Dr. Maria Montessori discovered long ago that the child under six has a miraculous ability to absorb their worlds. She called this “The Absorbent Mind”. The young child can absorb language, perfect movement and internalize order, developing from a helpless baby to a competent child in a few short years. Never will these sensitivities be more alive than in the early years of life. The young child is curious about everything and needs to explore and discover through purposeful activity.

The Montessori classroom is prepared with only the child in mind. The physical space and routines of the classroom are designed to maximize independent learning and exploration.

The Montessori classroom and activities encourage each child to move, touch, manipulate and make discoveries. The 3 year old who says “I can do it myself” is encouraged to do so. Learning tools are strategically placed so that children can  easily reach what they need, without having to wait for adult help. Learning materials are self-correcting, so that the children learn by manipulating the material and they can be successful. Montessori developed learning materials to stimulate the child into discovery. Each piece of material is simple and carefully designed to appeal to the child at his or her stage of development.

Dr.Montessori noticed that the children do not learn from listening to an adult talk, but rather from the observation and experience. “When a child is happy in their environment he/she is interested in working and experimenting this leads to a calm and joyful learning experience- which leads to inner discipline.” The child has freedom to work independently, based on their own initiatives with gentle and respectful guidance from the teacher.

The Montessori approach to education is centered in the uniqueness and potentials of evolving child. The purpose is to develop the whole child into a well-rounded human being. Children enter this world with a natural desire to learn and to perfect themselves. Montessori education fulfills this instinctive need by providing a “Prepared Environment” where children are allowed the excitement of learning by choice rather than by force. Children acquire an “inner discipline” that will guide them to a self-development and self-learning.

 Individualized lessons and instruction are given according to the interests and readiness of the child. The multi-age setting allows for modeling leadership, mentoring skills, and socialization between different age groups. In addition to academics, the program fosters virtues such as love, peacefulness, compassion and kindness. Children imbibe values of respect for nature, caring for and acceptance of other, and becoming a responsible member of the society.

Mankind’s basic tendencies are to explore, form order, imitate, abstract, imagine, form social groups, communicate, be independent, be obedient, be creative, learning discipline, participate in activities, repeat and calculate. As they are satisfied, habits for lifelong learning perpetuate and children are free to become independent thinkers and learners.

Montessori Education can be summed up in one sentence- “Children teach themselves”.

Dr. Montessori believed that no human being is educated by another person. He/She must do it for herself or it will never be done. Montessori wanted to extend learning outside the classroom. She wanted each child to be excited about learning and to take that knowledge and curiosity to higher levels-that is-to become a part of their lives and to continuously learn without limits!