The Top 3 Benefits of a Montessori Preschool Education for Your Child

Articles

You want your child to get a good start on their education. That is why you are considering preschool for them. With a preschool education, your child will enter kindergarten ahead of the game in relation to other children who did not go to preschool. They will have basic reading, mathematic, and coordination skills already in place, and they will already be familiar with being around other children. Social skills like sharing and how to have positive interactions with other children and adults will be things they already know when they get to public school.

The benefits of preschool cannot be denied. The only thing you need to decide is which preschool is best for your child. There are a variety of different types of preschools and learning methods. The Montessori method is one of the best known, and it has many benefits to it you might want to consider for your child. Here are the top three benefits of a Montessori preschool education.

1. Classrooms Are Set Up to Be Child-Friendly

Montessori education takes the needs of children at various ages into consideration. The curriculum is designed around the children's developmental abilities at the preschool age. Plus, everything in the classroom is made to be easily within the preschool child's reach to give them a sense of independence. Classroom furniture is designed for preschool children to fit in perfectly and comfortably, so learning is easier and more enjoyable for them. Children also work with children on a mentorship basis, as older preschool kids are in the same classroom and can assist and be role models to the younger preschoolers.

2. A Flexible School Day Designed around the Child's Interests

The founders of the Montessori method of learning believed that children learned more and retained knowledge better when they were learning about things that interested them. Natural schedules are also important to the Montessori method, as this philosophy says children stop listening and learning when they're forced to do so against their own natural inclinations. Therefore, the typical Montessori preschool day is quite flexible.

Some of the things that are common in a Montessori preschool day include:

• children being allowed to rest, nap, enjoy quiet time with a book or other activity, and take bathroom and snack breaks as they need to, on an individual basis
• different activity stations in each classroom that children can move between and use as they see fit throughout the school day
• teachers who act as coaches and advisers to children as they puzzle their own way through activities, rather than making children sit and listen while teachers talk to the entire class

3. Curriculum Is Tailored to Individual Needs

The curriculum in a Montessori preschool is definitely not a one-size-fits-all thing, as in most traditional preschool classrooms. The Montessori method recognizes that each child is an individual and should be treated as such. Children learn in different ways and have different interests. The Montessori preschool accommodates all the different styles of learning and creates curricula for each child based on their interests, so every subject is tied back to something the child enjoys. Also, children are allowed to learn at their own pace, as the Montessori method recognizes that some children learn more quickly (or more slowly) than others. It is designed so every child has the best chance to succeed and gain confidence in their own abilities.

Conclusion

The free-range, individual child-focused way Montessori preschools operate are really attractive to some parents and teachers, while others prefer the more traditional structure that puts all kids on the same level with the same expectations. Likewise, some children thrive in a Montessori preschool environment, while others actually do better in a traditional classroom setting. Arrange to sit in and view a Montessori preschool day and have your child participate with the other children. You may just find the Montessori method is the ideal way for your child to start their formal learning.

14 January 2016