| This is the time of year when the parents of | | | | included in preschool programs. |
| many preschoolers must decide where their child | | | | I also like the fact that his classroom includes a |
| will attend school in the Fall. I wanted to take this | | | | wider range of ages so he has friends who are |
| opportunity to share my experience with | | | | both younger and older. In addition, he really |
| Montessori preschool education. | | | | enjoys having regular contact with the |
| My son is completing his second year in a | | | | elementary-age students who serve as both role |
| Montessori preschool program and attended from | | | | models and friends. |
| the age of 3 1/2. | | | | Finally, as a parent, I cannot stress enough the |
| I chose Montessori for several reasons. First, my | | | | benefits that a program like Montessori offers in |
| son is a bright, inquisitive child who already had a | | | | terms of life skills. All students are expected to be |
| sound grounding in recognition of his alphabet, | | | | responsible for their own personal hygiene as well |
| numbers, shapes, and colors before he started | | | | as maintenance and cleaning of the classroom and |
| preschool. I was worried that he might be bored | | | | food areas. While support is offered by adults and |
| in a more traditional preschool. Montessori's highly | | | | older children, even young children can learn to |
| individual program means he is always challenged | | | | clean up after themselves. It has certainly had an |
| and interested. In addition, my son is a very | | | | impact on my son's willingness and ability to help |
| active child and the Montessori program gives him | | | | out at home. |
| lots of opportunity for free play outdoors and | | | | Recently I compared preschool experiences with |
| indoors as well as more freedom to move about, | | | | a friend whose child is completing her second year |
| stand, or even lie on the ground while working on | | | | in what most people consider to be the top |
| his lessons in the classroom. | | | | preschool program in our community. We |
| In my opinion one of Montessori's great | | | | compared our children's skills to the checklist |
| advantages is the fact that the child drives the | | | | provided by our school district of 60 skills |
| educational experience. My son's interests and | | | | (including cognitive skills, listening and sequencing |
| abilities are what determines his unique educational | | | | skills, language skills, fine motor skills, gross motor |
| program and so his lessons may overlap but are | | | | skills, and social/emotional skills) that will help |
| not identical to those of his classmates. This | | | | children transition into kindergarten. My son has all |
| makes him an eager and motivated student. | | | | 60 skills while her daughter lacked skills in each of |
| The education program offered by Montessori | | | | the areas. |
| also includes many advantages. My son's | | | | I recommend every parent at least consider |
| experience includes the arts, math and science, | | | | Montessori for their child as it is a child-centered |
| language, and life skills. He regularly impresses our | | | | learning approach that can provide an excellent |
| friends and family with his knowledge of science, | | | | foundation for a child's future growth and learning. |
| sign language, and other areas not traditionally | | | | |