The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being

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Although met with many challenges because of her gender, Montessori graduated from the University of Rome in 1896 as a Doctor of Medicine (Kramer, 2017). She then went on to work with children who were developmentally delayed at the University’s psychiatric clinic. In 1900, Montessori became co-director of the Scuola Magistrale Ortofrenica, a school for training teachers in educating mentally disabled children. Another key feature of this plane is what Montessori called “normalization,” the process by which concentration and spontaneous discipline arise – two key requirements of Montessori’s method of education (Marshall, 2017). Second place Hi Trista, it is a good question 🙂 And you are right, there are some books that are commonly labeled as Montessori-friendly although they contain some elements we might consider “fantasy” or “not accurate”. Fine motor skills are improved through all the hand movements that strengthen small muscles, fingers and wrists. They are important for the development of practical life skills such as writing, dressing, or cleaning teeth.

Creating scavenger hunts for “like” objects: objects that are red, start with a “ra” sound, are circles, etc.Teachers then guide the child to these activities to spark the child’s interest and help them through the process. Montessori toys Montessori observed that children are capable of focusing for extended periods of time if they are working on activities that capture their spontaneous interest (Montessori, 1986). And while it seems doubtful that this approach wouldn’t be deemed successful from an empirical standpoint, it is still useful to critically examine this method so as to increase its credibility. The belief is that an environment set up in this way gives children a deeper level of understanding of the different areas of learning, such as language and mathematics, as well as social interaction and more. With a range of activities and resources available to them, children have the opportunity to engage with the activity of their choice and each other for as long as they like rather than having a set timetable for the day.

Montessori education fosters creativity and critical thinking by providing children with an environment that encourages exploration, problem-solving, and independent thinking. Through the use of hands-on materials, students are given the freedom to explore, make choices, and pursue their interests.Observing how the children have settled into the space has been fascinating. Most children seem to recognise the activities and get straight to work. Others have found a cosy spot to sit and observe with their adult until they get started. Montessori nurseries and schools have age-appropriate classrooms that let children learn through play using specially designed Montessori toys and resources. Learning tower is one of the most popular pieces of furniture in Montessori households. It allows children to reach the countertop and help with baking or cooking in a safe way. Toddlers simply love it.

For example, a classroom might have young children ages 3-6 in one classroom or an elementary school classroom of ages 6-9 altogether. Designing an environment that promotes development and is accessible to the child is key for Montessori toddlers and babies. Toddlers especially thrive with opportunities to exert their independence and explore at such a young age. Is Montessori good for toddlers? Meinke, H. (2019). Exploring the pros and cons of montessori education. Retrieved from https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/pros_cons_montessori_education/ The second plane of development is also the period in which children begin to formulate their moral sense and transition to slightly more abstract ways of thinking (Marshall, 2017). Third plane Another study compared scores on math, science, English, and social studies tests several years after children had left the Montessori classrooms, revealing that the Montessori students scored significantly higher on math and science exams but no higher on the English and social studies exams.

Read chapter 4 of The Montessori Babyfor ideas to set up your space for children under 1 year old OR chapter 4 of The Montessori Toddlerfor ideas for toddlers from 1 to 3+ years During this period of growth, a child first acquires language and gains an interest in small objects. Our Research Library contains a comprehensive array of Montessori-related research. VISIT OUR RESEARCH LIBRARY As someone who devoted her life to studying and observing children, Montessori devised her own theory of child development that greatly informed the Montessori method of teaching.

Rather than trying to get a child to read or write at a certain age, the Montessori approach says that children move through sensitive periods when they are especially receptive to learning new skills. At the beginning of the school year, teachers commonly deliver “great lessons” which introduce students to the interdisciplinary nature of learning that exposes students to new areas of exploration.A Montessori classroom will definitely look different from what you may envision a normal learning environment to look like. Teachers observe each individual child’s characteristics and tendencies and watch out for when a child is particularly receptive to learning a new skill, such as writing.