Why chose Montessori?

[MummyAbroad]

Hello,

So I have read some literature from the local Montessori school, and understand their concept - but dont really have a lot to compare it to. If you know anything about Montessori schools what would you say are the advantages and disadvantages? Why would you or wouldnt you chose it over other teaching styles? Is it really very different from other nurseries?

It all depends on the particular nurseries imo.
when DS1 was 3 we chose montessori in preference to the nearest nursery which was run by a very matronly old fashioned 'teacher' who insisted on the kids doing workbooks and i didn't like her approach.
the montessori nursery however had a more individual approach and i liked their approach to the pace that the children learned at. ie, their own.

like i said it depends on the child, the nurseries available etc

a good nursery imo uses similar principles though.

montessori is a method that used to be incorperated in the frame work for the early years and was seen as the method used by outstanding nurseries however the framework used now and the training given to more nurseries is about reggio emilia approach which is more child led so it depends on what you want for your child and which approach you want your child to be exposed to

Also check to see if the local montessori school teachers are spercifically montessori trained as a lot of nurseries/schools claim to be montessori and use the method but have not been trained in montessori for the years it takes to understand the concept fully

If you have a car by BMW or Mercedes, bag by Chanel, sunglasses by Gucci and you're upset because your child doesn't have a label on their forehead, make your child a Montessori child. Any child taught by a 'method' has to be better than one without.

Also, because the Montessori method is a hundred years old it has to be the best. It's not like there has been any research into childcare since then.

Why not go to a nursery which will look at every technique ever invented in history and pick the best way of doing things at the time rather than one that does things according to how one person said they should be done a hundred years ago?

arf @ tiggy.

I agree with TiggyD. I think Montessori might/must have been revolutionary at the time but nowadays pretty much all good nurseries will have incorporated similar methods (small furniture etc). My DCs went to both Montessori and non-M. They do teach a good way of putting on a coat, though.

yes the coat thing is cool

Personally I've not been vaguely bothered about 'type' of education - just look round as many as you can and see what feels right.

Coat thing?!? See, now I'm worried my DD has missed out by going to a normal nursery :(

:o

My daughter is in the baby room at a montessori nursery. I chose it because it's near and the staff are nice. I can't remember what the principles of montessori are, if I ever knew, and am looking forward to seeing the coat thing now! I'd be surprised if it makes much difference tbh- I worked briefly in a supposedly reggio emelia nursery and it was not very evident at all.

thanks everyone,

The school in question is 150 meters from my house making it the best option convenience wise, I've seen two other schools a bit further away and neither with any method at all, they just seem to talk on their phonessupervise while kids are in the play ground all day, so I think we will give the Montessori a try.

Interesting that it is the "posh" option in the UK, I live in Costa Rica, there are very few BMW's here so I wont worry too much about the label thing!

Wobbly Its too hot for coats here - so we wont get the benefit of that gem either!

tiggy, you are wrong.
banger of a car.
no designer handbags.
sunnies from tkmaxx.
the nursery was funded too.
where you live it might attract the monied parents.
but not where i was.