Is Montessori for you?

I mentioned earlier in this blog that I would write about Montessori for you.

While this post is about Montessori, I encourage you to do further research in your own area and really look into what the Montessori approach can offer you and your child.

There are limited options for Montessori in our local area. I have attended the open day for the local Montessori that offers pre-school, ages 3-5. There was nothing I didn't like about the centre, it looked very much like every other kinder in the area, a bit run down, with lots of activities for the children to take part in. There were lots of parents to speak to and request information from. But at the end of their time at this centre, all the children would be going to 'mainstream' school of some kind if they were to stay in the area. Parents could drive about 45 minutes to the nearest school.

This is an expensive choice of preschool education, approximately $5500 per year, for 3 or 4 mornings a week.

Montessori professionals much prefer to take children as early as possible, and at the centre I visited, they will not even consider putting a four year old on the waiting list.

There are many pros and cons of a Montessori education, you really need to decide if the philopsohy is something you share.

For me, we practice alot of the ideas at home, we do lots of craft, the girls are constantly involved in our everyday activities, cooking, washing, shopping, learning. We teach them to respect their own items and those of the people around them. We offer lots of unstructured play that results in learning of different concepts. We teach them to appreaciate, respect and enjoy the diverisity of other people and cultures.

While I like the theory behind the Montessori concept, I can't say that our area offers the true idea that Dr Maria Montessori, was trying to acheive. I also find that due to the 'rules' of accepting children, the high level of fees and the 'waiting list' approach, it is not a very inclusive environoment. Only the well organised, prada wearing infants from this area will be attending our local Montessori.

Fot information about Montessori in Australia click here
For information on the history of Montessori education information, click here