It’s a common question that most parents ask when researching Montessori education. The reality is that most of us never had an opportunity to attend an authentic Montessori school when we were young. Many of the experiences in a Montessori classroom are the complete opposite our own experiences in school, so it’s completely understandable to question the efficacy of something new to you for your own child!

Montessori education has shaped the lives of thousands of children. There are an infinite number of reasons why Montessori will work for your child. But for the sake of this article, let’s narrow it down to six significant reasons why your child will thrive in a quality Montessori program:

Your Child Will Learn by Doing

Your child will be exposed to hundreds of specially designed materials and lessons that invite hands-on exploration. Your child will choose what they want to explore, creating strong neural pathways that contribute to the construction of a strong brain. Lessons for older elementary and adolescent students are designed with real-world applications, allowing students to make connections across subjects and explore advanced topics and even future career possibilities.   

Your Child Will Learn From and Teach Others

Have you ever heard the expression “The best way to learn something is to teach it?” This happens every day in our Montessori classrooms. Children are grouped in three-year age spans. For example, children ages 3, 4, and 5 are all in the same class. Younger children observe older children working with, for example, Bead Bar Multiplication. They look up to and admire these older children who are doing all these incredible things. They want to emulate them and are motivated to learn to be just like them.

The Curriculum Adapts to Your Child

Most educational programs assume that all children who are born within a year of each other are capable of learning and doing the same thing at the same time. As we all know, that simply isn’t true! Many bright children are bored, and others, who need more time to learn, are left behind when we teach to the whole class. We recognize that each child has their own unique timetable for development and will learn different parts of the curriculum when they are ready. We teach to the individual needs of your child, not to the entire class or to a group of children.

Beautiful Classrooms Inspire Your Child to Learn

Our Montessori classrooms are beautiful and inviting. Materials are laid out on low, open shelves and call out to your child “Come touch me! Come explore!” From the toilets to the sinks to the tables, to the beginning materials to the advanced materials, all are made to fit perfectly into the hands of your young child. Everything supports your child’s developing independence and helps your child gain confidence. In the adolescent space, students have access to materials in the classroom as well as guidance, resources, and technology to explore the world beyond our space.

The Teacher Really Knows Your Child

“Follow the child” is the mantra uttered by all well-trained Montessori teachers. They are trained to observe and to support each individual child. They take the time to get to know your child’s strengths, challenges, interests, and who they are as a person. They plan lessons for your child based on their observations. Your child will be a member of a classroom community for multiple years, which affords the teacher the opportunity to know your child deeply, intimately, and well. Children feel seen, heard, and appreciated for who they are.

Did you know that many of the most successful and creative people are former Montessori Students?

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin (cofounders of Google)

• Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon)

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (former First Lady)

• Anthony Doer (author)

• Berry Brazelton (pediatrician and author)

• Julia Child (chef, author, TV personality)

• William Wright (creator of “The Sims”)

• Anne Frank (author)

• Beyoncé Knowles (singer)

• Stephen Curry (NBA player)

• Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Nobel prize-winning novelist)

• Yo Yo Ma (cellist)

• Katharine Graham (Pulitzer prize-winning author and former owner/editor of The Washington Post)

• Joshua Bell (violinist)