The idea of the Montessori method
Let's start with the fact that the tactics of development of the personal qualities of the child, according to the methods of the Italian teacher of the beginning of the last century, Maria Montessori, is based on non-interference. That is, the process of cognition of the surrounding objects, their physical qualities and purpose is given to the will of the smallest researcher. The role of the parents or the teacher in this is minimal and reduces, in practice, to observational.
There is, so-called, the cognitive "Montessori environment." It is a room in which there are classes with the child, arranged according to the age of the baby. Tables and chairs should be such that the child himself can move them on his own.
All educational toys located in the Montessori environment should be within reach - at eye level or extended arm. The baby himself decides what he wants to do at the moment, and the adult sitting next to him only observes his actions without interfering with them.
What are the developing toys according to the Montessori method?
What all the same highlights these items among similar ones? The fact is that the Montessori toys are wooden - they are made from precious wood, and are very well processed. The main principle of the author is the use of natural materials.
Therefore, in order to equip your child with such an evolving situation, you need to spend a considerable amount to fill it. But it is not necessary to do this in your home, because there are early development schools practicing the Methodology of Maria Montessori, which already has everything you need.
In the development centers of Montessori you can see such training materials:
- Geometric figures - the set includes a ball, a cylinder, a cube, pyramids, prisms, an ellipsoid, an ovoid, a cone. They teach the child skills in geometry and allow you to understand the properties of these figures.
- A box with spindles is two boxes, divided into sections, which are used to teach the child an account and a quantitative concept.
- Blue-red bars - ten bars for learning the account, which can be used for the simplest operations of subtraction, addition, division and multiplication.
- Very attract the attention of kids gold beads, which, like all of the above subjects teach the child the basics of mathematics.
- For the development of speech, letters from sand paper are used, which, thanks to touch, make it possible to memorize the material proposed for study. Metal tabs of various shapes are also used.
- Sensory development is carried out using frames with laces, various fasteners, bows and zippers. Red towers (give an idea of the magnitudes) serve the same purposes, the tower of pink color (the concept of "small", "big", "the biggest", "the smallest"), the brown staircase (gives the concepts of "thin", "thinner" , "Thick", "the thickest").
- Four different sets of cylinders - represent a whole system that teaches concepts about colors, sizes, sounds. Playing with them perfectly develops fine motor skills, which is very good for speech activity and prepares a hand for writing.
To home use are offered geometric frames-inserts, various lacing, cognitive inserts and sets for creativity. Today, there are a lot of shops where you can buy Montessori toys, including those you can buy in online stores. If you do not have such an opportunity, you can make some elements yourself .