What is the Standard for Montessori Preschool?

There are significant differences between private kindergarten and a traditional school setting. The primary goal of Montessori is not to achieve matched advancement for all students, and this type of teaching is not limited to academic education. To better understand the role of Montessori, it is best to start with the common standards of the Montessori Method.

The Importance of a Prepared Environment

You have probably noticed that your child’s Montessori daycare is a carefully prepared environment. The furniture is child-sized, the activities are age-appropriate, and everything has a designated place. This arrangement is important for early childhood education, and parents are encouraged to adopt similar arrangements at home.

Defining a Prepared Environment

The prepared environment is many things. It is orderly and arranged, but contains activities that attract young minds. It should be designed to give a child maximum freedom of movement and independent access to materials. It should be comfortable for a child, designed around the child’s perspective, and intended as an area she can claim as her own.

The Children’s House

Montessori’s original school was named Casa dei Bambini, or The Children’s House, a name that is frequently used today by Montessori schools. But the term is also used to refer to a Montessori-style classroom, indicating a place where kids are the normal occupants and adults are out-sized in comparison to the environment. The design removes barriers against the child’s movement and choices, as it provides activities that stimulate their imagination and encourage learning new things.

The Absorbent Mind

Children are naturally interested in learning new things. The world is large and their personal experience is very small. Learning and doing help them broaden their horizons, gives them a sense of accomplishment, and spurs curiosity about their surroundings.

Prepared Environments at Home

In your home, a child-sized bookcase, small table, and pictures hung at eye level are a good beginning. Activities such as the Pink Tower, Brown Stairs, or Binomial Cubes offer stimulating activities that teach important concepts while promoting fine motor control, personal achievement, and critical thinking skills. But the children’s house does not stop in a corner or bedroom. Child-sized kitchen utensils, miniature tools, and other common objects allow your child to participate in frequent household activities, instilling a sense of belonging and inclusion. 

Another advantage of the Montessori approach at home is durability. Authentic Montessori activities are made of wood, providing an inviting texture and long-lasting functionality that flows from the toddler years through around the age of 6. This type of prepared environment is carefully defined and geared exclusively toward the development of children.

How to Nurture Good Kindergartner Citizens

One of the advantages of a private kindergarten is the focus that is placed on citizenship. Appropriate behavior is important in any kindergarten, but a Montessori environment takes that a step further, including the principles of Grace and Courtesy in every aspect of the daily educational program.

The Surprising Benefits of Storytelling in Preschool

Step into a Montessori Preschool in Chatsworth and see for yourself how the classrooms and curriculum have been carefully arranged to benefit each child. From day one, the Montessori method has kept your child’s healthy and well-rounded education at the heart of its core principles. That method stems in part from a strong belief in creating an atmosphere where children can develop a natural love of learning and exploring the world.

Your Child First - Why This Matters in Daycare

For children, the daycare years are a critical developmental time. From fine motor skills to language skills, your child is an empty vessel that needs a constant influx of information. Emotional development is part of the process as well, including a personal sense of worth and ability. In the Montessori daycare environment, a whole-child approach to education includes these factors as well as practical life skills that promote social structure and independence.

For Families - A Summer at Home Guide Kids Will Enjoy

Keeping your preschool kids entertained all summer long can be daunting for most parents. This is why when Montessori Preschool Winnetka closes for the summer holidays, most parents start stressing about how they will keep the kids occupied. Luckily, summer doesn't have to be a dreadful period where you're always plotting how to ditch or get rid of the young ones. With a little planning and creativity, you can make the holidays fun and memorable for both you and your preschool children. With this in mind, here is an at-home guide featuring fun and educational activities for you and your kids to take part in during the summer holiday!

How Private Kindergarten Focuses on Children First

When choosing between a private kindergarten and a public school, look for the option which provides the most opportunity for your child. Because they are focused on the children rather than a set curriculum, private schools are popular with students and teachers alike.