What Makes Montessori Daycare Programs Unique?

No matter the time of year, parents must make dozens of important decisions for their children. However, no choice is more important than selecting the right daycare. One of the most trusted and widely recognized approaches is Montessori Daycare Programs, which focus on independence, hands-on learning, and nurturing a child’s natural curiosity from an early age.

  At Garden Montessori Schools, we recognise the value of balancing high-quality, meaningful learning and care in the most formative years of life. But what is the difference between a daycare and a Montessori daycare approach? Today, we will examine what makes Montessori daycare centers unique and how they provide significant advantages to young people.  

What is a Montessori daycare?

  The Montessori method for daycares grew out of the educational philosophy of Dr. Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. This approach has been recognized for over a hundred years and has a significant focus on the promotion of independence, natural curiosity and respect for every child as an individual. This approach takes a hands-on, self-directed, and collaborative approach to learning.   Unlike most daycares today, Montessori daycare centers do not place a significant focus on group learning and large activity blocks. Montessori centers provide a space that is thoughtfully planned out and educational. They also provide the child with time and the independence to explore the space, make learning and play choices, and gain self-confidence.  

The Top Values of Montessori Daycare Enrollment 

 

1. Prepared Surroundings 

  One of the features of the Montessori Daycare Programs is the prepared environment. Classrooms are arranged with age-appropriate and accessible materials. These items are intended to encourage curiosity and hands-on learning. Everything within the environment, like low shelves and kid-sized chairs, is meant to foster independence throughout the learning process.    In Montessori education, kids get to self-determine which activities they want to engage in while staying within some limits. This autonomy provides motivation and helps to foster creativity and develop a sense of responsibility.   

2. Kid Centred Learning 

  Montessori Daycare Programs work to identify and develop each child's unique strengths and interests. No two kids are the same, and to ensure a kid doesn't fall behind, their teachers observe and pair level-appropriate activities with each kid to encourage self-guided learning and foster steady, independent advancement.    Children are not expected to rush through the lesson; instead, they are allowed to work at their own pace and develop self-confidence and mastery of the subject at hand.   

3. Use of Learning Tools That Promote Learning Through Action 

  Montessori classrooms contain a wide variety of unique educational tools and manipulatives designed to encourage interaction and discovery, to support learning not just in math and language, but also in sensory development and practical life skills.   Learning about the sounds of letters and how to count, for example, is much more meaningful and memorable for young children if they use manipulatives rather than just rote learning. This is the type of learning used by Montessori Daycare Programs.  

Mixed-Age Grouping

  Many Montessori Daycare Programs purposely mix children of different ages, typically in three-year ranges. This mixed-age model enables the older children to act as mentors and reinforce their learning, while the younger children receive input from the older peers. Helping children learn to cooperate with others and showing leadership, empathy, and concern for the younger children is something we need more of in our society, and we can provide this in school.  

Guide, rather than Teacher

  In Montessori settings, instead of calling teachers "educators" or "instructors," the term used is "guide." By not controlling or structuring their class activities, the guide allows the children to follow their own interests and learning paths. This enables the guide to more easily tailor their support to the learning needs of each student and provide a more enriching learning experience.    Montessori Daycare Programs receive special training to provide these educational experiences in a more empowering way to children.

Why Montessori Daycare Programs Are Different

Focus on Independence

  Unlike other daycare programs, Montessori daycare programs focus on independence. Children zip their own jackets, pour their own drinks, and choose their own activities. These everyday activities build autonomy and confidence.  

Focus on Internal Motivation  

  Most daycare programs reward the kids with stickers or words of praise. Montessori daycare programs focus on the internal motivation of the child. Children learn and engage in activities because they want to and because they are interested in the topic. This motivation promotes and helps develop a love for learning in the child.  

Child-Initiated Activities  

  Instead of following a strict schedule, children in Montessori programs participate in activities that they choose to engage in. Children are given a variety of materials, and the activities that are available to choose from are stimulating. They are also given a guide who helps support the children and provides direction if needed. The children can develop focus and natural problem-solving skills. This type of self-direction is one of the biggest reasons parents choose the Montessori programs for their child's early education.  

Cross-Disciplinary Learning

  In typical daycare programs, subjects like math, science and language are taught separately. In Montessori Daycare Programs, learning is cross-disciplinary. For example, while a child is working with counting materials, they are simultaneously developing fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and vocabulary. In this model, multiple areas of development are integrated into a single activity.

Advantages of Montessori Daycare Programs

  In Montessori education, a child's flexible and self-paced learning environment fosters a number of long-term positive outcomes. Some of these outcomes include:

Advanced Cognitive Development

  Children in Montessori daycare programs are more likely to possess advanced cognitive skills like problem solving, critical thinking and learning to grasp new concepts. Since learning activities are self-chosen, children are able to develop a stronger understanding of the material.  

Social Skills

  The children are encouraged to be respectful and empathetic to one another, as they will be working together in a group. These social skills will be helpful to them in the future as they will be required when they are working with partners in group activities for school, and in any job they will have.  

Emotional Regulation

  Children in Montessori programs are able to work independently, allowing them to take control of their own learning. This autonomy helps develop emotional self-awareness and self-control. These are essential skills to develop for personal and academic success.  

Love of Learning

  One of the most impactful of Montessori Daycare programs is the promotion of lifelong learning. The enjoyment and curiosity children develop over the world around them is influenced by the activities they participate in and the alignment with their interests.

Montessori Daycare at Garden Montessori Schools

  At Garden Montessori Schools, we are prepared to provide Montessori daycare programs specially tailored to the potential of every child.    Each of our classrooms includes:   

• A prepared environment with varied and quality materials

 

• Tailored learning objectives that are developed through focused observation

 

• Multi-age classrooms that promote collaboration and leadership 

 

• Montessori experienced professionals in child care.

  All programs in the early childhood phase acknowledge the developments at this stage of life and the extreme care this phase of life needs.  

Picking Montessori Daycare Programs  

  What is essential when dealing with daycare Montessori programs?    

• Accreditation: Commitment to Real Montessori  

 

• Teacher Training: Montessori Certification  

 

• Learning Environment: set up of the room and the available materials  

 

• Child Involvement: participation and connection with other children and materials in the room  

 

• Family Involvement: develops a responsive partnership and collaborates with the household  

  Garden Montessori Schools is able to meet these goals and provide families with warm, quality care.    

To Conclude  

  Montessori daycare parental programs, as opposed to other daycare programs, encourage a high level of self-regulated and self-directed learning, offer the freedom to explore and use the educational environment as needed and ensure every child is given individualised attention.    Garden Montessori Schools can provide the chance to develop the child's innate learning passion. Get in touch to take the first step of your educational journey with us and set up a time to tour our campus.    

FAQs

 

What Is A Montessori Daycare Program?  

  Montessori Daycare Programs are intentional spaces filled with the principles of self-directed activity, freedom of choice, and extensive multisensory, hands-on play.  

How young can the children be to attend a Montessori daycare?

  Montessori daycare is open to children from infancy to preschool age.   

What are the differences between a Montessori daycare and a traditional daycare?

  Having children of various ages in one classroom promotes peer mentorship and provides a broader array of teaching techniques.  

Are there children to whom these Montessori daycare programs are unable to help?

  Most children thrive in the Montessori daycare programs. However, children who need different teaching styles may need more time, but the Montessori daycare programs are made with these types of differences in mind.  

What is the purpose of these Montessori daycare programs?

  These programs help children become self-sufficient, self-directed, socially skilled, and good at working through challenges. Along with these skills, children gain a positive self-image.