A Traditional Preschool Alternative: Montessori Preschool

Many psychologists and educators believe that children between the ages 0-5 years are at an important stage in their learning development. During this time, a child's intelligence develops and children absorb more through curiosity and experience. Preschool aids in this developmental process by providing stimulation to children to help develop the learning skills they will need later on in their education.

Difference between Child Care Settings

The difference between day care, nursery school and preschool is that day care will provide basic care to a child. Nursery school will provide play and socialization with other children. Preschool provides education based play with socialization with other children.

Montessori Preschool Versus Traditional

Montessori preschool is a type of preschool but very different from a traditional preschool setting. Montessori schools foster independence in children and children learn as they play and socialize on their own. Traditional preschool is much like a regular classroom with a teacher educating to a group.

Development of Montessori Method

Dr. Maria Montessori from Italy who studied children in their houses in Rome started the Montessori Method. Through her observation, she created an environment that emphasized respect for children, self-expression, self-education and education through movement and senses. Maria Montessori believes that children need to develop a love for life, an inner self and learn continuously through independent and spontaneous interactions.

The Montessori Classroom

A Montessori classroom is designed not to intimidate a child. The world is too big and overwhelming to a child. The Montessori classroom breaks the outside world down for a child to explore through activities and exercises at his/her own pace. The activities are based on Practical Life, Science, Language, Math, Geography, Sensorial, Art, Music, Drama and Dance.

How Does the Child Learn?

By allowing a child to explore at his/her own pace the child develops feelings of worth, confidence and high self esteem. As the child learns more from experiences in the classroom, the child's curiosity builds which will lead them to more exploration and learning. The child will learn through doing and experiencing. One of the most important facets of this type of preschool is that learning happens without pressure.

The Role of the Teacher

The directress' (teacher) role is to set up the classroom in a way that will spark curiosity in the child. The directress will help children from one activity to the next but will step back while the child is exploring each area. The child will explore and be allowed to learn and discover on his/her own.

The Cost

The cost of Montessori preschool is higher than many traditional preschools due to the need for the equipment, extra training for the directress and curriculum. Many feel that the higher cost in sending their child to Montessori preschool is money well spent. According to the September 2006 journal, Science, 5-year-olds who attended Montessori preschool were better prepared for primary school, especially in the areas of reading and math. This group was better at adapting to change and complex problems. They scored better on social and behavioral skills, meaning that these children engaged in "emotionally positive play" rather than rough play. These children had a better understanding of justice and fairness in relation to their peers.

More Information

For more information on Montessori schools, visit http://www.montessori.org/. This site has many resources to help you decide if Montessori school is right for you and your child. You can find books to purchase and more articles on the topic. This site also has a search engine to help you find Montessori schools in your area so that you can visit a school and speak to someone about any questions or concerns.

Sources: http://www.brantfordmontessori.com/htdoc/faq.html
http://www.montessori-science.org/montessori_science_journal.htm