You Don’t Need Much to Do Montessori

Not to long ago, I was thinking about how the Montessori philosophy of education has really morphed into a different beast over the last few years. I feel like what sometimes gets lost in implementation is that Maria Montessori began her work in a place far removed from today’s average preschool environment.

It wasn’t in a fancy private school, surrounded by expensive wooden toys.

Far from it.

After beginning a career in teaching special needs children, Maria went on to work with underprivileged children from low-income families. Without vast amounts of resources at her disposal, she made use of what she had around her.

And that’s something I connected with when I first learned about Montessori: the simplicity of Montessori’s work and the manner in which she encouraged children to use their imagination.

The purpose of these toys isn’t to distract a child with garish lights and loud noises but rather get them learning about the world around them and the things in it.  That’s why there is so much focus on giving them things to play with that are natural to their setting like spoons and bowls, a dustpan and broom, as well as letting them explore through manual work like manipulating clay and design.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that you don’t need much to do Montessori. The simplicity of this philosophy is what makes it so appealing.  

What is the Absorbent Mind?

 I first learned about Maria Montessori’s approach to child development shortly before Rosie was born. I thought it was interesting then but admittedly, I have only ever had a peripheral knowledge of it until I recently began exploring what exactly her methods entailed.

The signature Montessori-styled nursery is one in which everything is child-oriented. From low hanging artwork that is better suited for the child’s line of vision to a mattress on the floor that will give the child easier accessibility to their room instead of the confines of a crib. The room is meant to foster the child’s explorative nature by bringing the world to their level.

But this is really just a superficial glimpse at Montessori.  

The idea of children being encouraged to learn through interacting with their environment isn’t new but Montessori was one of the first to put developmental theory to work. That is where the absorbent mind comes into play. It is the first phase of development according to Montessori and one in which a child soaks up experiences from their surroundings. From birth to 6 years old, everything is so new to the child in this stage.  And guess what? They are forming the foundations of their understanding about the world through these early interactions.

Which is a big reason as to why it’s important to monitor the things that are brought into a child’s environment. I think this is also why Montessori and Waldorf styled programs often go hand in hand (or at least in my mind) since both reflect a desire for the child to explore their natural world and not simply be entertained by distractive toys or television shows.

While I can’t say I am going to hurry up and give Rosie’s nursery a total Montessori makeover (that furniture wasn’t cheap y’all ;P) I do have to say I am trying to become more aware of how to incorporate the idea of the absorbent mind into our home.