity. Each child has an individualized program that teaches independence and confidence. Teachers act as guides and consultants to the children as they learn as much as possible on their own in an environment designed to foster this. Now that we know what Montessori education is, let’s look at the benefits of this form of education when it comes to children.
It Truly Fosters Independence
The environment is designed to foster independence in young children. For example, it’s not unusual to see children sweeping the floor or washing dishes with right-sized tools in a Montessori school. They may learn how to cook and clean in addition to playing games with other children. They learn life skills while feeling pride in participation. Montessori schools are built to cultivate these skills and contain toys, equipment and educational play that empowers children.
Active, hands-on lessons also teach them that they can learn things for themselves. As a result, the child gains self-made self-esteem, arising from an internal sense of pride in their accomplishments. This is valid self-esteem, not something that comes from external judgment and validation they may not get in a traditional classroom.
They Gain Deeper Understanding of Key Concepts
The Montessori Method of teaching helps children grasp the ‘why’ behind the rules, methods and problem-solving strategies. In math, children may forget the steps of a particular operation but not the how or why. This fosters deeper understanding than memorizing mnemonics or acronyms. This leads to learning the actual formal method faster as well as applying it in new situations.
The fact that learning is fun makes it engaging, improving retention. Because they learn from experiences, learning is real and relevant, not something they memorize long enough to recite back to a teacher. They learn far more than they would from teacher lectures in a traditional classroom.
It Suits All Children at Every Level
Because the Montessori Method is individualized, the lessons and the teachers meet the child where they are in life. This way, the child isn’t as likely to experience frustration or lack stimulation. Teachers teach at an individual level to each student.
Grade levels are flexible and determined by the child’s developmental range, not their numeric age. The curricula can be expanded in response to the student’s needs, whereas a teacher working with a large class has to teach a standard lesson to everyone regardless of their abilities and interests.
Traditionally, the pace and order of lessons have to be given at a set pace, in a planned order. In a Montessori school, the methods can change based on the child, the environment, their interests and so forth. The curricula can expand in response to the child’s needs and interests, while traditional curricula are laid out without regard for individual students.
Children work on lessons as long as needed to learn the concept, and interruptions are kept to a minimum. However, you only find this at good Montessori schools. You can learn more about Mosaic Montessori Academy, an CCMA accredited Montessori school, to understand how these schools work with your child. CCMA accredited schools are the only ones qualified to teach using the Montessori method and have all the learning materials needed.
They Gain a Love of Learning
By cultivating children’s natural sense of curiosity and letting them learn by exploring the world, they never lose their love of learning. The learning plan appeals to the child’s innate hunger for knowledge. They don’t learn in order to earn a good grade or because they have to. Nor does fear or frustration cause them to hate learning or school and shun education all together.
The Montessori method has more to offer since it is truly focused on every individual child’s needs. The many benefits your child will gain through a Montessori education can last a lifetime.
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