Montessori method for children: description, essence, advantages and disadvantages

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today, the popularity of various developmental centers is growing, where teachers work with children, forming a diversified personality. And parents try to the best of their ability to take the child to such classes. Someone is limited to the last year before school, others start attending groups starting from the 1st year. And one of the most popular today is the Montessori method for children. Today we will talk about her.

Early Development

This term is becoming more and more popular today, while few people fully understand what is behind it. Most young parents have realized that it is very important for a child to go to development centers, and the sooner this is started, the better. And constantly on hearing the development of children according to the Montessori method. Accordingly, the choice of the center will also be obvious.

Of course, there is the opposite opinion. Some of the opponents claim that up to 3years old, all a baby needs is his mother. It's hard not to admit they're right. Others even say that the Montessori method was developed for children with developmental disabilities, and therefore is completely unsuitable for ordinary children. In both cases, there is some truth. It is not at all necessary for every parent to take their baby to a Montessori room, he can develop harmoniously even without it. But some of the equipment and tools can be adopted for home use.

History of the technique

To understand well what is at stake, let's go from the very beginning. Maria Montessori is a famous teacher. She was a registered female physician. This allowed her to successfully work with special children.

The achievements of psychologists, teachers and doctors of those years were not very impressive. Children with developmental delays were simply isolated from the rest, sent to special boarding schools. Maria, having worked as a teacher, invented her own methodology for children. Montessori was well aware of the importance of working with all the senses, which formed the basis of her method. The results were simply stunning. Pupils not only caught up with their he althy peers, they took exams along with ordinary elementary school graduates and were ahead of them in many ways. And then the system became seriously interested in scientific circles. But the author of the methodology was haunted by the idea that you can deal with ordinary children, developing them even more. A few years later, she began working with he althy guys. This also became a contribution to teaching practice.

Essence and principles

Classes with children according to the Montessori method should be as natural as possible. No need to forcefully try to put knowledge into the baby. He will absorb what he can do today. And what has not yet matured - will master tomorrow. Your task is to provide favorable conditions. This means creating a safe environment filled with various stimulus items that the child can freely use.

That is, the teacher must understand well that the child is a holistic person who is capable of self-development. The main difficulty here lies in the fact that his development does not proceed in the same way as in an adult. And since we already forget ourselves in childhood, sometimes we cannot understand and correctly assess his needs. The task of the teacher is not to give ready-made solutions, and this is the most difficult thing to do. For this, a special material was developed. It allows the child to study the lesson material himself, as well as to find errors and correct them. This simultaneously increases both responsibility and independence.

Environment

Classes with children according to the Montessori method are held in a specially equipped space. It's called the Montessori room. Classically, it is divided into 5 zones, each of which is responsible for the formation of certain skills. At the same time, there is no clear scheme of what and when the child should do. Of course, even if you give a one-year-old child five alphabets, he is still not able to learn to read on his own. But no one will prevent him from visiting this zone, touching the roughletters.

So, the author of the technique identifies 5 zones:

• Zone of practical life. Here the child receives invaluable self-care skills. Depending on the characteristics of the center, it can be equipped with a kitchen where the guys bake cookies and cook soup. They set the table and clean the dishes themselves. There is a basin for washing handkerchiefs, and a rope on which they are hung to dry. Be sure to prepare a set of brush and scoop.
• Zone of sensory development. These are our hearing and sight, touch and smell. Here are toys-stimuli that contribute to the development of the senses.
• Language zone.
• Space zone.
• Section of natural and exact sciences.

All benefits are made from natural materials. Most often it is wood and clay.

Sensitive periods

The Montessori child development methodology is based on the principles of natural development. As mentioned above, the child acquires those skills for which the base has been prepared. Even L. S. Vygotsky in his writings said that there is a zone of actual development and a sensitive period for certain skills. That is, right now the child is maximally ready to master this or that lesson.

The most important work of personal development occurs from birth to school. At the same time, many parents believe that nothing special needs to be done. Everyone has grown up, and their baby will grow up. Someone sincerely believes that this should be done in the garden and school. But don't forgetthat this is only your child, and no one else is interested in whether he will become successful in this life. Of course, all parents are very busy at work. But you won't need much time. You can practice every day for 10-15 minutes, and this will be more than enough.

These dates are not final, they are averaged. For some children, this may happen a little earlier or later. This does not speak of genius or, conversely, of a lag in development. These are just the characteristics of a particular child, no more and no less.

