Principles Underlining Practical Life Exercises and How They Foster Independence in Children: Dr Maria Montessori
Q: Montessori in the Absorbent Mind writes that “the hands are instruments of man’s intelligence”. It is therefore critical that children develop the ability to control and coordinate their hand muscle so that these can come into contact with the environment in intelligent ways.
Discuss the principles underlining the practical life exercises and how it fosters independence in children.
Dr Maria Montessori was the founder of Montessori Method of education. She devised a method of education which combines a philosophy with practical approach based on the central idea of freedom for the child within a carefully planned and structured environment. She divided the area of study into five, namely -practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics and culture
The first area is practical life area. The Montessori practical life exercises are considered as the corner stone of Montessori Method of education .They are designed to teach children life skills .It helps the child to develop intelligent and responsible contact with his surroundings. Maria Montessori developed her philosophy of education based upon actual observations of children. To implement this philosophy, she found out a scientific way of observing the children and helping them to do self construction. Dr: Maria Montessori put forward an entirely different method of education from all other methods of education. Her method is child centric. According to Montessori philosophy child is born with a potential needed for his own maximum possible development. The two external things he needed are freedom and environment which is rich in stimulating materials for his growth and development of his personality.
According to Maria Montessori the child is not an empty vessel to be filled with our knowledge ,instead he is blessed with an un realized potential, which is not visible at birth and has to be unfolded for development to happen, it has to come out through education. It has to be
Discuss the principles underlining the practical life exercises and how it fosters independence in children.
Dr Maria Montessori was the founder of Montessori Method of education. She devised a method of education which combines a philosophy with practical approach based on the central idea of freedom for the child within a carefully planned and structured environment. She divided the area of study into five, namely -practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics and culture
The first area is practical life area. The Montessori practical life exercises are considered as the corner stone of Montessori Method of education .They are designed to teach children life skills .It helps the child to develop intelligent and responsible contact with his surroundings. Maria Montessori developed her philosophy of education based upon actual observations of children. To implement this philosophy, she found out a scientific way of observing the children and helping them to do self construction. Dr: Maria Montessori put forward an entirely different method of education from all other methods of education. Her method is child centric. According to Montessori philosophy child is born with a potential needed for his own maximum possible development. The two external things he needed are freedom and environment which is rich in stimulating materials for his growth and development of his personality.
According to Maria Montessori the child is not an empty vessel to be filled with our knowledge ,instead he is blessed with an un realized potential, which is not visible at birth and has to be unfolded for development to happen, it has to come out through education. It has to be
Bibliography: 1. Dr: Maria Montessori :The Absorbent mind (Kalakshetra Publication 1949). ( Clio press –Oxford, England - 1987). (Modern Montessori international-2007).