Why should you choose a Montessori private kindergarten for your child? Your child's early education will help them to build a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Before you enroll your five- or six-year-old in a traditional type of program, take a look at the benefits of Montessori.
A Multi-Age Environment
Traditional elementary school programs often have a set age cut-off date for entry. This means your about-to-be five-year-old might miss this deadline. Even though your child is ready to start school and eager for an elementary education, your local public kindergarten may not accept them.
Unlike other types of schools, Montessori uses a multi-age approach. This type of grouping is exactly what the name sounds like—children of multiple ages are part of the same classroom. The Montessori early childhood program grouping usually includes children ages three (sometimes two-and-a-half) to six. Kindergartners are in the upper range of the early childhood grouping.
The multi-age approach allows older children (kindergarteners) to learn by helping their younger peers. This allows the older children to learn in an active, hands-on, real-life way that encourages critical thinking, the use of social skills, and emotional development. Your child will share their knowledge, developing empathy for others and confidence in their own skills or abilities.
Individual Progression
Your child is an individual—and this means they learn in their own way at their own pace. Traditional elementary classrooms often don't or won't accommodate the individual student's needs. Instead of group lectures and ready-made project-focused lessons, the Montessori early childhood classroom invites the young students to explore the curriculum in their own way and at their own pace.
Not only does this type of learning environment help your child to develop new skills and master materials in a way that makes sense to them, it also encourages self-reliance and accountability. Your child will need to make self-assessments as they work and correct themselves when needed. This can help your child to take initiative, build a sense of independence, and become a self-starter.
Out-of-the-Box Innovation
The Montessori philosophy's individual or child-focused approach does more than help your child to take initiative and develop academic or functional skills. It can also help the young students to use their imaginations, develop creativity, and think out-of-the-box.
Why is creativity or out-of-the-box thinking important for your child? Even though many parents associate "creativity" with the arts, this way of thinking can bridge almost every area of your child's social, emotional, and scholastic life. They'll need creative skills or creative thought to explore scientific concepts, solve math problems, write their own prose, and engage in other academic areas.
Check out local private kindergartens to learn more about their learning philosophy.