Montessori Playgroup
The years
between birth and three are regarded by Montessori Educators as
the most formative.
The
Montessori Playgroup run by the
Northern Montessori Community Group, is a playgroup for
parents/carers and their young children (aged 1-3 years) to engage in
interesting and interactive Montessori based activities.
The program is designed for one adult to attend per child.
The Program Director is available at the session to guide and
support individuals and the group about the use of Montessori
materials and the principles of Montessori education.
Normal
activities enjoyed at all Playgroups such as painting, singing
and stories are readily available, however, the program
emphasizes the following:
Practical Life skills: These activities improve
concentration and help to develop orderly work patterns. They
also help to develop the large and smaller muscles of the arm
and hand, eg basic personal and social skills and everyday home
life activities, i.e. pouring, spooning and cleaning activities
etc.
Sensory
Experiences: These activities allow exploration of the
senses by isolating and focusing on one at a time, e.g. feeling
and matching different textures of fabrics whilst blindfolded,
matching different scents in a set of smelling jars, tasting
different foods, e.g. sour, sweet or bitter
Language: These experiences help to develop listening and
speaking skills, pre-writing and pre-reading experiences, e.g.
insets for design help to build up the fine motor skills needed
for writing.
Music
and Movement: Usually in group time - songs, dance, use of
musical instruments.
Maths
Experiences: Use of concrete materials to develop skills in
sorting, order, shape, basic counting etc.
Cultural: Learning about the world - botany, zoology,
history and geography experiences as well as art and craft
Each of
these subjects has its own particular equipment to be used and
learned in order. Children set their own learning pace and the
equipment is designed to be self correcting. Each activity is
gradually introduced starting with practical ones.
These
activities such as pouring water, squeezing juice and grating
carrots reflect daily life and are designed to improve a child's
fine motor skills, standing them in good stead for learning to
write. A child then continues on, broaching subjects designed to
improve a child's senses and knowledge. Cultural Studies for
example cover a wide horizon with exercises such as puzzle maps,
animal pictures and plant cycles to name but a few.
Each of
the activities build up very gradually in the skills required.
Other activities are designed to help develop skills necessary
for more advanced activities, which Maria Montessori termed
"Indirect Preparation". For example, the pincer grip required
for writing (i.e. holding a pencil) is aided by practical life
activities (e.g. using tweezers to pick up objects; threading
beads; use of an eye dropper; puzzles and cylinder blocks with
knobbed tops; and cutting with scissors). These activities help
to develop the small muscles in the hand needed for writing.
Socially,
children are free to interact together. They are not forced to
join in any group activities or to share activities with others.
It is the Montessori way for children to take turns with
materials or equipment which helps to develop respect for the
needs of others.
Session Times ;
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
(during school term only & not on public holidays)
Session Routine
Monday (12month
onwards)
|
9:30 |
Welcome, then
Carer/Child one-on-one working time |
|
10:20 |
Active play (inside) |
|
10:55 |
Group snack time
(shared fruit) |
|
11:15 |
Music Time & Goodbye |
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
(for 2-3 year olds)
|
9:30 |
Welcome, then
Carer/Child one-on-one working time |
|
10:30 |
Snack Time |
|
10:50 |
Physical Play
(outside if weather permits) |
|
11:05 |
Group/Music Time |
|
11:30 |
Session Ends |
One
of the program's major aims is to educate the carer about
Montessori education. For more detailed information about the
basic concepts that are applied in the Northern Montessori
Community Playgroup, please ask the Director for an
Information Pack which includes a comprehensive reading list.
General Room Guidelines - Two's Plus
-
It is expected that one adult is present
per child, i.e. it is a 'one-on-one' program. Thus, other
children/siblings need care somewhere else. (Young immobile
babies are okay)
-
In the first hour of the program where
free choice of activities is offered, it is usually a time
of one-on-one child/carer focused activities. This works
best if the room is quiet and calm.
-
Encourage your child to tidy and put away
their activity once finished with it. It's okay to help your
child do this.
-
Please let your child feel free to choose
an activity at their own pace and of their own level
interest.
-
Green mats are for floor activities, eg
puzzles. This allows the child personal space, at the same
time, also making others aware of that space. This
encourages children to learn about respect for each other.
-
Children are encouraged to be gentle with
each other and take care of the environment and the
materials within it.
-
The adult's job is to observe and gently
guide the child toward work if she appears to be searching
or is unsettled.
-
Please encourage your children to do
things for themselves. It makes them feel good about
themselves and it also helps with learning new skills, e.g.
washing own dishes after snack time & sweeping the floor.
-
You will notice that there are everyday
household items in the room. This includes glassware and
sharp knives. The reason for this is to provide children
with the opportunity to learn to handle and respect these
materials in the appropriate way. They can understand that
glass is fragile and will usually break if dropped and
knives are sharp and can 'cut' if not used properly. It is
expected especially with the knives that they are well
supervised.
-
Please demonstrate the procedure of an
activity before the child attempts it.
