Montessori ....pros and cons

[mintich]

Just that!! What are the pros and cons?

Hi Op,

Following if ok, we've picked an independent school and the nursery is Montessori. I had a good look a around a lovely nursery and they explained the concept. They did say they are not purists when it comes to the philosophy, anyway be good to hear from other parents who's little ones have actually attended.

Bumpty bump

I only see pros! They are independent and can chose which activities they do and work on them as long as they want to. They are shown how to use materials and offered then chance to use them but not forced to. They call play 'work' BTW which can be confusing. All the activities are specially designed to develop particular pre reading/ writing/ numeracy skills or social skills but no formal focus on forcing them to learn to read and write. The staff in the nurseries my child attended are much more qualified than staff in the other private and council run nurseries we tried. They are wonderful calm, chilled out places. Could not recommend them highly enough.

DS ended up at a montessori and it wasn't all that different from any other nursery - apart from the toys (wooden ones not plastic dollies and ride ons).

They had a library and painting corner, story time and 'gardening' (digging in the dirt and getting mucky), fed the pet fish, singing, dance, writing their names and going sums... Usually stuff.

They were encouraged to help out - so clear up and wipe down the tables after snack time, and has 'lessons' on thinks like the planets and dinosaurs. He lived it there and we really likes the teachers and the school. The emphasis was very much of happy little people - other nurseries we hosted felt very business like and sterile.

Looking back it was more like reception class - not like the nursery where I worked where it was more like semi-organised chaos!

Gaaaaa the typos! You get the gist.

Wow thank you both, that's so informative! I really like what you have explained and I recall the wooden toys, they showed me round and explained that what they would be playing with and showed us different areas set up for playtime ... it certainly sounds great x

I still have fond memories of DS2 being in Montessori (he's 14 now)

The wooden toys, the way they teach them really basic manners and responsibilities and all at a super slow pace ( i.e. not the fast and furious pace of many nurseries) such as hanging up your coat, sitting at the table with one another,.........oooohhhh it was lovely :-)

Mine's 14 too - typical teen now!

DDs Montessori is quite “purist”.

I love it. It is so so so calm.

I went to a Montessori as a kid. Although it might be a good method for some it wasn't good for me. I was too laks and headstrong for montessori. I was always ahead but one year of montessori got me behind.

So in my opinion it is only a good education for a certain type of child. It is really bad for kids who are like I was.

Sorry for any typo's. English is not my first language.

You don't get any more stubborn than DS! Not all schools are for all kids though.

Montessori is not for all kids. Strong minded kids may struggle more in my view, because they need more working on convincing and more effective communication, which is something that Montessori does not necessarily focus too much on (communication). If your kid does not comply, they tend to leave him / her to their own devices and it backfires and the child gets frustrated and does not progress or learn as effectively.