Parenting Vivian | 12 Apr 2010 01:50 pm
Choosing a Montessori School For Your Child – 5 Things to Keep in Mind
The first Montessori school opened its doors 101 years ago so the idea has stood the test of time. Montessori is all about encouraging a child’s ability to learn by himself. A child will naturally concentrate on something that he will find interesting. A montessori school should provide and environment where a child’s concentration is protected and his interest is stimulated in a sustained way.
One of the principles of montessori is to have large classes of around 35 children which can be taught by one teacher and one assistant. The older children in the class teach and help the younger one which is apparently beneficial to both the older and younger children.
Here are five things to keep in mind when choosing a montessori school for your child.
1. When you enter the classroom, it should be immediately obvious that it is a child’s room. The furniture should be all child’s sized, and there should be an array of interesting things for a child.
2. The room should be in pristine order. In a well run montessori class, each child is encouraged to choose the learning materials they want and to tidy it away when they are finished.
3. It should be obvious that the children have great freedom to choose their own activity and work at it whenever they want and for as long as they want
4. The room should be full of children who are self disciplined, i.e who are concentrating on their work or play and are content.
5. Make sure the Montessori school is a member of a Montessori Association and has the proper qualified staff.
So there you have 5 things to watch out for when deciding which montessori school to send your child to. As your child’s early education and learning skills are important the above 5 things will give you some guidance when choosing a montessori school that will provide an encouraging learning environment for your child.
Karen Cummins is a mother of twin girls. She writes on subjects relating to babies and young children. You can visit her website at http://www.thebabystuffshop.com for baby products and gifts, information and resources on parenting.