According to the kindergarten experts at Forbes, parents should Google preparing their child for Montessori as much as they Google ‘sleep-training’ and ‘bottle-feeding.’ You don’t need to wait for your child to join the school to start training them for Montessori education. You can begin the day your child is born to cultivate their love for learning and imagination.
Here are a few tips:
Encourage Reading At Home
The best way to be a part of your child’s academic development is to read with them at home. Read as much as you can—there’s no such thing as too much of it. Try and read different types of books and ask them questions.
While you’re reading, explain every new word that comes along. Follow the sentences with a finger under the text, so the child doesn’t lose track. Help them practice different sounds till they’re able to master it. When the child grasps these words better, they’ll find it easier to communicate them at school.
Other than preparing them for Montessori, reading also helps you create an intimate bond with your child. Reading also helps the child develop a longer attention span and builds listening and communication habits.
Avoid Comparing Your Children
As a parent, it’s your primary duty to support your child’s individuality. Montessori teachers are taught and instructed to compare one child to another. It takes time for a child to get accustomed to the Montessori atmosphere. All four-year-olds build their concepts at their unique pace according to their potential.
Being a parent, your child expects you to adopt the same perspective. Be patient with your child’s progress as they transition into Montessori. If you see other four-year-olds reading difficult words while your child struggles, don’t rush them to keep up—not even subtly. Understand the process of human development. Please step back and let the child discover their surroundings. Leave the rest to the Montessori instructors.
Support Independence
The Montessori classrooms are set up to allow the child to take care of their needs. They’re given choices and a sense of responsibility. To paint a tree, the child gathers the supplies, puts on an apron, and later organizes the supplies back into the cupboard. They might even wash the bowls and brushes on their own and checking that there are no spills. Children usually love this newfound independence.
To prepare the child to take upon such roles:
- Support independence at home.
- Don’t help them with anything that they can manage on your own.
- Empower them as much as you can.
The Centerra Ranch Montessori School is an award-winning Montessori preschool & daycare center in Katy, TX, that’s known to help students balance their academic, physical, and social/emotional development. Our educational environment fosters creativity and cultivates an innate love for learning among children.
Get in touch with us online or call us at 281-693-CRMS (2767) for more information.
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