Maybe you find Montessori pedagogy exciting and have already heard a lot about it. But not sure if it’s right for your child? Everything you need to know about the Montessori concept and how to apply it correctly in everyday life can be found in this article.
WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF MONTESSORI?
Montessori is a unique pedagogical approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, collaboration, and exploration. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional parenting, Montessori could be a good solution for your family.
Montessori is an educational philosophy developed by Italian doctor and educator Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. Montessori believed that all children have a natural need to learn and should be allowed to explore their interests at their own pace.
The Montessori concept is based on the following principles:
All children have a natural need to learn.
Children should be allowed to learn at their own pace.
Hands-on learning is essential to child development.
Collaboration and exploration are important to learning.
The Montessori pedagogy is individually tailored to the needs of each child.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? We think so too.
HOW DO I RAISE MY CHILD ACCORDING TO THE MONTESSORI PEDAGOGY?
This is probably the most frequently asked question. And it’s not that easy to answer.
Montessori pedagogy is not a method that you can simply buy and then use at home. It is much more than that. Montessori education is a philosophy of life, a way of looking at children and their needs. But don’t worry, nobody says that you can only practice Montessori fully or not at all. On the contrary, delve a little into this concept and pick the things that work well for you.
Many Montessori materials and ideas can be easily incorporated into your everyday life.
Don’t put pressure on your child as a parent or compare him to others. Instead, encourage your child to explore his skills and interests. Montessori is also very practice-oriented and holistic so children should always learn about the big picture and should always be able to put this directly into practice.
Montessori children learn to be independent and to take care of themselves. They are also very creative and have good problem-solving skills. Montessori pedagogy encourages children to enjoy learning and helps them to develop individually and at their own pace.
Montessori parents also report that they feel more relaxed and confident because they don’t have to force anything on their children that doesn’t match their inclinations.
EXAMPLE OF PLAYING AND LEARNING ACCORDING TO MONTESSORI:
A Montessori child can spend an afternoon building a tower out of blocks. He will then experiment with tearing it down, rebuilding it, and changing the materials used. Along the way, he learn about gravity, balance, and cause and effect. Montessori pedagogy always builds on the whole child – body, mind, and soul.
WHO IS MONTESSORI SUITABLE FOR?
Montessori is suitable for all children, regardless of their talents and abilities. The aim is to support each child individually in his development and to bring out the best in each child. In a Montessori class, for example, children of different ages learn together. This has the advantage that the older children can help the younger ones and vice versa. This often creates a family-like atmosphere in which everyone helps and supports one another. These “social skills” will one day be very valuable – especially in the future world of work.
You can say that Montessori is suitable for all children. All children are naturally inquisitive and want to learn. However, this Montessori philosophy should always match the attitude of the parents, otherwise, it makes little sense.
MONTESSORI KINDERGARTEN
In a Montessori kindergarten, the emphasis is on developing the child’s talents. Children have more freedom to develop their interests and skills. There are no rigid lesson plans, but the daily routine is structured in such a way that the children can learn independently and at their own pace.
Many normal kindergartens are already implementing the Montessori concept. Some, for example, have an open concept. This means that the children can move freely in kindergarten. They can play whatever they want, go to gymnastics or crafts. They even harvest and cook together. Most of the play and learning material is also Montessori-oriented.
MONTESSORI TOYS
Montessori toys excel at stimulating children’s imagination and creativity. They are often made from natural materials such as wood or fabric. Montessori toys also have a simple design without too many colors or patterns. In addition, they should always serve a specific purpose, such as sorting, screwing, or hammering.
You don’t necessarily need Montessori toys to implement Montessori in everyday life. It is much more important that the toy is appropriate for the child’s age and level of development. The best way to find out is to watch your child’s play and see what interests him. Does your child like to sort things by color? Or would you rather put everything in the drawer?
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
“No timetable, no subjects, no pressure – instead we have an organizational framework, freedom of movement, a wide range of offers, and individual, appreciative support. In this setting, children can develop into self-confident and responsible personalities. They try things out and find out their strengths and weaknesses.
When your child eventually attends a Montessori school, the Montessori philosophy will be even more present in their life. Here, too, the children are allowed to move freely within certain limits. Children can decide for themselves which learning materials they want to use and how long they want to work with them. This promotes concentration and the joy of learning.
If you are looking for a Montessori school for your little one, then “MUTENDI MONTESSORI” can be your best choice.
What are the main goals of the Mutendi Montessori?
Our Montessori school has three main goals:
To help children develop their full potential.
Promote independence and self-confidence.
To foster a love of learning.
According to Montessori, all children can reach their full potential. Our Montessori teachers, therefore, encourage the students to independently explore their interests and abilities. In this way, they gain confidence in their abilities and learn to love learning.
Why no grades in Mutendi Montessori?
We do not use a traditional grading system. Instead, students receive qualitative feedback on their progress. This allows them to better understand their strengths and weaknesses and develop accordingly. In addition, the focus is on the individual learning process and not on comparison with other students.
Montessori learning material
The Montessori Method is based on the principle of self-directed learning. That is why we offer our students a wide variety of learning materials. These are designed to meet the needs of each student and encourage independent learning.
Some of the most common Montessori learning materials include:
Sensory Materials: These help children develop their senses and learn to distinguish between different stimuli.
Language material: They support the development of reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Mathematical Materials: They help in understanding numbers, operations, and concepts such as measurement and geometry.
Cultural Materials: They cover a wide range of subjects such as history and geography.
Montessori pedagogy could be the right choice for you if you are looking for an educational method that promotes independence, self-confidence, and the joy of learning. You can start small: by developing your child’s skills, building their confidence, and giving them a framework to do things themselves. Move a lot in the great outdoors, structure the children’s room in a meaningful and minimalist way, create a safe, age-appropriate environment and just let your child do it in the protected space. All of these are already good approaches to practicing Montessori at home.
Later, a Montessori kindergarten or a Montessori school like Mutendi Montessori can be the best option for you because at-home adoption of the Montessori Method can be quite difficult and time taking.
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