Are Montessori Children Led?

Most preschoolers are taught two ways: parent-to-child and teacher-to-child. But at La Jolla Montessori School, a toddler, primary and Kindergarten in La Jolla, a third form of teaching to build an independent child is used: child-to-child. This child-led Montessori learning method creates academic, social and emotional benefits, including:

• building trust between younger and older children
• creating emulation in a younger child to quickly ‘catch up’ to an older student
• forming bonds of ‘belonging’ within a group
• promoting leadership abilities within the older student as he or she tells the younger student the ‘steps of completion’
• securing mentorship traits that bolster self-confidence 
• re-using what was originally learned by the younger student when he or she grows over time into being the older student, and
• stopping bullying cold.

Montessori Focus

What separates Montessori from traditional preschools is philosophy and methodology.

Teachers treat students as adults from Day One. 

Given that type of acceptance and respect, children learn without the boundaries of ‘no, no, no.’ As a result, a student develops quick confidence, self-esteem and becomes an independent child.

This type of ‘yes, yes, yes’ approach continues once the school day is completed. When the child goes home, parents maintain the attitude and approach. Thus, kids quickly become ‘can do’ and ‘do it yourself’ oriented. In other words, they become self-motivated to show what they know, what they can do & how they can help–you.

One key to each daily success is how children who may be in Kindergarten or Primary programs teach their younger peers in Toddler or Primary ‘how to do’ things. 

And, parents, that starts with potty management! 

Toddlers want to be big boys and girls. So, learning from slightly older children who wear underpants instead of diapers or pull-ups is a Big Deal!

Or, in daily English/Spanish dual language immersion program classes. 

Kids learning from kids is every bit as important as learning from teachers and parents.

Summary

At La Jolla Montessori School, child-led Montessori learning allows students of varying ages the ability to build peer-to-peer trust, belonging and leadership skills. Starting at eighteen months, your child can begin building lifelong learning traits academically, socially and emotionally. Your ability to jumpstart your child’s formal education will set your family on the road to the Montessori ‘Edge.’ That three-pronged advantage will quickly surface and manifest itself as your child enters elementary school.

At La Jolla Montessori School, children are taught individually, taught as adults, and taught dual language immersion from age three building lifelong learners one day at a time. Watch a virtual tour to add your child to our waiting list: https://lajollamontessorischool.com/book-a-tour/