What is Montessori?

Dr. Maria Montessori was one of the most influential pioneers of children's education. Being the first female physician in Italy, she developed an educational philosophy based on her scientific observations of children. Her method uses special materials that arouse a child’s spontaneous interest, producing a natural concentration on tasks which does not tire or annoy the children, but rather leaves them rested, with a feeling of inner peace, accomplishment and joy. Montessori discovered that young children possess the unique ability to absorb information from their environments (the absorbent mind). Furthermore, young children's brains can be developed using the five senses and through a progression of different naturally occurring stages (the sensitive periods) where the child would absorb the greatest amount of knowledge and understanding with the least amount of effort.

The Montessori environment is prepared to enable each child to accomplish their goals in their own way and at their own pace. Therefore, Dr. Montessori developed materials that both attract children and enable them to learn effectively. These materials are examples of the essential requisite of a Montessori learning environment – respect for the child and for the way he learns. Children at Lil Beansprouts Montessori are free to move about the classroom, choosing from a carefully prepared environment of multi-sensory, manipulative learning materials for practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language and cultural. The environment supports each individual’s unique development and aids children in becoming self-motivated, self-confident learners.