>The Children's House
Maria Montessori and the "Children's House"
Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870 and devoted her life to the study of children throughout the world. Physician, psychologist, philosopher and educator, Dr Montessori felt that education should be an aid to life and recognised the vital importance of the pre-school years. She believed that the young child's first experience of life outside the family should take place in a home-like setting. The "Children's House" responds to the young child's eagerness to explore and discover. Furniture and equipment are suited to the child's size and strength for comfort and independence. Interesting pictures and decorations are arranged at child's eye level. Here, 3,4,5, and 6 year old children work and play together as a small community, moving about freely, choosing from a wide range of activities. The atmosphere is industrious and happy and clear and reasonable limits ensure a feeling of security. In this setting, while acquiring many practical and intellectual skills, the children learn a sense of responsibility for themselves, respect for others and the ability to cooperate and share. They leave the children's House as confident and self-disciplined individuals able to think and act independently and creatively.