Montessori Ideology and Methodology

I have never really thought much of the Montessori school system. However, doing part-time work gives me more time to read up on education for toddlers and pre-schoolers. I recently laid my hands on "Montessori from the Start", by Paul Polk Lilliard and Lynn Lilliard Jessen.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Montessori-Start-Paula-Polk-Lillard/dp/0805211128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226373977&sr=1-1

The book contains the basic ideas behind Maria Montessori's philosophy and research into how children develop once they enter this world. Her view is that the child is to be developed in such a way so that he can contribute to the world.

What I find interesting, and perhaps due to the fact that En is also 15 months of age, is her observation that toddlers at 15 mths of age should be given practical life training to prepare them for self-independence (which is the ultimate goal of educating a child).

In a Montessori classroom setting, the child will be taught how to put on their own clothes, prepare the table for a meal, learn how to do housework, cut apples and so on and so forth. The reason why she thinks the child is ready is because their hands and legs are fully functional now and perform as they were meant to. The child is also eager to imitate the adult in the things they do. As I look at En, I find it so true. Encouraged by her observation and her successful results in training children in practical life, I have been trying to do the same for En recently.

For meal times, En is to feed himself. It helps that the food he eats consists of porrdige, soggy rice, sticky pasta or cous cous. This way, the food tends to stick to the spoon and does not fall off easily. When you have a maid, its easy to make the maid feed him so that the feeding session is over and done with without too much time wastage. However, I now realise that I should aim to make him more independent and since he has demonstrated that he is capable of eating by himself, I should create the environment to let him do so. I intend to get En a fork next, so that he can learn to eat with both spoon and fork :) Another thing is, before meals, I ask him to go and get his bib from his cupboard. So far, he comprehends and has been co-operating in this respect. Its true. Young children this age need routine. If we keep doing it as a matter of daily life, he will soon learn to make it part of his daily routine.

Also, am trying more "practical life" training for En in areas of wearing his shoes, choosing his clothes before he goes out, preparing for bathtime etc.

Maria's ideology is noble and admirable. To develop the child to be a useful agent of change in the world. However, as a Christian, I know that there is more to life than just contributing to social good in the world. Our goal in life should be to love God and love the neighbour as we love ourselves. Our aim and desire should be to live such godly lives and preach the gospel so that the lost may be brought into the marvellous truth and light of Jesus, so that we will see the nations worship the lamb who was slain at the end of all times. Montessori methods will help make the child more independent, which fits well into my current thoughts on toddler-rearing :)