The traditional classroom experience includes indoor learning, but there are many Montessori schools that offer an outdoor classroom setting. An outdoor classroom expands beyond the typical outdoor time found during recess or gym. True classroom time is dedicated to the outdoors, and students can gain a lot of knowledge from the experience.

Learn about the advantages of an outdoor classroom and the skills your child will learn through an outdoor setting based at a Montessori school.

1. Learn Gardening Skills

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What do you want for your child’s education? With an array of academic options available, the first step in your child’s early education isn’t always easy to make. But with the right information you can simplify the process. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the top questions to ask yourself and your child’s potential future preschool.

How Does Your Child Learn?

Every child is an individual — and that means your preschooler has a learning style that’s all their own. Watch your child as they play, explore, and create at home, and ask yourself:

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Sending your child to a Montessori school gives them a whole different experience as they learn and grow. Along with a new approach to academics, children will learn many social aspects within the unique classroom setting. Building a foundation of social skills is an essential part of growing, and children can utilize the skills as they grow older.

See four ways that Montessori schools can help with social interactions and help foster a positive environment for your child’s future.

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What is Montessori education? Before you select a school for your young child, take a look at the top questions parents have about Montessori answered.

Who Started Montessori?

This educational philosophy began with its namesake—Dr. Maria Montessori. The Italian educator was also a physician and scientist who devoted her life to researching and understanding child development and educational practices. Dr. Montessori used scientific observations and her extensive experience working with children to develop a completely new (at the time) type of educational program.

When Did Montessori Begin?

Dr. Montessori’s first Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House, opened on January 6, 1907, according to the American Montessori Society. The educator and physician started this first child care center (located in Rome’s San Lorenzo district) as a way to study and help the region’s most disadvantaged children. (more…)

How can Montessori help a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to excel educationally and developmentally? Take a look at some common questions parents have about ADHD, the early childhood education environment, and Montessori preschool.

How Common Is ADHD?

A new diagnosis can prove stressful for many families. Even though you may feel lost, nervous, or overwhelmed, you aren’t alone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 2016 parent survey revealed that 6.1 million children in the United States have an ADHD diagnosis. The statistic includes 388,000 preschool-aged children two through five years.

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What part does science play in the Montessori preschool classroom? Whether your child is new to Montessori or you just want to learn more about what they may do during their preschool day, take a look at the top science questions parents have answered.

Is Science Important for Young Children?

Simply stated — yes. Even though your young child won’t need to learn college-level physics concepts or explore the intricacies of microbiology yet, science is an essential part of the early childhood education environment. More specifically, science can help the young child to:

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The benefits of technology are undeniable, but as we foster our young child’s educational experience, we must decide how much technology the child becomes exposed to at a young age. As technology use grows in public schools, consider the benefits of a tech-free kindergarten classroom, similar to options found at various Montessori schools.

Learn how a tech-free class will benefit your child at a young age and the positive options that come with a tech-free class.

1. Motor Skill Development

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Why does your child need unstructured play? While highly structured, teacher-led activities may dominate the traditional classroom, this isn’t the only effective early childhood education option. If you want to know more about how your child learns through unstructured opportunities, take a look at the what’s and why’s of this type of play and how it fits into the world of Montessori.

What Is Unstructured Play?

Unstructured play is exactly what the name implies: play, minus the structure. Instead of a teacher who dictates specific types of activities or ways to play, unstructured periods are open for the child to explore and take the lead. Sometimes known as open-ended play, unstructured play could include (but isn’t limited to):

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Enrolling your child in a preschool can yield many great benefits, such as helping your child learn how to socialize and self-regulate. Children who attend a preschool may also have a leg up on other students since they typically have an increased vocabulary and a foundation of counting and pattern recognition. If you aren’t sure which preschool program to pursue, consider Montessori education.

The Montessori Method was developed by educator Maria Montessori, and her philosophy was that because children are eager to learn, they can initiate and direct their learning in a supportive environment.

Instead of just having your young child sit at a desk and receive instruction, a Montessori program provides lots of activities that can help your child develop his or her motor skills.

What Are Motor Skills?

Motor skills is a broad term that refers to the development of muscle movement in the body. The development of motor skills helps your child’s cognitive development and helps him or her explore the world.

Motor skills can be divided up into different categories, such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and sensory development.

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