Sending your child to a Montessori School helps ensure they are getting a quality education during the school day. However, this does not mean you can't help enhance their Montessori experience at home. There are many ways to expand upon your child's education at home, but one of the very best ways you can do this is by involving your little one in the kitchen. Kitchen work helps fine-tune motor skills, teaches life skills, and gives children a feeling of pride and accomplishment.  Many parents are intimidated by the idea of giving their child kitchen tasks. The thought of their child acquiring a cut or burn makes them hesitant to involve their children in the cooking. While this is understandable, it is no reason to make the kids leave the kitchen when dinner prep begins. Here are a few ways very young people can help out with the cooking. Peeling and Slicing a...

As a Montessori school, we want the best for your child, and we do that by working to develop their interest and providing them with choice. We believe that the best way for your child to learn and grow is to emphasize their independence and their ability to make their own conscious decisions. We want to nurture children’s natural curiosity for the world and their environment, by fostering an environment where they feel secure in their own being. In terms of discipline, Montessori schools have a slightly different approach from more traditional types of schooling. A common misconception about Montessori education is that the focus on independence means children can do whatever they want, but that is certainly not the case. Children should be given the opportunity to explore, but Montessori discipline focuses more on shaping and encouraging positive behavior, rather than punishing bad behavior. Positive Discipline At its core, Montessori...

As many parents and teachers are coming to realize, creativity is a key part of a child’s development. Creativity promotes problem-solving and social skills and often leads to a more successful and fulfilling career. It’s no surprise, then, that many parents want to send their children to schools that cultivate creativity. Unfortunately, traditional education systems tend to promote rigidity rather than creativity. Children get into a routine–wake up, go to school, do homework, go to bed, and repeat. Worse, the traditional schooling system tends to promote stress and anxiety, which can dampen creativity and lead to lower levels of well-being later in life. The Montessori method of education seeks to change this dynamic. Instead of having children follow a strict curriculum, Montessori schools seek to develop the whole child. They promote self-directed and hands-on activities that promote self-confidence, social cohesion, a love of learning, and, of course, creativity. If you’re interested...

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found evidence that confirmed what many educators and researchers already suspected: Children enrolled in Montessori schools generally have higher levels of well-being as an adult. The Montessori method of education, which encourages children to develop a deep-seated love of learning through self-directed activities, has been growing in popularity around the world since Maria Montessori opened the first Montessori school in Rome in 1907. Today, over 500,000 American children are enrolled in Montessori schools. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Virginia, consisted of a survey given to 1905 adults aged 18 to 81. About half of the survey participants had attended a Montessori school as a child for at least two years, while the other half only attended conventional schools. What the study found was nothing short of astounding. Children who spent as little as two years in...

Many parents wish to incorporate Montessori methods into their child's life before he or she turns three and is eligible to be enrolled in Montessori School. Here are a few things mothers and fathers might consider doing in order to begin their babies' Montessori lifestyle right away.  Freedom and Independence Offer your baby freedom to explore his or her surroundings. Exploration leads to discovery and learning. Create a safe environment for your little one by covering outlets, anchoring tall furniture to the walls, and putting sharp (or otherwise unsafe) objects out of reach. Place your child's mattress on the floor and forgo the crib. This gives baby the opportunity to get up and play in the morning without needing to call out for mom and dad. Baby gates, play yards, and other "baby cages" should be avoided whenever possible. Speak To Them Talk to your little guy or girl as you would...

Growing minds need constant sensory input. This sensorial focus is at the heart of the Montessori education. It stimulates the child’s five senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. It allows them to study and experience their world in a meaningful way.  Sensorial learning activities help children explore shapes, colors, textures, sounds, tastes, and smells. It is a fun way to learn that is also extremely beneficial. By using sensorial materials and practicing sensorial activities, children are given different avenues to classify and create order to their understanding, learning, and place in the world. It helps them build necessary skills, such as logic and cognition, while also helping enhance their memory by learning through experience.  Sounds great, right? But what does it look like in the Montessori classroom?  Montessori sensory materials are broken down into eight different groups:  Visual: This includes exercises in which children learn to visually discriminate between objects....

When choosing a Montessori school that's right for your child, be prepared to do your homework. After all, no two schools are exactly alike, regardless of whether they use a Montessori or more traditional approach to education. While most Montessori schools adhere to the same general educational philosophy, some schools apply the Montessori principles more extensively than others. With this knowledge in mind, what exactly should you look for in an ideal Montessori school? Consider the following five characteristics: Professional affiliations. Montessori schools have the option of being affiliated with or accredited by certain national and international Montessori organizations. What organizations should you look for? The most common include the American Montessori Society (AMS), Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), and the International Montessori Council (IMC). Remember: Being affiliated with or accredited by one of these organizations isn't mandatory. However, schools that are affiliated with the AMS, for example, demonstrate a certain standard...

Created in the early 20th century by Maria Montessori, the Montessori private schooling system has and continues to benefit children across the globe. In the U.S. alone, more than 5,000 public schools currently employ Montessori methods, and private school students are reaping the benefits of this education. Across the board, Montessori children are reported to better demonstrate abilities in the realm of social justice and fairness and score higher on social and behavioral exams. Additionally, kindergarten Montessori students are reported to be better equipped for elementary reading and mathematics, as compared with non-Montessori students. But what is it about Montessori that sets these private school students up for excellence and success? The natural learning process is key to any Montessori education, and with that comes 5 vital principles: Every child learns differently The Montessori education recognizes that every child is unique and responds differently to different learning environments. Each child has...

Early childhood education, including day care and preschool, has been shown to help children's emotional, personal, social and economical development. More than two-thirds of four-year-olds and over 40% of three-year-olds were enrolled in preschool in 2005, according to The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). With preschool such a vital part of a child's life, many parents want to be sure their children are getting the best education possible. More and more parents are turning to schools that offer a Montessori curriculum for their child's early elementary education. Maria Montessori developed the first Montessori school in 1907 to serve children with mental disabilities, or those who were economically disadvantaged. There are many factors that distinguish a Montessori elementary education from a traditional elementary school. Special educational materials and the absence of grades and tests are the most obvious. Because of the environment of multi-age classrooms, Montessori children benefit from a...

As summer comes to an end and the beginning of the school year quickly approaches, it is time to get your kids ready to head back to school. At Brooksfield School, we want to ensure that students experience as smooth as possible of a transition, so we have compiled some tips and tricks to help you and your children feel excited and prepared for a new school year. School begins for all our students on August 24, so do not delay in helping your child prepare for their next adventure! Supplies School supplies shopping is one of the most integral parts of back-to-school season. Wherever you choose to shop, you will want to gather all the essentials, including notebooks, pencils, folders, crayons, and more. We share school supplies lists with each family before the beginning of the school year so that your kids can get everything that they need to succeed...