The Montessori philosophy of education is an attitude and approach to the child and to life.
Its aim is to assist in the total development of the child - social, emotional, intellectual, physical, cultural and spiritual - so that the child will be better prepared for life and able to adjust to the changing conditions of their environment. The Montessori, approach to education is child centred and is based on mutual respect and co-operation. Montessori education offers children the opportunity to realise their potential and seeks to promote:
self-confidence and self esteem
a sense of responsibility for themselves and their actions
independence
co-operation with others and a sense of community
initiative and self motivation
a joy of work and a love of learning
creative intelligence and imagination
The Montessori curriculum is an integrated one where all aspects of a child's learning (e.g. music, writing, reading, mathematics, science, art, craft, culture, physical activity) are presented as part of an interrelated whole. Many of the activities performed by the children at an earlier age are an indirect preparation for a later skill and the environment allows the discovery of new and exciting things about material often worked with throughout their developing years.
