It is no secret that nature and learning outside offer some of the best learning opportunities in the early years. The early learning setting is the best environment for children to develop their social skills and emotional awareness.
For toddlers, the practical life activities help develop gross and fine motor skills, as well as gain a sense of independence. For primary aged children, the practical life activities play a huge role in helping them understand the world around them, as well as form a positive self-image.
The right age to start Montessori education is typically between 2 1/2 and 4 years of age because most Montessori schools are preschools. However, some parents choose to start their children in Montessori from infancy, usually between 8 weeks to 18 months.
A Montessori bedroom has all of the furniture at the child’s height. Everything should be within the child’s reach to give them full independence in the room—nothing is restricted. It is decorated in a minimalist style with neutral colors and bright pictures and learning materials for the child.
A mud kitchen is an outdoor play station that allows children to engage in pretend and messy play by cooking with mud, sand, and water. Mud kitchens help children to develop fine motor skills, roleplay, exploration, and social skills. Mud kitchens are beneficial for children ages 1-7.
The best Montessori outdoor activities include practical life skills, such as gardening and washing, and toys like gardening tools, buckets, watering cans, and hoses. Climbing and balance items (stepping stones and balance beams) and sensory items (sandboxes and mud kitchens) are also great choices.
A lot of Montessori bedrooms for babies and young children have mirrors because they have been proven to help babies recognize and understand their reflections. Mirrors are a great way to keep little ones entertained and will encourage interactive play and healthy movement.
When children display repetitive behaviors like throwing, they are developing something called a play schema. Play schemas are how children learn about the world around them and develop essential tools for interacting with that world.
Most Montessori schools use computers and digital technology. However, technology use in a Montessori school looks very different than it does in a mainstream school. This is because the Montessori philosophy, also called the Montessori Method, has strict ideas about the classroom environment.
