Montessori Approach
Dr Montessori felt the goal of early childhood education is not to fill the child with facts from pre-selected course of studies but rather to cultivate their own natural desire to learn.
We nurture the natural learning of the child:
- By allowing each child to experience the excitement of learning by their own choice rather than by being forced.
- By helping them to perfect all their natural tools (e.g. own hands) for maximising their learning abilities for further learning situations.
This philosophy was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori early last century who through her keen sense of observation & study of children from all over the world learned that certain phases of development are universal and continue throughout our lives.
Through her work in the fields of Psychiatry, Paediatric & Education, Maria Montessori developed this approach to education as a means of providing children with the kind of environment from which they would draw what is necessary for the fullest human potential.
The key principles this is based on are:
- The Absorbent Mind
- The Concept of the Prepared Environment
- The Sensitive Periods of Development
Montessori views each human as a uniquely endowed individual living a whole life in a whole world. Teaching and learning are seen as inseparable as are self, family, neighbour-hood and global community. Learning and growth is what happens when people work and play together. Learning is not about winning or competition.
Maria Montessori understood the importance of sensitive periods, when children experience an inner drive, a passion to do and understand – like the functions of writing or the possibilities of paint. During these times, learning is the most thorough, concentration most intense, and enthusiasm most heightened as children pursue, often with endless repetition, activities which they find interesting.