The Montessori form of education is not a traditional type of learning, but it is perhaps the most natural. Its holistic approach to learning is that children learn best when they’re active, engaged and are discovering things about the world themselves. This means that instead of children having to undergo stressful study sessions and partake in challenging exams, children learning through the Montessori way do so through play and exploration. Classrooms that teach in this way have far less structure and aren’t as ridged, allowing for children to learn in their own way and at their own pace.
Of course, for the majority of parents, this approach may elicit a certain amount of skepticism, due to how much of a departure it is from the conventional ways of teaching. However, when you consider that many essential skills that children learn in their early years, such as walking and speech, are learnt through activity and not from a textbook, then this approach begins to have merit.
If you need convincing on the benefits of the Montessori form of education, here are a few reasons why you should consider it, and some benefits that it can provide your children.
Nurtures Independence
The classrooms of an institution that has adopted the ways of Montessori learning are designed in a special, unique way to help foster independence as well as the ability to conduct independent learning, which will be very important for the child later on in life. The classroom is filled with unique materials and learning tools that children can explore and interact with, which helps them discover things in their own way.
This approach is far superior in foresting unique thinking, problem-solving and critical thinking skills because students in a traditional school where they’re lectured by a teacher may quickly become dependent on their teacher and fail to develop more independent thought processes.
Each Child Is an Individual
Montessori education understands that each child learns and develops in their own unique ways at a different pace to other children. Instead of adding pressure to struggling children to keep up with the standard of the entire classroom, Montessori accommodates all learning styles and gives children the freedom to learn at their own pace as they go through an individually crafted learning plan. This means that each child’s specific needs are catered for, which will help them develop better.
Develops Social-emotional Skills
Due to the fact that children in a Montessori environment learn alongside children of varying ages, with older children encouraged to mentor and support the youngsters, it helps these children develop outstanding social-emotional skills at a far greater rate than with traditional teaching means.
These skills can help these children become more compassionate and build better relationships. Due to the unique classroom composition, children gain confidence through peer support and are better equipped to deal with challenges in the future, and there’s also an emphasis on fostering respect, kindness and the ability to find resolutions to conflicts peacefully.
