Have you been in conversations with other moms/parents and heard that there are different kinds of daycares and educations? When I first started looking into daycare for my first born, I was shocked by a few things. First, I was shocked at how many different childcares there are in my city alone. It was overwhelming to just google childcare! Second, I was shocked that there were different kinds of daycares and educational theories (in home, center, Montessori, etc.). Even though I worked in a daycare in college, I never realized there are so many different philosophies! Have you ever wondered what the differences are in these daycares? In this series, we will talk about the differences and you can take that information and decide which is right for you and your family!
Let’s start with the Montessori philosophy! The Montessori way was developed by Maria Montessori. The philosophy believes children are naturally independent and eager to learn. If they are given the proper support and learning environment, they will seek out the educational opportunities and learn in their own way. The teachers or guides set up opportunities and activities for the children to have access to, and the children get to choose what they want to interact with and learn about. They have extended amounts of this uninterrupted “work time” (typically ~3 hour blocks). Children learn different concepts by interacting with the materials that are provided to them in their own way rather than by direct instruction. While they are learning different concepts, there is less pressure to measure up to certain achievements or successes such as grades and tests. Trained teachers are there to help answer questions and support them with the learning, but not directly teach them. They are monitoring and discuss how the child is doing in terms of interests and interactions. The teachers put in thought and planning into the activities that are going to be offered in the classroom. One of the other biggest differences is the larger age range within each room. There are often large age ranges in each room. This provides each child opportunities to lead and follow the lead of others based on what they are comfortable with and passionate about. This overall philosophy is to develop and instill independence within each child.
Montessori can look different at each location that you may tour as well, so it is good to ask questions to see if it is the right fit for your child and family. Like many things, there is no right or wrong answer for the childcare that is best for you and your child. The best way to find the right fit is to attend tours and ask as many questions as you have! If you start in one setting and find that it may not be the right fit, it is okay to move to a new setting! The important part is to find what is best for you! If you have any questions about Montessori or which childcare may be best, feel free to reach out and ask us! We are happy to talk it through with you!
~Amber