The Montessori method of education is a method where the children's natural interests and activities are put first rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori environment emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-life skills. This blog dives deep into the benefits of the Montessori approach on children.
Understanding the child’s mind
Children from the age group of 0 to 6 years have a “sponge like mind” referred as the “absorbent mind.” The Montessori method has been designed to provide the child with hands-on experiential learning to build a strong foundation for the child!
Eye-Contact and Hand eye co-ordination
In a traditional classroom setting, students are made to sit on the desk and focus on the blackboard as the teacher proceeds to teach the subjects. Whereas in a Montessori setup, children work independently with less interference from adults after they have been introduced with the presentation of the activity.
Thus the child's eye contact and hand eye coordination is developed while performing practical life skill activities like pouring or carrying objects from one place to another.
Motor Skills and Sensory Skills
The Montessori method emphasises not only academic learning and practical life skills but also the development of motor and sensory skills. Every activity and material requires children to move their body (motor skills) and feel the material used (sensory skills) ensuring holistic development alongside subject-specific learning in areas like arithmetic, language, and social skills.
Motor Skills
Motor skills allow people to move and complete tasks efficiently, it is the way in which the body uses muscles to perform certain tasks. They are sub-categorised into two types: fine motor skills and gross motor skills.
Fine motor skills
Fine motor skills Involve the use of the hands and upper extremities.
Some examples include:
Holding a pencil and writing
Typing on a keyboard
Fastening a button
Tying shoes
Eating with utensils
Gross motor skills
Involve the use of the whole body, including the core muscles, arms, and legs.
Some examples include:
Sitting
Standing
Walking
Running
Jumping
Sensory Skills
Sensory skill is the ability to perceive and interpret information from the environment through the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
They include:
Vision: The ability to see and interpret what is in front of you
Hearing: The ability to hear sounds
Smell: The ability to interpret smells using your nose
Taste: The ability to taste flavours
Touch: The ability to interpret information from your body
Some Montessori methods in which these skills are enhanced include:
Finger painting: Develops vision, touch, and hearing.
Sensory sorting: Helps child develop language skills by describing what they see, touch, and hear.
Tactile play: Sandpaper letters helps children absorb the impression with the tactile sense.
Taste bottles: Can be used to activate the child's gustatory sense.
Conclusion
The Montessori approach is much more than an alternative to traditional schools. It is a child-centric approach that nurtures curiosity, independence, and essential life skills. By emphasising hands-on learning, motor and sensory skill development, and a personalised teaching environment, Montessori education lays a strong foundation for a child's growth—academically, socially, and emotionally!
Curious to see how Montessori can benefit your child? Join our Montessori Discovery Workshop this weekend at iSpark Montessori! Experience hands-on learning, meet our educators, and explore the magic of a Montessori environment. Register now to secure your spot!
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