What is Montessori?

Montessori is an educational philosophy based on the belief that a child learns best within a social environment that supports and nurtures each individual's unique development pattern. Montessori education was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907.

Who was Maria Montessori?

Born in 1870, Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female graduate in Italy to become certified as a medical doctor, developed an educational method to challenge the way we think about teaching our children, even today.

She based her educational methods on scientific observations made while working with a number of children from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds.

This in turn led to specific epiphanies regarding children's learning processes. One of her observations was that young children learn best in a homelike setting surrounded by developmentally appropriate materials that provide life experiences. Through observations, Dr. Montessori indicated that:

Children must be respected as individuals who are different from adult

Children create themselves through purposeful activity

The most important years for learning are from birth to age six

Children possess unusual sensitivity and mental powers for absorbing and learning from their environment, which includes people as well as materials

Why Montessori Education?

Montessori education promotes a child's total development. Montessori helps all children achieve their potential without pressure or competition. Children are free to challenge themselves at their own pace, allowing them to build confidence and independence. Montessori education recognizes the individual potential in every child and guides each child to discover that potential.