Montessori Fundamentals: The Building Blocks for Your Child’s Development

In this blog, we’ll dive into the fundamentals of Montessori education and show you how it could be the key to unlocking your child’s full potential. Join us as we explore how Montessori’s unique approach can lay a solid foundation for your child’s development, all within a warm and caring environment that feels like a second home.

Firstly, the founder of the Montessori method of learning is one of the first female physicians in Italy – Dr. Maria Montessori. She opened her first school in an apartment building in Rome in 1907 called Casa De Bambini, “Home for Children.” Read more about the origins of the Montessori method in this blog.

Her interest in education grew during her work with children with special needs, leading her to develop a unique approach to education based on her observations of children’s natural learning tendencies. At that time, all she had was a teacher’s table, a blackboard, a stove and a cabinet filled with activity materials. She discovered that engaging the child’s senses was the best way for children to learn effortlessly. Dr. Montessori’s methods remain influential in fostering holistic development in children worldwide.

To further appreciate the strengths of a Montessori education, here’s a quick rundown of its core components. You’ll see how a Montessori kindergarten curriculum is greatly beneficial in the early stages of your child’s learning:

• Respect for the Child. The Montessori approach emphasises respect for the child as an individual with unique needs, interests, and abilities. Montessori teachers strive to create a supportive, nurturing environment where children feel valued, respected, and empowered to learn.

• A Purpose-Built Environment for Exploration. Classrooms are carefully designed to encourage excitement in children. Everyday becomes an exploration, a venue for independence, and order, with materials and activities readily accessible to children.

• Life Skills 101, check!  How does one teach independence in a Montessori? They are taught practical life skills like simple daily tasks of cleaning, caring for oneself and other household activities. When you allow them to succeed in each task all by themselves, you instil self-belief and confidence.

• Language Proficiency through Sound. A rich language environment is created in a Montessori preschool curriculum with fun activities to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills – all taught through hands-on and phonics-based approach.

• Mathematics Made Fun. In a Montessori education, mathematics is taught using a hands-on, concrete approach that allows children to explore mathematical concepts through manipulation of specially designed materials. This creates a positive association with numbers early on.

• • Sensorial Education.  In a Montessori classroom, materials are designed to refine and enhance the senses, enabling children to explore concepts such as size, shape, colour, texture, and sound. It’s a valuable opportunity to develop their sensory perception, cognitive skills, concentration, independence, and motor skills.

• Unique Montessori Materials. Each Montessori material is designed to be self-correcting, meaning that it allows children to recognise, correct, and learn from their mistakes independently. This autonomy builds confidence and promotes active learning, which is central to the Montessori philosophy.

These elements work together to create a nurturing learning environment that supports the holistic development of each child. A Montessori education lays the groundwork for children to flourish intellectually, socially, and emotionally, equipping them with the building blocks necessary to thrive in both academic pursuits and in navigating real life. Explore our curriculum here.