To think Montessori is massively overhyped?

[Sherekhancarolbaskin]

Or does it truly have proven pedagogic advantages?

I’m already not a fan of the Waldorf Steiner method at all.

Montessori does seem a lot better to me but after having looked into it a lot of it seems a bit off to me. Besides the fact Maria Montessori did questionable things as a parent herself, abandoning her own son

I absolutely get the child led learning concept of it and that it doesn't work for some children.

To me though, the environment is too fucking bland. I was looking into them when creating a Montessori themed nursery in Animal Crossing and the more I read the more fucking boring and grey everything looked and even seemed in the curriculum.

Having worked in nurseries for years I think what works best is balance and individuality. I don’t believe anyone can say ‘Montessori is best for children’ because it gives the idea that one approach can suit every child.

The best nursery I’ve worked in was a (rather old fashioned) little one room village nursery, which drew from all sorts of different ideologies but didn’t rigidly conform to any. The children there were relaxed, peaceful, happy people because the staff knew them each and every one for who they were, and didn’t try to force them into learning in one standardised way to conform with a book, but rather presented everything and let them come to it as they would.

So yeah. As in every part of life balance, I think, is the key.

I went to a Montessori school up to the age of 8 - it was absolutely wonderful, and I will always be thankful that my first experience of school was so lovely.

It also seemed very insular in that children seemed to be expected to entertain themselves and play alone, which to me seemed not only pretty lonely but also detrimental to forming bonds and relationships with other children.

Every child just seemed so separate from each other, the teachers and the environment around them, like they were being taught they were this abstract concept rather than a human with social needs.

@AnnaSW1

I know nothing about Montessori but I have over the years managed 3 people who went to Steiner schools. All three were ill equipped for adulthood and the working environment in the same way.

Yes I found the same. Locally the saying about the Steiner school kids was, "Nice kids, bit thick."

@SlyAvocado surely you change nappies in a bathroom? Changing nappies in the middle of the room is definitely not normal for nurseries, what about the child's privacy and dignity?

An activity table definitely isn't hygienic either.

Where are they supposed to change nappies confused that bit sounds normal for a nursery.

It’s absolutely not normal. An activity table is where the children are playing. No child (for reasons of both hygiene and dignity) should be having their nappy changed in the okay area in full view of the other children/teachers/parents. They should be being changed in the bathroom/nappy change area where staff can wash their hands up after disposing of the nappies and wipes and the child can have privacy.

@MollyQueenOfSocks

It also seemed very insular in that children seemed to be expected to entertain themselves and play alone, which to me seemed not only pretty lonely but also detrimental to forming bonds and relationships with other children.

Every child just seemed so separate from each other, the teachers and the environment around them, like they were being taught they were this abstract concept rather than a human with social needs.

Yes, this.

I felt the teacher jumped on any play the children tried to do together and stopped it. Nicely, gently, subtly, with a smile - but still wrong IMO. It felt insidious.

@Curlyreine That's a nice change from the usual Mumsnet " EVERYTHING in Britain is the worst in the world". Thanks

Well that’s news to me, when I worked in a baby room at nursery we changed nappies in the table right there! Not the activity table obviously, but on a changing table in the room.

@MollyQueenOfSocks

I absolutely get the child led learning concept of it and that it doesn't work for some children.

To me though, the environment is too fucking bland. I was looking into them when creating a Montessori themed nursery in Animal Crossing and the more I read the more fucking boring and grey everything looked and even seemed in the curriculum.

I always think this too! I gather that's the point of them but it's not what appeals to me

@SlyAvocado

Well that’s news to me, when I worked in a baby room at nursery we changed nappies in the table right there! Not the activity table obviously, but on a changing table in the room.

Gosh I’ve never seen that in my experience at any nursery. Wouldn’t like it either. However, a changing table at the corner is still very different to stripping a kid down on the table where his friends are painting. I doubt OFSTED would appreciate a child being changed right over the sticking and gluing activity.

Whether it's "better" than a regular education is dependant on what you are looking for. However, it's worth noting that Montessori "teachers" do not have to have state-recognised qualifications (which is, in fact, the case for all private schools). That said, many of them do. It's up to the consumer to do their homework.

I’ve had to stop following an instagrammer who is into this with her children.

