Dr. Maria Montessori understood that children begin using their senses to experience their surroundings as soon as they enter the world. Sensorial adventures start at the moment a child is born. Young children are constantly improving their perception, using their senses to study their environment.

The Montessori philosophy considers the child the “sensorial explorer.” Because of this, Montessori preschools create space for children to learn and perceive qualities through experiences of the senses. Dr. Montessori developed the idea of sensorial work as education long before our modern idea of sensory play was put into practice in daycares and schools. Sensory experiences are essential to the brain development of young children, especially in the first few years of life.

When searching for your child’s first experience with group learning and organized education, it is important to understand the differences between your options. There are a number of options when it comes to child care for young learners from 18 months to 6 years old, from traditional daycare to play-based programs that prepare children for kindergarten. So, what are the major differences between Montessori early learning programs and more traditional types of child care?

Many kindergarteners find it difficult to come out of their shells in their new classroom setting, even when they are coming from a preschool class where they were able to socialize with other children and teachers. Perhaps they worry because their new Montessori private kindergarten class is bigger than their preschool class or because it has more students and classmates of different ages at different stages.

Many parents wonder what they can do to give their shy, timid child a boost when it comes to socializing in kindergarten. Whether your child is simply a quiet one or is battling pre-kindergarten anxiety that is making them clam up, here are a few tips for helping them succeed and feel comfortable in their new Montessori kindergarten classroom.

The convention of diversity comes in many shapes and forms. From race to religion, from gender to culture or physical abilities, we are all brought into this world with a host of differences that make us unique. Practicing and being aware of diversity is a useful practice in almost every area of our lives.

Because psychologists have said that children can notice differences as early as six months old, it is never too early to begin teaching children to appreciate and accept the differences of others. Embracing cultural diversity is an important skill, even at the daycare level, and in a Montessori program, that is when children begin learning about diversity.

When you think of organization in the classroom, your mind may wander to pencil cases and assignment trackers. You may think that convincing your kindergartener of the importance of keeping a neat backpack is a futile effort. However, planting seeds of organization in your child's school life can be made simple by infusing your daily routines with rewards and fun.

Organization is a fundamental part of the Montessori method, helping students establish which tasks need to be completed and in what order. Being organized is an essential skill not only for academic success but later in life as well. Organization is a fundamental aspect of play, social interaction, personal control, and academic performance in a Montessori classroom, and practicing organizational skills will help your kindergartener perform better across the board.

So, how can you help your child get organized for their time in a private kindergarten program?

For most young children, change is a difficult but necessary part of life. Change is happening all around them all the time, from transitioning from grade to grade, to learning to roll with changes in daily schedules. While it is not easy for young children to transition with a changing environment, we know that the ability to adjust to change without anxiety and fear is critical to a child’s performance in school and their everyday life. The methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and practiced by Montessori programs have been proven to be beneficial to students learning to adjust to challenges brought about by change.

Part of the Montessori Philosophy is to help children develop confidence, autonomy, and problem-solving skills in an ever-changing setting. These skills are helpful for young children in their education and later in life. So, how can you help your child get acclimated to the Montessori environment so they can begin learning these useful skills? Here are five ways to help your child make the jump from daycare to a Montessori preschool program without uneasiness or dread.

When deciding where to enroll their young children in school, parents often have many of the same questions. One of the most commonly asked questions when exploring the idea of entering their child into a Montessori school is, “What is the best age for a child to begin a Montessori education?” 

Several factors play into answering this question, from your child’s readiness to the methodology of the program when it comes to educating the whole child. Subtract the guesswork from your decision-making process by reading along to find out when the best time to begin a Montessori education is for your young learner.

As a parent to a preschooler, you probably know that snack time is an important part of your every day. We all require healthy foods to fuel us, but young children especially rely on snack time to feed their growing brains, helping them to explore and create more readily. 

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children grow and learn by examining the world with their senses. What better place to use all your senses than in the kitchen? The act of prepping and cooking helps young children learn and practice basic concepts like math and language skills. Naming, describing, counting, and measuring ingredients are all easy ways to incorporate some learning into your snack time.

This summer, as your child is home with you more often than they are during the school year, you may find yourself running out of snack ideas. We have created a list of beloved snacks that your preschooler can make with you, getting them in on the food preparation process and giving them some control in their eating. Assembling meals as a family can help your preschooler build their self-confidence and create healthy eating habits.

There are a few tasks in the kitchen that are particularly well-suited to preschool-level children. Ask your preschooler to help you knead the dough for a pizza, later topping it with their choice. Have them help you tear lettuce for a salad or stir batter for a cake. Your child can even help you read from your cookbook by flipping pages for you.

Here are a few recipes you can try with your preschooler this summer:

Young children in preschool are in a brilliant stage of rapid brain development. These quick changes pave the way for the growth of self-regulation skills. Working on self-regulation skills in preschool is an investment for the student in the long run since self-regulation is proven to lead to success in later stages. A child's ability to self-regulate is an indicator of many things down the road, like fewer behavioral difficulties, better performance in school, and better relationships with those around them.

Self-regulation is how we manage our thoughts and feelings to allow for goal-directed actions. Self-regulation looks like finding ways to cope with strong feelings and, in turn, not feeling overwhelmed by emotion. It also looks like practicing focus, the ability to shift attention, and successfully managing behaviors required to work well with others and move in the direction of our goals.

The kindergarten classroom is a world of firsts for many children. From new friends, to new routines and lessons, these young learners are growing fast and adapting to tremendous changes every day. Whether your child attended preschool in a Montessori program or a more standard program, they most likely have been given some tools to help make their transition to kindergarten easier. These tools involve practice in listening, identifying colors and some letters, or sharing with classmates. 

Undoubtedly, your young learner has a number of skills that will help them navigate and succeed in their private kindergarten. In addition, there are things that you can do at home or over the summer as a parent to help your child prepare for their transition to kindergarten and encourage their love for learning.