How development works in practice

The Montessori method of early child development is following him, active help and support. But the leader is the baby himself. See for yourself. The child begins active sensory development. It is for this that various aids are needed in the room. Interested in small items? Great, this is necessary for the maturation of the areas of the cerebral cortex that are responsible for motor skills and speech. Let her pour buckwheat and rice, pour water, draw with her fingers on the sand and fold the beads.

Appearance in Russia

Raising a child according to the Montessori method began to be practiced in other countries. They were admired, because the children who were brought up according to this system were distinguished by independence and responsibility. They knew how to make decisions, which is an important skill for any child.

Teaching children the Montessori method has also been criticized. Like all other methods, it has its drawbacks. Main claimsteachers who began to use it in practice is an underestimation of role-playing games in the development of babies and a lack of aesthetic development. Opponents also believe that if a child is given the opportunity to choose for himself what is interesting to him and what is not, then he may have big problems at school. After all, the program is the same for everyone, and no one will correct it.

In Russia, or rather, in the USSR, this technique appeared in 1913. It did not become a leader, that is, it was not adopted by the education system. Although some elements have been mastered and successfully implemented. When designing a game room, it is also divided into zones, each of which contains certain toys and stimulus material. A new wave of interest in the technique arose already in the 90s and has not subsided since then.

Three whales - three components of success

The Montessori child development methodology is based on three essential components:

• Sensitivity. Until the age of 6, the child goes through the most important stages in his development. And it is very important that he gets the necessary skills at each of these stages. This is so serious for later life that wasting time is a real crime against the crumbs. And more often than not, there will be no second opportunity. Therefore, teachers and psychologists say that after 5-6 years the personality is already formed, and its further success or failure is predetermined.
• For development to be right, the environment is important. This is the second part of this method. Everything around should correspond to the physical capabilities of the child at each stage of his development. Onlyin a prepared environment, the baby will be able to learn everything necessary and become independent.
• The third link is the teacher. An important feature of the method is that the teacher leads the child to knowledge, and then withdraws and observes. The main rule is “help me do it myself.”

The most important commandments for a teacher

The Montessori method of developing young children is a huge job for adults who are constantly next to the baby. Just bringing him to class once a week will not be enough, you need to adhere to the principles every day. This is the path to success. And the first thing to remember: children learn from what surrounds them.

1. If a kid is criticized, he starts to condemn the whole world.
2. Praise the child for his achievements, for what he has done well now. This is how he learns to appreciate.
3. There should be no hostility in relations with the baby, it teaches him to fight.
4. If parents are honest with the child, he grows up fair.
5. Make fun of the baby, you teach him to be timid.
6. By living with a sense of security, the baby learns to trust.
7. You can't shame a child even for serious offenses. Otherwise, he will grow with guilt.
8. Approve his actions and he will treat himself well.
9. Be indulgent - it will teach him to be patient.
10. Cheer your baby every day, for any reason. This will give him confidence.
11. A child should grow up in an atmosphere of friendship and love and feel needed.

Creating conditions at home

Having learned the essence of the Montessori method for children, you can choose how it suits you. And of course, every parent will think about how much the minimum set of developmental materials costs. In fact, you can get by with what you have at home.

The world around him seems huge to a baby. It was as if he had fallen into the country of giants, where neither tables, nor chairs, nor beds were adapted for him. Anyone will feel helpless. And your task is to simplify his acquaintance with the world. To do this, you need to equip several zones (this can be done by mom and dad):

• Let's learn to be independent. To do this, there must be a zone of everyday life. There should be everything you need, that is, a washbasin and a towel, toothpaste and a brush, a washbasin and a clothes hanger.
• Language development zone. Bright books, cubes with letters, as well as numbers cut out of thick cardboard can be collected here.
• Creativity zone. Here the child will be waiting for paints and plasticine, musical instruments, pencils and paper.
• Zone of natural science. Here you need to put everything that tells the baby about the world around him. That is, figures, pictures depicting animals and plants.
• Zone of sensory development. Objects of different shapes, colors and textures. That is, cubes and cylinders, cotton wool and iron, various fabrics.
• Activity zone. That is, any sports corner for children.

The method of Maria Montessori can be applied not only in specialized centers. Even in an ordinary small apartment, you can successfully arrange toys inin a certain order and thereby highlight the playing areas.

One Montessori day

Do you think this is another method out of touch with life? No, this is life itself. Teaching children according to the Montessori method takes place every day, directly in solving daily problems. Remember how often we tell a child that he is still small and do not allow him to do what he so wants to try. But the task of any parent is to teach the child to cope with the tasks on their own.

