It’s the goal of every parent to find the right educational program for their children. Early learning experiences have a huge impact on a child’s development and their future learning endeavors—and because parents know this, they gravitate toward the Montessori philosophy and practice.
Montessori has thrived around the globe for over a century. With this philosophy, growth starts early, and the early years (birth through age six) are seen as the most critical time for setting the foundation for who a child will become and what role they’ll play in the future.
Montessori meets the educational goals that parents have for their children, and it helps to form students who are capable and accountable people with a strong sense of self.
This article is here to share three reasons that Montessori parents know that they’ve made the right choice. If you’re on the fence about choosing Montessori education for your child, then this information might be just what you need to understand that the Montessori choice is the right one.
Here are three reasons why parents are happy with the choice that they made regarding Montessori education.
1. Montessori philosophy helps children grow into capable people.
Each and every Montessori classroom is carefully and thoughtfully designed with the goal of helping children develop their own capabilities. These capabilities cover a wide range of things depending on a child’s age—from learning how to dress themselves independently to multiplying a multiple-digit equation. It could also cover things like communicating their needs effectively or problem-solving with others. Each classroom is filled with age-appropriate activities that a child needs and things that encourage them to interact with learning materials and cooperate with their peers.
Children choose what materials to use based on what they’re interested in and what’s available because each classroom is equipped with only one copy of each activity—and that’s intentional. Some children will naturally gravitate toward group work, while others will focus on solo activities. As children mature, the curriculum shifts into small group instructions and more collaborative activities, but there is always a combination of independent, partner, small-group, and whole-group lessons.
This is so children can feel capable when presented with different learning relationships and interpersonal dynamics; these are valuable skills to hone for life outside of the classroom. Allowing children to make their own choices based on their own motivation rather than constant adult instruction sets a foundation for a capable child.
2. Montessori education helps students grow into accountable people.
Students can progress at their own pace in a Montessori classroom. Based on their own interests and capabilities, they are presented with opportunities to practice, review, or move forward with activities. They are in charge of their own learning and are accountable for their own knowledge inside the classroom—and outside of it.
Teachers assess students on a daily basis in a Montessori classroom through observation. They watch how a child interacts with their environment and their peers, then use their knowledge of child development and academic outcomes to prepare an environment that serves the place where each student is—so each student is stimulated in academic, physical, social, and emotional ways.
Teachers will develop individual learning plans for each child that are based on their interests and abilities, then provide the correct environment that gives students the tools and the freedom to pursue answers to their own questions. This holds them accountable when seeking out new knowledge for themselves.
Self-correction and self-assessment are also big aspects of Montessori education. Students will learn to look critically at their work and recognize, correct, and learn from their errors—and this fosters accountability as well.
3. Montessori education helps to develop a strong sense of self.
A Montessori classroom is composed of children whose ages typically span about three years. In an ideal situation, students will stay with the same class and the same teacher for the entire cycle, and this forms a strong sense of community and meaningful bonds.
With this setup, it’s common to see students of different ages working together. Older students help the younger students, and younger students enjoy looking up to their older peers. Children understand that they are part of a larger community where everyone has their own needs and that they also contribute to the community in their own unique way. They are not only encouraged to exercise independence but also to work with peers and support others in need.
A strong sense of self is created in a child when they are given the space to develop their independence in the context of a caring community.
Dr. Maria Montessori founded this educational method over a hundred years ago, but it’s still what many parents seek out today. Children are free to choose their own activities, and doing so helps to create a confident, curious, and creative child.
