Is Montessori good or bad? How can I know if it's a good fit for my child? I'm an Early Childhood Educator from Sweden and also a former Montessori student & teacher, here to answer this question for you.
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TRANSCRIPT
What is Montessori education?
The Montessori approach was created by Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It started as a way to teach those who were considered to be ‘unteachable’ at the time - mainly poor, disadvantaged or special needs children.
A quote you continuously hear in a Montessori school is “help me to help myself”. This is the core belief of Montessori - independent learning.
Today, a Montessori classroom is an open space with different play corners and learning material that is easily accessible to children (like puzzles, world maps and books). Children learn through exploring at their own pace.
The standard Montessori classroom has 5 areas:
The language area
The sensorial area
The mathematics area
The cultural studies area
The practical life area
Montessori teachers respect their students as their own individuals and promote a calm, quiet and adult-like way of communicating in the classroom.
Is Montessori good or bad?
We’ve arrived at the big question. What are the positives of Montessori, and what are the negatives?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not going to give you a bulleted list of what’s good or bad with this approach. Why? Because each child is different. There is no universal way of learning, so I can’t tell you what’s good or bad.
There’s only ‘more suitable’, and ‘less suitable’, so what I will do though is give you a list of which children thrive in Montessori and which children might not.
Signs that your child will thrive in a Montessori setting:
Your ideology, home environment & way of communicating resembles the Montessori way (calm, adult-like & self-led).
Your child is showing signs of independence & auto-education. For example, they’re starting to be okay playing by themselves, or rarely come to you for help when playing (or might even want you to leave them alone!).
You can tell they’re more on the structured side and can focus easily. For example, your child likes sorting (or maybe even cleaning up) their toys and they can easily spend time focused on one activity.
If this is your child, then Montessori is a great option to explore.
Many parents also ask me, “Is Montessori good for ADHD?”. It can be! The structure, quiet and self-learning can be amazing for children with ADHD. Also, the peaceful and organised environment also generally prevents children from getting overstimulated and feeling controlled.
However, I can’t stress this enough - each child is different. If your little one has ADHD and is more of an active and interactive learner, Montessori might not be the way to go. The structure, quiet, and independence can be overwhelming for some kids - I’ve seen this in practice many times. I recommend you investigating this by visiting an open house and seeing how your child responds.
When is this approach a bad fit?
Here are some signs that your child won’t thrive in a Montessori setting:
The Montessori approach doesn’t align with your family’s lifestyle or your child’s preferences.
They’re not really interested in independence just yet. They prefer relying on people to play and learn because they think it’s more fun. They want to talk and touch, and enjoy a highly communicative and warm environment.
Structure and focus aren’t your child’s favourites. They prefer rotating between activities, or doing several activities at once.
What happens when Montessori is a bad fit?
Absolutely nothing. There are so many amazing learning approaches out there, so there are always other options. I know Montessori is very trendy right now, but guess what’s more trendy? Aligning a child’s education with their true selves. That will never go out of style!
Montessori or not? Here is my personal & professional opinion
I think the Montessori approach can suit certain children wonderfully. But it can also be a nightmare for others. Try it first, and if it doesn’t suit your little one, it’s no big deal. Just try something else!
Also, a final (but very important) note - the teachers of your daycare, preschool or school can make or break the entire experience. Montessori or not, the teachers make all the difference. So make sure you speak to them (and ideally observe them) and see if they interact & teach in a way that aligns with your values and your child's personality!
Hopefully this article helped you gain insight on the Montessori approach and specifically helped you understand whether or not it’s right for your child.
Drop your questions in the comments!