Montessori education promotes independence. Children get to choose what they want to do on their own. They need to get creative and figure out solutions for each problem they encounter. In Montessori education, the teacher doesn’t possess the main role. All the materials used help kids to proactively develop themselves. Montessori materials are a safe bet for education, considering that they are usually made of natural materials like wood or fabrics and they are purposely built to encourage the trial and error type of learning. The preference for natural materials helps with discovering shapes, forms, texture, colors, dimensions without the damaging effects of toxic materials such as plastic. Plus, the fact that these materials are simpler than the ones bought in toy stores increases the demand for creative processes in a child’s daily tasks. In fact, did you know that It is well known that Larry Page and Sergey Brin – none other than Google’s co-founders – were educated under the Montessori education program as children? Seeing how successful Google’s backlink building algorithms are and its structure and operations are in general, this makes one wonder about the success rate and effectiveness of Montessori in children’s education. The aforementioned 2 co-founders namely Larry Page and Sergey Brin are proud to mention the Montessori system as their educational groundwork.
Montessori toys make children focus better on what they have to do, they encourage patience and fine motricity. Solving a problem becomes a challenge for the little ones, who direct all of their intellectual resources into finding the answer. To solve such a problem a child has to develop and use multiple skills. Problem-solving requires independence and it is a very complex process that plays a huge role in the life of a person. The role of the teacher is to back up what is gained through Montessori activities by praising the children when they finally manage to find a solution to a problem.
In Montessori education, you won’t find regular toys. Children or parents are not allowed to bring any materials other than Montessori to class. After a while, kids can start focusing on activities that are useful for their daily lives such as tying shoes, writing or reading and so on. Some Montessori supplies are purposed to develop the language and sensorial extensions of a child through their shape and texture. All these supplies are organized considering the sensation they are triggering – from concrete sensations to abstract sensations. At an early age, children mostly use their sensorial intelligence rather than their analytical one and this is the reason why Montessori materials play such a great role in a child’s proper development.
Learning in the Montessori environment is based on sensorial orientation. This way, children get to solve problems they previously choose, keeping them occupied with one single item until completion. They can solve a problem mechanically, by fitting pieces a correct way using the trial and error method; visually, by noticing what item fits where or even by touch. The fact that a child can work at his own pace will help him cultivate self-appreciation and a friendly approach towards error. In traditional education, teachers tend to scold children for making mistakes, which will later negatively impact their development.
Self-improvement is the core foundation of Montessori education and the only way to encourage it is by using the right kind of supplies. Without Montessori toys, children would be tempted to lose their ability to choose freely, their creativity and their eagerness to learn.
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