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...

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....