The Montessori way
You can go your life without listening to a word and then comes a month when that word just keeps showing up in your life.
One such word is Montessori. A word that keeps showing up in your life once you have a child. Montessori school, Montessori toys, Montessori homes.
But what is Montessori? What does it really mean?
Here’s a little History dive!
The term Montessori was coined after an Italian physician and educator called Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori is renowned for her bringing new ideas to traditional education and making education more child-led. She dedicated her life to advancing her child-centered educational approach and soon the world caught on, and the Montessori way found widespread recognition around the world!
But what does the Montessori method entail? Here are some key points to help you understand this approach:
Child-Centered:
I’ve already used that phrase twice and that’s because this is the core of the Montessori approach but what does it mean? Well, for starters traditional education has always been children sitting between a desk and chair being lectured by a teacher. Traditional education has always been teacher centric.
However the Montessori way encourages children to explore on their own, it encourages children to touch, feel, do, learn by exploration, by experience.
Prepared- Environment
The Montessori way also believes in a planned classroom, which involves Montessori Material, a classroom where everything has a purpose and a place. A planned classroom helps children in developing a logical way of thinking, also gives them a sense of order.
Montessori material are hands-on learning tools specially designed to facilitate a key learning outcome. Some House of Zizi Montessori offering are mentioned below.
Freedom of Movement and choice
Dr Montessori believed that children learn best when they have the freedom to move. So while there is planning in a Montessori classroom, there also has to be enough space to allow a child to explore at their own pace and choice. The child chooses where they want to sit, what they want to explore first.
Intrinsic Motivation
The Montessori method does not believe in a reward system. It comes from the thought that learning is its own reward. It’s the sense of accomplishment at the end of a task that is supposed to be the driving force. This way the motivation is always intrinsic.
Independence
In the Montessori method, the teacher is the guide but the child explores on their own. This allows the child to form opinions, solve their problems themselves, think for themselves. The method views children as born-learners who are capable of learning independently, at their own pace. Again, this allows children to find the motivation themselves.
Educating the whole child
The Montessori Method focusses on five areas of study. Practical life, which includes everyday tasks like washing hands, cleaning the room; Sensorial work which includes sensory activities exploring shapes, colours, smells and sounds; Mathematics taught using material such as threading beads etc; Language is also taught through sandpaper letters etc; Cultural studies to help children learn about their world, community and make sense of their roles in it.
The Montessori method respects the child and their needs, making learning more individualized and at the same time organic. It’s a great method of learning and exploration and hence you’ll find it everywhere, in schools, toyshops, etc.
It’s also at the core of the House of Zizi philosophy which is why a lot of out products are a great choice to make your home Montessori friendly.
Here are some of your Montessori product stop try out with your little one if you’re getting them school ready:
Montessori Shelf
The House of Zizi 8-cube Montessori shelf is the perfect addition to your child’s room. It’s stylish, minimalist and its size makes it perfectly approachable for your child and a great tool to promote independence as well as a tidy-up routine at the end of the day. Made in mango-wood, the shelf can be used to decorate toys, soft animals, stationery supplies or your child’s car collection.
Helping Tower
Another great piece of furniture to promote independence is our Helping Tower. Children often struggle to reach the wash-basin, the mirror and this makes doing everyday tasks difficult. This products makes these same everyday tasks easier for children, also building their self confidence every day.
Chakla Belan
Our colorful spin on this traditional toy makes it cooler and more fun! This is a great toy to strengthen your child’s fine motor skills, their hand muscles, their grip, making it the perfect tool for writing readiness.
Wooden knife
Speaking of writing readiness, here’s another product that does all of that and is super fun. Children love helming out at home and more than that they love imitating adults, so if your child has ever thrown a tantrum to hold the knife or scissors, this child-friendly wooden knife is your answer.
Hope this helps and inspires to start your own Montessori journey as a mother!