Here's how to organize a day, for example:

• Everyone wakes up in the morning, which means it's time to change. Of course, it is not difficult for an adult to do this, he will open a large closet and get things. And for a child, you need to put the set on a high chair or a special shelf.
• Morning treatments. A child in the bathroom should have a potty and hang a low shelf with toothpaste and a brush, with soap and a mirror.
• Cooking breakfast is also best for the whole family. The baby can pour the cereal into the pan, pour it with milk. And of course, he must then clean his place after breakfast.
• After eating, you can play. Give him the opportunity to choose for himself in which of the zones today lies the sphere of his interests. But one of the most important principles remains "played - clean up after yourself." It is very important that children master life skills in the game. Sculpt vegetables and fruits from plasticine, let the baby learn to cut them with a plastic knife.
• Dinner is coming -we call the child with us to the kitchen. Let him take the vegetables out of the refrigerator and help them wash them. You can instruct to wipe the plates or run some other assignments.
• Let's go for a walk. Do not forget that the child should be able to remove his own things from the hanger. And after returning home, be sure to hang them in their places.
• Games after a walk is an important moment. After all, the experience gained is expressed in the game.
• Bedtime. Announce this to your child in advance. He needs to clean up his toys, put everything in its place, spread out the bed.
• Leave a small lamp on overnight. This will allow the child to get up to the toilet when needed without fear.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated. In children's centers, the Montessori method is served to children in an attractive form, "brilliant packaging." But for its implementation, hundreds of special toys are not needed at all. It only takes your desire to help your child learn all the necessary skills on their own.

From birth to a year

Usually, children from a year old, and somewhere from two years old are invited to development centers. Do kids really need development before this age? Or does the Montessori method for children under 1 year old not work? No, it is universal and can be used from birth. Every parent should learn the principles. This is a guarantee that the child will have every chance to grow up happy.

Children have an "absorbent mind". The mind of a growing baby is like a sponge. He absorbs everything that surrounds him, and does it with great greed. So hefood is required. What happens most often? If the child does not scream, he is laid in a crib, where he lies and watches the white ceiling. That is, the Montessori technique for children of 1 year, first of all, involves providing the crumbs with the necessary stimuli: color, sound, figurative.

Thus, life gives the baby the opportunity to become like the adults around him. He does not know the grammatical features of the language, but very soon he will be able not only to understand speech, but also to speak. This also applies to other areas of life. This technique naturally fits into everyday life, making it more diverse and colorful, full of opportunities for developing skills.

Advice from psychologists and educators

If with older children you can come up with options for games and building a learning process, then with crumbs up to a year, at first glance, everything is more complicated. In fact, the development of children at 9 months according to the Montessori method is not much different from a similar process at an older age. You just need to select the forms of activity that are currently available to your child.

Movement at this stage of development is the most important aspect. It seems to us that the baby still knows nothing. We wrap him in a blanket, put on tight clothes and put him in a small bed. That is, there are quite a few opportunities for spontaneous movements. Let's see what can be done to remedy the situation:

• Low bed or just a mattress on the floor. This allows you to slide off on your own.him after sleep and explore the world without reference to adults.
• Play space is also set up on the floor. To do this, you can lay a rug, on one edge of which you can install a mirror, and lay out toys around the perimeter. He will rise and look at the reflection. And soon he will realize that this is himself. Do not interfere with him, let him choose objects for study.
• Hang up mobiles to encourage movement. It is not necessary to buy expensive ones. It is enough to make a dragonfly or a bird out of the fabric yourself, and then attach it to a strong cord. Hanging rattles that can be grabbed or pushed are also great fun for kids.
• Around the perimeter of the carpet you need to lay out bright and interesting objects that are easy to grab with your hand. This is another incentive to start moving.
• Choose clothes that allow you to move freely.
• Avoid equipment that restricts activity. The baby is fastened in the car seat and in the stroller while driving. Add to this playpens, walkers, jumpers and swings that allow you to perform actions without your own efforts, and you will realize that you are depriving the child of the opportunity to train.
• When the baby starts to stand up, attach a piece of wood to the wall. This will be an additional support. You can buy a walker cart, which is used only to maintain balance.

As you can see, Montessori classes for children under one year old are very organic and natural. Just help the baby, follow his need for development, which is inherent in everyone. And that will be enoughto unlock your inner potential. Observe, prompt, but do not interfere and do not restrict freedom. This is the best thing you can do for your baby.

Materials used

For this, the author is most often criticized in reviews. The Montessori method for children is considered by many to be a tool to collect money from parents. But it is not the author himself who is to blame for this, but modern realities. Demand creates supply, and marketing prepares attractive advertising. And since the technique has become interested, it means that more and more new stimulus material will appear in specialized stores. Moreover, parents will be convinced that it is not only desirable, but also necessary.

