Montessori

Dr. Maria Montessori developed the "Montessori method" in the early 1900's from her scientific studies of the child's true nature.

She observed that young children who were free to explore and engage in activities in a well-ordered environment showed qualities such as spontanteous self-discipline, love of order, concentrated attention and interest to intellectual activity. Maria Montessori believed in educating the whole child and therefore looked at ways to stimulate all developmental needs often using materials that worked on many levels simultaneously.

Building a tower of bricks in varying sizes, worked on levels of dimension, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, preparation for future work in mathematics, stimulation of language (cube, biggest, smallest, bigger, smaller etc), observation of the environment etc.

Maria Montessori saw each child as a unique individual and noted how each one developed at their own rate. She noted how adults should be facilitaters in a child's education but not mould them or pass on our own prejudices. Allow the child to create his own being.

	She believed that movement was paramount to the education of the mind and encouraged practical life activities. These everyday activities can help the child in achieving independence through being able to do things for himself.
Activites such as pouring, baking, wiping tables etc. also concentrate on the use and refinement of different muscles and motor skills. Learning to get dressed unaided, may seem like a mundane task, but it is actually a major challenge and also a spur to progress.
	Being able to do this and other everyday skills such as eating with a knife and fork and cleaning ones self or surroundings are important for every child.

Together with healthy eating and lots of sleep, plenty of activity in a child's life is essential for growth.

YogaBeez incorporates the philosophies of both YogaKids and Montessori and is aware of the child's essential needs. It encourages physical exercise, relaxation and looks to stimulate the child in all areas of development simultaneously.

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YogaKids and Montessori: An Integrative Approach

By Janice Kominar, CYKF, Montessori Directress and Trainer, Canada

It is not surprising that I was led to YogaKids as a result of my attempt to introduce yoga to my preschool classroom as part of my Peace Education Curriculum. In preparing for a workshop I presented on the subject, I was astounded by the opportunities presented to integrate YogaKids into all areas of the classroom.

The Montessori environment is rich in activities for both individual and group participation. It also provides many opportunities for the exploration and appreciation of the natural world around us. In addition, educating for peace has become an integral and necessary part of our environment today, an area Maria Montessori herself urged us to focus on.

Maria Montessori spent many years living and teaching in India and Sri Lanka. Her "Game of Silence" has become an important part of the Montessori curriculum and an important part of educating all children. By introducing meditation through YogaKids, we further help the child to gain awareness and focus.

Montessori strives to provide environments in which future leaders can evolve. YogaKids is a beautiful complement to these environments.

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