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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

How To Have The Best Montessori Playroom

By Donald Bailey


Several sensitive periods of learning were identified by Maria Montessori. This led to a new method of teaching young children, called the Montessori Method. The sensitive periods are times when a child is intensely interested in a certain skill. This method takes advantage of these areas when he can learn the most. All children have these periods, and at pretty much the same age. A well-planned Montessori playroom with facilitate this learning.

The earliest sensitive period is that of movement. The child is developing movement skills and is very interested in anything that moves. He loves to reach for things and to push and pull them. He is moving from area to area and loves to watch objects and people in motion. This period, like all the others, has a particular focus. Toys should be provided that encourage their interest and development the related skill. This playroom needs to be organized and neat, not cluttered with too many toys.

One of the areas that should be provided that relates to several of the sensitive periods is what some calls home living center, or life skills center. Here the child can learn to measure, do daily tasks to mimic what they see their parents do. They learn to work together with others and to communicate. This area should include measuring cups, rulers, math manipulative items, as well as play dishes, a small toy stove, and other such items.

Dress up play is always fun, and educational as well. There should be an area for this. Include basic clothing, child-sized, where the child can mimic adults. Community service clothing in child sizes is important. The accessories that help identify these careers should also be in this area. Colorful silk squares are good to help the child develop imagination and to dance and twirl them, all in pretense.

Music is another vital area, and it encourages the movement area as well. To set up this area, you need musical instruments for musical play, and ball, tricycles and other toys to encourage movement. Silk squares again will encourage imaginative play, dancing and twirling often in relation to the music in this area.

The building area is another important area for a number of reasons. Not only can the child explore measurement, but can mimic using play tools like those he sees the adults around him use. He can explore measurement, comparisons, how to share with others, but also can construct many different structures, both those in the real world and those imagined.

Measuring and discovery are two very vital areas to develop. With this area, children explore liquid and how they work, compare bigger, smaller, more, and less, and discovers a lot of concept skills that they will need their entire life. Some items that need to be in this area are telescopes, spy glasses, and other discovery toys to explore their world.

If all these areas to include for your child reminds you of home school or preschool centers, that is correct. Childhood is all about learning, in a fun way that encourages and excites your child. As Maria Montessori identified, there is a period of time that the child under age seven has a burning interest, and if you don't take advantage of that period, you will miss a great opportunity that won't repeat itself later.




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