The Montessori Philosophy
Dr. Maria Montessori, a legendary innovator, was the first female physician in Italy. Through scientific observation, she analyzed how children learn, particularly from their environment. In 1907, she founded the first Casa dei Bambini in the city of Rome where she began her lifelong quest in observing children, thus creating a prepared environment designed to facilitate maximum independent learning and exploration by the child.
Maria Montessori believed that during the first six years of life, the child experiences a series of “sensitive periods”. Between the ages of three and six, children are in the developmental sensitive period for language, good manners, order and sensorial refinement. During this period, children show great interest and power to receive particular stimuli, where they learn faster and effortlessly. Casa dei Bambini takes advantage of these sensitive periods by providing children with the natural learning tools at the appropriate stage of their development.
Dr. Montessori’s philosophy is based on the principle that children learn best within an environment prepared to nurture and enhance each child’s unique development. At Casa dei Bambini, rather than following a fixed program or schedule, children learn through work with specialized educational materials that captivates their attention, inviting them to explore, manipulate and discover.
Fundamental to the Montessori theory is the multi-age classroom that includes children from the ages of 3 to 6. The Casa dei Bambini teachers intensely follow each child and present carefully designed lessons and materials as the child is ready. Children are free to engage in independent exploration or to work in small groups, learning from and sharing with one another. Through these self-paced activities, children learn how to learn.
Casa dei Bambini is not intended to just be a school, but also a community – a miniature society in which children live and work cooperatively in a highly social atmosphere of freedom and structure founded on respect. Each child is allowed the freedom to express his/her unique personality and each child is respected as an important member of the community. The children learn to honor a few carefully chosen classroom guidelines. Beyond that, they are free to work independently or with others as they choose. The child in the Casa dei Bambini develops inner discipline, a sense of responsibility to other members of the class, school and community and the ability to make independent decisions. Inspired by Maria Montessori’s vision to create a better and more peaceful world by nurturing the spirit of each child, Casa dei Bambini offers an oasis for children to learn and grow.
