Montessori kids are happier, more confident, and more successful
How to make the most of childhood:
It’s a well-documented fact that Montessori students have better literacy, numeracy, and executive functioning skills than other students. They perform better in reading and writing — and their social skills are above average, too.
Montessori students get uninterrupted time to work and focus, which leads to greater independence and self-direction.
They receive an education that makes them feel capable and confident that they can accomplish their goals.
This is why Montessori children become happier adults, even after just two years in this educational environment.
And beyond this data, when we walk into Montessori classrooms, we witness children performing “miracles” (i.e., normal activities for their developmental stages). They are deeply focused, working quietly by themselves or collaborating with others. You can see in their eyes how excited they are about life.
They’re not rowdy, messy, or only interested in goofing off. They’re living real lives, with real responsibilities and meaning.
And your children can do the same.
Making the most of childhood
As parents, we see our children doing many different things that are mystifying to us.
Your toddler suddenly needs to empty your dresser or a kitchen cupboard, throwing everything in a pile on the floor. Or they need to push your big kitchen chairs all over the house, no matter what’s standing in their way.
These moments can be cute… and a little frustrating. We rarely feel like cleaning up the kitchen before and after a meal, right?
But as random as these things may seem, Montessori observed the same behaviors and concluded that children have a developmental need to do challenging, effortful things. To grow up healthy, happy, and independent, they need to do these sorts of activities.
Montessori discovered that when children are given an environment in which they can exercise their independence safely, they experience deep focus, fulfillment, and joy. In fact, in a supportive environment, they spontaneously choose meaningful work over toys or playing pretend.
Therefore, our approach is all about giving a child as much access as possible to all the different aspects of growing up, from learning to walk, to learning how to dress for an interview. We want to make this process as joyful and self-directed as the toddler who can’t stay out of the cupboards (while keeping the child safe).
Our programs range from infancy to high school, and each one meets different developmental needs, based on the students’ stage of life.
We’ll dive into each of these in detail in our upcoming webinar. You can learn more here!
Here’s why we’re so excited about this:
Children love being challenged
When your child’s developmental needs are met, they…
Grow up happier, more confident, and with more independence. This means fewer tantrums, greater obedience, and a more positive experience for both of you.
Find joy in effort and delight in acquiring knowledge. They’re curious about the world and willing to do the work necessary to understand it.
Are kind to others. They believe in the goodness of humanity because they and those around them are embodying it.
Montessori schools are specifically designed to meet kids’ developmental needs — and that’s why so many Montessori kids achieve these outcomes.
But unfortunately, most of these schools are open at inconvenient hours and don’t invite parents to participate in their child’s education.
That’s why we built our own Montessori school — one that we feel good about sending our kids to every day.
Montessori for all
Up until now, a high-quality Montessori education wasn’t always accessible. Our mission is to make it so.
With 150+ schools around the world, plus virtual and homeschool options that are available to everyone, everywhere, we’re making Montessori mainstream.
So, if you’re asking…
What does effortful work look like at different stages of child development?
What does it mean for a baby or toddler to “work?”
What do we mean when we say that children are happier with work than with traditional play?
… you’ll love our upcoming webinar!
We’ll tell you more about our programs and approach (and how we don’t support children at the expense of parents) during the session. We’re excited to see you there!
☀️ This week’s bright spots:
If you have one minute… Watch this video and get ten activity ideas for high-energy toddlers.
If you have two minutes… Watch this video on frustration tolerance from Dr. Becky (@drbeckyatgoodinside).
If you want to go deeper into our philosophy… Watch
’s two wonderful talks on human development, and learn about Guidepost’s vision for what it means to build a new normal in education.