“What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of seeing the young child seeking work and independence, and manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love.”
Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was a scientist who spent many years observing the child and gained a deep understanding of the child’s inner nature. She created an educational method based in her scientific discoveries. She wrote many books on the topic of early childhood, such as The Absorbent Mind, The Secret of Childhood, and The Discovery of the Child.
Developing the Whole Child
The true purpose of Montessori education is to develop the whole child. Therefore, in the Montessori environment, learning incorporates all the senses. Children acquire many important skills such as a sense of a sense of order, concentration, balance, self-control, and problem solving.
The Child Comes First
The Montessori method recognizes the needs of the child, among them, the needs for order, concentration, freedom, and movement. An authentic Montessori program always tries to satisfy these needs.
Learning by Doing
The rich environment with its variety of activities promotes self-learning. The child learns by doing. By mastering her ability to do things all by herself, the child becomes more and more confident and independent. She feels a sense of joy after every accomplishment.
Connecting to the Inner Teacher
Montessori observed that children follow an inner guide that she called the inner teacher. The child learns to satisfy her developmental needs by following the prompts of her inner teacher. The Montessori prepared environment, including the teacher, is meant to facilitate this work that takes place inside the child.