Montessori teaching methods encourage the use of imagination to help children comprehend the world around them, but realistic imagination that’s grounded in reality.

Because fantasy and children are so connected in our culture, many parents or caregivers might squirm as they first hear about the Montessori concept. When the genuine philosophy is taught by a passionate practitioner, however, this reaction frequently changes. Continue reading to have a deeper understanding of this fascinating teaching method.

Many people believe that Montessori education discourages pretend play and imagination, yet this is a common misconception. Because very young children are unable to discern fantasy from reality, Montessori practitioners advise against introducing fantasy (think unicorns or pretend kitchen play sets) to them.

A Montessori school environment will provide a child a genuine, correctly sized broom and dustpan to teach them how to clean up a mess, rather than a pretend one, because younger children are typically more captivated by what they discover in the actual world.

Each stage of development encourages the child to drive their own exploration of the world and their place within it, as well as the development of real-world skills and knowledge. Toys, books, and activities that fall more squarely into the fantasy camp can be made available as the youngster grows older and is better able to separate reality from fantasy.

Montessorians (as they are known) do not discourage children from playing make-believe. They recognise the importance of pretend play in the development of a child’s imagination, which is at the heart of their creativity. Pretend play, on the other hand, should involve items that are deeply grounded in reality.