6 Key Elements of Montessori Learning with Westwood Montessori School

‘Children freely working and making their own choices, that then allows them to work and develop how they need’ – Dr Michelle Wisbey, Headteacher of Westwood Montessori School.

When we first met the team at Westwood Montessori school in 2018, we were so excited to learn all about Montessori learning in the early years of education. We recently caught up with Head Teacher Michelle Wisbey and Teacher Liz Barclay to find out more about Montessori play and learning in school and at home – here’s what we found out…

What is Montessori learning?

Essentially, Montessori uses a skills-based approach to learning, in that children can make their own choices by choosing the learning activities they need, how they need to work, and how they want to play. The philosophy is to let your child pave the way and learn from your child.

What is the importance of the Montessori approach?

This approach to learning helps foster intrinsic motivation in the child. This is when inspiration comes from within the child themselves, rather than being driven to play or do specific tasks from extrinsic factors outside of themselves—for example, completing an activity because they enjoy it or want to learn more, rather than to get praise from an adult.

Montessori at home

Key Elements of Montessori Learning:

1. Children Lead the Way

The Montessori approach centres on the idea that children should be in charge of their learning. This approach allows children to explore and discover through hands-on learning and self-directed activity.

Children will instinctively know how they would like to learn and develop; every child develops differently in their unique way.

As adult role models, we must provide a safe environment and freedom for children to explore and ask questions.

Children playing outdoors with Plum Create and Paint Easel

2. An Accessible Environment

When speaking to Liz Barclay, a teacher from Westwood Montessori School, she explained how Montessori encourages everything to be accessible to children so they can reach and explore independently without always needing to ask an adult.  

Ensure that toy boxes are at your child’s level so they can reach for the things they would like and learn to help put things away after playtime.

Having Montessori furniture can help make the environment accessible to little ones. This doesn’t need to be specialist Montessori infant furniture. Simply child-size furniture, like chairs and picnic tables, helps encourage independence and makes the environment accessible to your little one as the furniture is low enough to the ground so that they can go and sit and move it by themselves without needing to ask a grown-up.

Ideally, they should be able to reach as many things as possible within their environment, from chairs to cutlery and wardrobes to wax crayons, so that they can get involved in daily life and develop independence and self-resilience.

Children at picnic table

3. Mixed Age Groups

Children can learn from those older and help teach those younger. Montessori highlights the importance of learning from others and helping others. When playing with other children, especially children of various ages, little ones can learn to share, take turns, and teach and support others.

Going out for a walk to the local park so your little one can interact with other children or inviting your child’s friends and family over to play on your garden playcentre is a great way to encourage this at home.

Children playing on Plum playcentre

4. Encourage Your Child to Try Things for Themselves

Help them to help themselves. Encourage children to try things hands-on and give them the freedom to explore and test things out.

Liz, from Westwood Montessori, explained how important it is for adults to encourage and praise the whole process when children try things, not just praise them for the end result. This enables children to persevere and be more willing to try something again in the future.

Let your child be independent and responsible. Trust that they will try and work things out for themselves but be there to support and answer questions if they need a helping hand.

Children in Plum Discovery Nature Play Hideaway Cubby

5. Care For Themselves, Others and The Environment

Montessori learning values teaching children how to care for themselves, be kind to others and nurture plants and animals in their environment.

For example, food preparation helps them develop cooking, literacy and numeracy skills.

Growing vegetables or caring for a pet teaches them how to nurture and be compassionate and kind to animals and encourages love and respect for nature.

Child with sunflower

6. Encourage Creativity and Imagination

Allow little ones to be creative and use their imagination. Encourage wonder and expression through arts and crafts, music, dancing, language and questioning.

Child playing with Plum Discovery Create & Paint Easel

Thank you for reading part one of our Montessori blog with Westwood Montessori, looking at the key elements of Montessori learning.

Look out for the next blog post, where we’ll delve deeper into the skills Montessori can help your child develop. We’ll also give you some ideas on incorporating Montessori ideas at home and some fun activities you can try with your little one.

Find out more about Westwood Montessori and the Montessori method here.

