Dr. Maria Montessori’s approach, almost a century ago, was to observe the child carefully in order to assess what his or her individual needs might be. She was also aware that children’s needs change as society itself changes. This insight highlights the importance for the educator in preparing and equipping our children for the future and not just for the world around them today.
Another characteristic of the Montessori approach is that it places an emphasis on the development of the whole child. By the whole child we mean the intellectual, social, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of their development. Whatever the priorities and different educational requirements of countries around the world might be, we need to prepare a balanced child for the twenty-first century. To do this, educators must look at and understand all aspects of the child’s development.
Building upon the child’s intrinsic motivation to learn
Dr Maria Montessori showed us in a very special way that all children want to learn. The adult’s role is to prepare a suitable and structured environment with appropriate educational activities which can be selected by the children themselves. In this way children rapidly initiate their own learning – they learn to learn – they are never forced. Examples of the practical approach of the Montessori Method can be found in MATERIALS she designed
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