In fact, most of the educational toys can be made at home. And that doesn't make them worse. What can be done to develop practical skills:

• Frames with clasps. These are wooden frames that are equipped with various fasteners. These can be locks, lacing and Velcro, hooks and buttons. They teach specific skills that are necessary in undressing and dressing. In addition, they are necessary for the development of fine motor skills.
• Items for pouring and pouring. An excellent choice for coordination of movement and development of attention. But it's so simple: you need to give the crumbs a couple of glasses and access to water or a basin with any cereal.
• Items for cooking. It is not necessary to give the crumbs a knife. It is enough to get by with a safe cleaning device for carrots and apples.
• Board with locks. Ask dad to attach various locks, hecks and other devices to a small piece of chipboard orplywood, after which it should be hung on the wall.
• Developing rug. That's where the scope for imagination! On one canvas, you can sew and attach various elements: laces, beads, rattles, pockets, etc. Use different materials.

Be kind to your child and don't blame him for his mistakes. If he spilled the juice and wiped it badly, just say: "We need to remove one more stain - and it will be perfectly clean." The Montessori method for children from one year old is very variable and easily shifted to daily tasks.

Sensorial development aids

Thanks to these objects, the child will learn to distinguish between concepts such as more and less, thin and thick, long and short.

For this, the following material is used in the classic version:

• The brown ladder consists of 10 wooden prisms, each 20 cm long. The sides are squares with sides from 1 to 10 cm.
• Pink tower. It consists of pink wooden cubes with a side length of 1 to 10 cm.
• Red bars. This is a set of ten rods, the smallest of which is 10 cm long and the largest is 1 m.
• Cylinder blocks. These are four sets with nine cylinders each.
• Colored coils. The first block consists of coils of primary colors, the second - of eleven pairs of different colors, the third includes seven shades of each.
• Rug. The Montessori method for children 1-3 years old involves the independent work of the child. BUTso he needs to be interested. To do this, you can build a rug on which there will be many different details. They can be touched, pulled, unfastened, that is, give free rein to your research interest. By the way, you can make them yourself. It is enough just to prepare shreds of fabrics, various cereals, pieces of rustling paper and other materials that can be used.

Speech development aids

If you do not know what to do today, then you can peep ideas in the book "60 Montessori Activities with a Child". It describes the games themselves, as well as teaching aids. They are easy to make with your own hands:

• Rough letters. They can be made of velvet paper or the finest sandpaper, and then glued to ordinary cardboard. The kid runs his finger through the letters and prepares for the letter. This exercise allows you to know the outline of each letter through touch.
• Recipe. Slots need to be made on plywood, each of which has its own “carriage”, similar to a zipper lock. The child holds the lock along the slot from beginning to end.
• Frame inserts.

The method of early development of children by Maria Montessori is a scope for creativity not only for parents, but also for children. After all, all toys can be made from improvised material together with the child.

Pros of the technique

Like everyone else, this system has its advantages and disadvantages. This should be taken into account when choosing future activities with your baby. FirstLet's take a look at its strengths. Maria Montessori's parenting method is good for group and individual lessons because:

• She helps the child learn and develop independently.
• There are no negative assessments and actions here, that is, punishments and criticism.
• Baby gets used to order.
• Children using this technique start reading and writing early.
• Each child can have an individual approach, which is very important when working with children with disabilities. The relevance of the Montessori method in this case is difficult to overestimate. Children who have limited one or another channel for receiving information are very vulnerable, and classes conducted with them according to such a system can correct the situation.
• Groups are sorted by interests, not age.
• Competitions and comparisons with other children are not practiced in groups.
• How, with what and how much to work, the baby chooses.

Cons

It would seem that everything is more than rosy. But this system also has its drawbacks. primarily because it is not suitable for every child.

• Hyperactive baby will be very difficult to persuade to do something of the above.
• The method does not fit the school standards. Accustomed to move freely and select tasks according to interests, the child will adapt for a long time at school.
• Different age groups. This can be perceived as a minus, but it is rather a plus. The child learns to live in society.
• But the rejection of fairy tales and poems is a big minus. Althoughtoday, Montessori educators understand this omission and supplement the lessons on their own.
• The band lives in its own microcosm, cut off from reality.

Instead of a conclusion

Despite everything, many families prefer the Montessori method. For children 1-3 years old, it can be called the most loyal of all available. In addition, you can choose its individual elements and combine with something else. After all, your child is unique, and no one except you knows what he needs at the moment. The main thing is to learn the principle: the child has everything for development, he only needs a little help, push, praise. And then everything in this life will definitely work out for him!