Trampoline fun with Zara’s Play Tribe

We just love Zaras amazing play ideas and her creative ways to use her new Plum 8ft Trampoline are no exception. Check out her latest blog post below:

Ok, so we love the trampoline but why? Encouraging Aidan and Evie to use their gorgeous energy in a positive way is HARD, especially when we are stuck at home. Have the trampoline as a crazy zone outlet is just perfect for the moments when they need to bounce off the walls…because they literally can!

Physical exercise is not only something my kids love it is a necessity! Did you know the Australian Department of Health states ‘ Preschoolers (aged 3 – 5 years) should spend at least 180 minutes a day in a variety of physical activities, of which 60 minutes is energetic play such as running, jumping and kicking and throwing, spread throughout the day.’

That is 3 HOURS! EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!

Stuck for ways to play on your trampoline?

Here are just a few that will not only inspire your active children but will make them laugh too! I use a lot of these, especially in the cooler months as it encourages the kids to move outside and keep their bodies moving!

BALLOON PARTY

You can do this with 1 balloon or 20, it really doesn’t matter! The way the balloons jump, bounce and float within the trampolines safety enclosure is just so much fun! Throw them to friends, try and jump on them, whatever you feel like!

WATER BALLOON JUMP

Although this balloon was very hard to pop, I recommend doing it on a warm day! This is a 90cm latex balloon from our local party store. I filled it with water, tied the top and let the kids at it. It ended up taking 3 hours for this one to pop, that is three hours full of jumping, crashing and giggling. This also works with standard balloons but of course you can’t fill them with quite this much water. Check it out

DRAWING

Have you ever tried drawing on your trampoline with chalk? The colours are SO vibrant! Draw some shapes, jump on the shapes until they disappear and then start again. If it is a warm day, grab the hose once you have finished and get the kids to clean the trampoline!

TRAMPOLINE BED

Too cold to go outside? Take your doona and some pillows and make a warm and cosy trampoline bed. Don’t forget some books and maybe even a nice warm cuppa! Be warned though, there is a high possibility this will turn into a game of ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed’.

SPRINKLER TRAMPOLINE The perfect summer game, those days when it is too hot to run around but there is still lots of energy trapped inside us! Pop a sprinkler under your trampoline and GO!

For even more fun play ideas be sure to check out Zara’s Instagram @zaras_play_tribe

Activities for Kids To Do This Summer

Keeping up with children and their endless supply of toys can seem at times a little overwhelming.

Spring cleaning is unbearable enough as it is, without the thought of trying to de-clutter your child’s toy box. That’s why in MyDeal.com.au recent blog, ’5 Genius Ways To Organise Your Home From Aussie Experts’ our top tip to organisation is to clean as you go, this way it doesn’t all have to be done in spring.

Children are continually outgrowing their toys; trends are changing and they want the next ‘it toy’ to play with. So instead of hanging onto the half-broken doll houses and swings that have sat in the back cupboard for the past three years, and are now completely covered in dust- why not get rid of them?

Plum are the active play specialists providing the fuel for active imaginations to flourish and grow. Our range of products offer quality toys, at affordable prices and are unique in that they teach balance and coordination in physical play, while also giving presence to a pretend and fun-filled fantasy world.

Providing for boys and girls of all all ages, be they 18 months or 18 years Plum has the toys for you!

Stuck with ideas on what to get your children heading into this warmer weather? Look no further we have you covered.

  1. Encouraging children to incorporate physical activity into play is critical for brain development, so check out our range of Trampolines. With colours and sizes to suit all ages, this toy is sure to get used all summer long. You can also choose between buying an in-ground trampoline or getting enclosures to ensure your children are kept safe if your busy inside cooking.
  1. All childhood memories include a sand pit, so why not get your child one this summer. Our range offers affordable prices that won’t take up too much room in your backyard. You can even check out our Plum Palm Beach Wooden Sand Pit that offers shelter from the sun so your little one won’t get burnt.
  1. If you’re too busy to bring your child to the park, why not bring the park to them? Creating a safe environment to play in, your children can get their very own Play Centres right in their backyard. With the option to choose from a range of sizes, it’s sure to keep your child active this summer and it’s a toy that won’t go unused!

By keeping on top of your children’s clutter, and investing in toys that they will get plenty of use out of will save you from the dreadful annual spring clean, and will give you more time to spend with your littles ones.