What every parent should know about Montessori education.
Montessori education is a proven model for nurturing happy, capable, confident children who grow up to be happy, successful adults. Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female doctor in Italy, discovered over 100 years ago that children learn best when given independence in an environment prepared especially for them. In 1907, she opened her first classroom, the Casa dei Bambini (House of Children) in Rome, and from there, parents and teachers spread her approach around the world. Extensive research shows that when schools closely follow Montessori’s original approach, children consistently thrive in school and life.
At the heart of Montessori is the understanding that children learn joyfully when activities are inspiring and purposeful. Classrooms are lovingly prepared with beautiful, sequential, hands-on materials designed for each stage of your child’s development. Your preschool child might pour water, prepare a snack, trace sandpaper letters, polish wood or use golden beads to form numbers up to 9,999. Your elementary child might add fractions, study a poem, explore the scientific terminology for parts of a leaf or multiply and divide into the hundreds of billions. Inviting materials take children from concrete experience to abstract understanding while building concentration, persistence and confidence.
A Montessori school day includes uninterrupted work periods of up to three hours. Children choose freely from among the many activities they’ve been introduced to and then work at their own pace. Exercises that may look simple — arranging beads, writing with movable letters or cleaning a table — are opportunities to practice executive function skills such as focus, problem-solving and perseverance. These crucial life skills allow Montessori children to master progressively more difficult work with enthusiasm and confidence, and prepare children to be happy and successful adults.
When you first hear that Montessori children choose their own work, it may sound like a lot of freedom for a young child. This freedom exists within a proven structure. Clear routines and respectful guidelines allow classrooms to thrive with a high level of independent activity. Most Montessori learning materials are self-correcting so children notice mistakes on their own. Teachers (often called guides) observe closely, give precise lessons, protect each child’s focus and are available when needed. This balance of freedom within limits helps children practice independence, responsibility and respect for others, while honoring each child’s natural rhythm. Dr. Montessori said that when we “follow the child,” children reveal themselves to be curious, capable and compassionate.
Rich and nuanced social learning is one of the hallmarks of the Montessori experience. In a mixed-age classroom, younger children learn by observing older classmates, while older students reinforce knowledge by mentoring and helping younger ones. This natural exchange fosters empathy, cooperation and responsibility, creating a community where everyone belongs. Just as children grow into the critical developmental stage for social learning, Montessori elementary provides an unparalleled opportunity for children to practice leadership, collaboration and problem-solving as they work together in partners and small groups.
Montessori is ideally suited for bilingual education, as every child can receive lessons at exactly their level in each language. Frequent one-on-one or small-group interactions with the teacher and with other children build social awareness and language skills.
At home, you can support your child Montessori-style by providing opportunities for independence. Provide a low hook for coats, a small pitcher for water and child-sized tools for household tasks. Use invitations such as, “Would you like to try?” and encourage your child’s concentration by observing before stepping in. Real-life tasks like watering plants, folding clothes or preparing fruit make children both capable and confident.
For families, the approach is often transformative: less rushing, more cooperation and the joy of hearing your child say, “I can do it all by myself!” Montessori education, born in Italy through Maria Montessori’s vision, continues to inspire parents and teachers worldwide to see the extraordinary potential within every child.
| Did you know? – After a short adjustment period, Montessori children typically excel at a new school. They’ve been practicing crucial executive function skills like planning, organization and cooperation every day. – Learning is assessed through direct observation and in one-on-one lessons rather than through homework or formal exams. – Many families start between age 2 and 3, but older children also adapt and thrive. |
As the principal of Montessori International Academy in Santa Ana and a parent educator, Sumiyo Sumikawa, M.Ed., is dedicated to sharing authentic bilingual Montessori education that nurtures independence, empathy and a lifelong love of learning. She holds AMI and AMS Montessori credentials in Early Childhood Education and the AMS credential in elementary education.
By Sumiyo Sumikawa, M.Ed.
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