She’s posted stuff about feeling guilty for going on days out with her daughter when knowing her daughter wasn’t in the right frame of mind to enjoy it for example- child literally the centre of everything.

It’s not realistic is it? I watched a story of her allowing said older child to ‘play fight’ with her baby sister. Kid was throwing her all over the place, touching her neck and all sorts.

Some of it seems nice but I do worry a lot of these kids will struggle as adults when not everyone puts their feelings at the centre of everything, that isn’t real life.

My son went to a Reggio Emilia place. Tbh I don't really know or care what most of it means, I just wanted him to go somewhere they would be nice to him and let him run around outside.

My DM wanted both me and DB to go to either a Montessori or Steiner school - for whatever reasons probably finance we didn't go.

Friend of family's 2 DCs go to Montessori school and actually really like it and are happy there.

I agree though most nursery schools from what friends kids and relatives kids who go to nursery they have a lot of Montessori elements and teachings in them nowadays.

To me though, the environment is too fucking bland. I was looking into them when creating a Montessori themed nursery in Animal Crossing and the more I read the more fucking boring and grey everything looked and even seemed in the curriculum.

I think that's very much the current fashion, though. Our nursery just did a big refurb and now everything is grey and black and white and wood and maybe some pale green and it is very soothing (and looks lovely on instagram!) but I also agree I prefer more colour and vibrancy. But the refurb has massively improved the space overall and we love the nursery in general so I can live with it being a bit colourless in its decor - but I do think it's a fashion, and it'll change. Right now everything is neutral and natural but give it long enough and nurseries will be ripping that out and making everything primary colours again.

@SmellyOldOwls

My son went to a Reggio Emilia place. Tbh I don't really know or care what most of it means, I just wanted him to go somewhere they would be nice to him and let him run around outside.

@SmellyOldOwls - DNephew and his cousin went to a place exactly like this - a Barnardos nursery in Hackney.

Bear in mind lots of colour can be really overwhelming for children with sensory issues as well.

I looked into it when my eldest went to nursery and decided that the 'normal' nurseries offering EYFS were a better choice than a true Montessori nursery. I wouldn't say it's rubbish. Some of the concepts are fantastic but most of the revolutionary stuff from the early 1900s is now incorporated into the curriculum without the bits that I find a bit strange! EYFS also takes best practices from all methods of learning so I feel children are more rounded. My DCs both thrived/are thriving at the nursery they went to. DD loves art and reading. We got a daily barrage of paintings and crafts and she was reading very well by the time she left nursery and is an avid reader now. DS hates sitting still. He has spent most of this week so far outside building a pirate ship with his friends. Nursery staff recognised their skills and interests and worked them into their themes and had activities that suit both of them. They were both independent at a young age. They learned to cut fruit, bake cakes, put their own coats on etc just as they would at a Montessori nursery. I don't believe a true Montessori nursery would have catered well for either of them. DD wouldn't have had access to her beloved fairy/unicorn/princess books and role play and DS wouldn't have sat still long enough to do any activities!

Like most things where there are multiple 'approaches', there is generally a venn diagram of all the educational approaches, and somewhere, right in the cross section, is the perfect blend of them, but I don't think anyone has actually located it yet.

somewhere, right in the cross section, is the perfect blend of them, but I don't think anyone has actually located it yet.

They never will because it looks different for every child.

We looked at a Montessori too but we didn’t like the look of it, definitely not for a one year old anyway.

We went without an outdoor nursery with acres of land and animals. They come home covered head to toe in mud and paint everyday but seem to absolutely love it. That’s what we are much more interested in, we do plenty of learning activities at home. We just wanted somewhere that she had a nice time!

I think it's also worth noting that 'nurseries' and EYFS cover a wide range of provision, and I do think that you wouldn't necessarily want the same approach in a school hours' preschool as somewhere where they might spend 10 hours a day and has them from babies. I might have chosen somewhere different - more structured, more 'academic', a bit more like school - if I were looking for the former, but I needed the latter so that wasn't what I wanted at all.

@Yumperwumpee

somewhere, right in the cross section, is the perfect blend of them, but I don't think anyone has actually located it yet.

They never will because it looks different for every child.

Exactly. Everyone is searching for something that doesn't exist.