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How To Have The Best Montessori Playroom

By Donald Bailey


When Maria Montessori identified the levels of the sensitive periods of learning, she opened the door to a whole new method of educating young children, named the Montessori Method. This is a method that takes advantage of the sensitive periods, which means the period when the child is intensely interested in a particular phase of learning. All children experience these periods, at the approximately same age. A good Montessori playroom will build on these periods.

For example, the very first period the young baby experiences is the movement one. During this period, the young child is focused on reaching, pushing/pulling things, moving from one area to another, and is very interested in moving objects, animals and people. Each period has a particular focus by the child. Any toys should encourage and develop that skill. To be useful and usable, the playroom set up for a child should be organized and attractive, not cluttered or overcrowded with toys.

Most of the areas overlap some, with some lasting the seven years of early childhood. One play area that should be provided because it relates to several periods is the home living area. Here the child learns to measure, mimic daily adults like the adults, and learn to work together with others and to communicate well. Some items for this area are liquid measuring items, rulers, and many manipulative objects. Also included should be play dishes, stove, and other such to items.

Dress up play is always fun, and educational as well. There should be an area for this. Include basic clothing, child-sized, where the child can mimic adults. Community service clothing in child sizes is important. The accessories that help identify these careers should also be in this area. Colorful silk squares are good to help the child develop imagination and to dance and twirl them, all in pretense.

Another area that is essential, with toys to develop that skill, is the musical and movement center. This area should include musical instruments, balls, push toys, tricycles, and other things that encourage movement. In this area also, silk squares are a good item to have to encourage dancing and free creative play.

To explore measurement and use play-like tools patterned after what the adults use, you will need a building area. Here the child mimics using tools and discovers measurement and comparisons. He also learns to share, and can construct many different structures, alone or with a friend, a real one patterned after his world, or imaginary ones only in his imagination.

One of the most vital areas to develop for your child is that of measuring and discovery. Here he learns how liquids perform, bigger, smaller, more, less, and a lot of other concept skills that will continue to benefit throughout his lifetime. Things to include here would be things like telescopes, spy glasses, and anything that will encourage him to explore/examine his world.

If all these areas to include for your child reminds you of home school or preschool centers, that is correct. Childhood is all about learning, in a fun way that encourages and excites your child. As Maria Montessori identified, there is a period of time that the child under age seven has a burning interest, and if you don't take advantage of that period, you will miss a great opportunity that won't repeat itself later.




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