Montessori Principles

Child's Work
The starting principle in the Montessori system is recognition of the psychic integration that takes place through work. A child's work is completely different from an adult's. Whereas the adult seek to affect their environment, a child simply follows an inner impulse or calling.

The Movement Towards Independence
The healthy child follows this inner guidance towards ever greater independence. The child's potential is more fully realized when he is permitted to follow this inner wisdom.

The Power of Attention and Concentration
A child must adjust to the power of attention. She learns to turn her attention towards an object and to hold attention on an object. Once this focusing or concentrating ability is learned, she tends to do this with an intensity and interest that engages her whole personality. Simultaneously, this act consolidates and develops her personality while continuing to construct a knowledge base of the 'known'. In this way a discerning interest replaces an instinctive interest.

Development of the Will
For the child beginning to understand the world, there is a growing confidence, balance, and sense of self-fulfillment. Decisions and actions develop the will through the slow evolution of work, independence, and attention. There are three stages in the development of the will:

1. Repetition of an activity achieves independence and power;
2. From the obvious satisfaction of repeating comes the achievement of self-discipline;
3. From the strength and power of self-discipline comes the willingness and ability to choose compliance with the forces of life.

The Development of Intelligence
"The beginning of intellectual development is the consciousness of difference or distinction in the environment." It is also the development of the capacity for abstraction. The child's reality, through his sense perceptions becomes organized into an orderly, abstract arrangement. This arrangement leads to an understanding of life.

Development of Imagination and Creativity
All of the above powers and developments pave the way for the capacity of abstraction that is the basis of creative endeavors. The capacity for selection and emphasis, distinguishing dominant characteristics, associating images, etc. are elements employed in creativity and imagination.

Development of the Emotional and Spiritual Life
Children are born into this world with a sensitivity and attunement to love, understanding, and beauty in their environment. While environmental stimuli play a key role in the development of intelligence, a child's emotional and spiritual nature requires the stimuli of other humans (e.g. the loving attention of a mother.) The child's attraction to these qualities is subtle and delicate and so calls for the protective shelter of love and understanding from adults.

Development in Growth Stages
Maria outlined five periods of growth. Each period (or stage) has its own strengths, challenges, and problems. Familiarity with them makes attunement to the child possible in each stage.

For more about the principles of a Montessori education, see Montessori: A Modern Approach.

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