It gained popularity worldwide because it is child-centred in developing independent growth and thinking or creativity. A Montessori playgroup in Singapore offers guided learning while allowing children to discover and learn through self-directed search and study. If you seek to enrol your child in a Montessori playgroup, particularly in a private preschool in River Valley, Singapore — here are a few things you should know beforehand. You need to understand what makes the Montessori method unique and how that could help your child’s early years of development.
What is a Montessori Playgroup?
Montessori playgroups are aimed at principles Dr. Maria Montessori developed to encourage independence, accountability, and children’s universal instinct for exploration. While other forms of play-based learning environments are pretty rigid, this set-up provides a structure but is flexible to the extent that it allows the child to learn at their own pace.
Due to their nature, they aid the child in working out abstract concepts using manipulation. For example, blocks in different shapes and sizes help the child work out mathematical concepts. Aside from that, practical life activities like pouring water or buttoning a shirt also teach the child more about life skills. Most differ from other early childhood programmes because, at the Montessori playgroup level, the children can choose which activities they want to engage with and work on independently or in small groups, developing a strong sense of autonomy from a very early age.
Why Choose Private Preschool in Singapore?
There are many benefits to choosing a private preschool in Singapore and one with a Montessori playgroup. Private preschools generally have a limited class size, which means giving more attention to each child. For the Montessori approach, this is ideal since the overall method is one of personalised learning paths. The teachers observe every child’s progress and guide them without interfering with their independent discovery process. This development will build up confidence and a love for learning.
On top of that, private preschools in Singapore typically provide more comprehensive facilities and resources to enhance the learning of your child. This is especially so if you are looking into a preschool in River Valley, Singapore, branded for great early childhood centres. As such, these preschools have a quiet environment — the other hallmark principle of the Montessori philosophy that allows children to concentrate more on their activities with fewer distractions.
Private schools in Singapore, including private preschools can count on involved parents. A Montessori program ensures that the progress is holistic, so they are always up to date through consistent communication between teachers and parents. Progress reports and scheduled parent-teacher meetings ensure this interactive environment towards being informed and keeping tabs on milestones and problems which might assail the child.
What to Expect from a Montessori Playgroup in River Valley
If you are interested in the Montessori playgroup at River Valley, Singapore, expect to be part of a lively community of experts holding up a holistic curriculum. The Montessori curriculum covers practical life, sensory activities, language, mathematics, and cultural studies. Practical life educates children on mastering everyday tasks to become more independent and self-disciplined. Sensory activities sharpen the observation and categorisation abilities.
Hands-on activities bring in the language and mathematics. In language, children work with sandpaper letters so that when they come across a particular letter, they understand the phonetics, reading and writing. Mathematics children work through materials that will help them conceptualise abstract ideas such as addition and subtraction. In including self-correcting tools, Montessori allows a child to apply critical thinking and problem-solving without falling into patronisation by an outside adult.
The Montessori playgroup brings a lot of outdoor learning activities to children, exposing them to nature and how they apply their learning to real situations. Therefore, the combination of structured and unstructured learning makes the learning process diverse, dynamic, and meaningful for young learners.
Advantages of Montessori Education Among Young Learners
The Montessori playgroups in Singapore are a springboard for lifelong learning. Overall, children from Montessori programs present significantly better social abilities, problem-solving skills and behaviour. They learn through intrinsic motivation. They want to learn because they are interested in the subject and not for external rewards like praise or grades. They derive a great sense of satisfaction and pride in their accomplishments.
Additionally, Montessori playgroups remind children about respect for others and nature. They learn to cooperate, share, and enjoy the diversity of skills within their group. The class environment is calm and orderly; it fosters the capacities of the children to focus on their tasks and appreciate the materials and people around them.
The choice of the educational path for your child is precarious, and a playgroup in Singapore, which has a Montessori orientation, would present an excellent option for the development of young children. Montessori’s education centres on three main principles: independence, discovery through the senses and learning in a child-centred way. Hence, it can further the potential of each child within private preschools in Singapore or River Valley options of the same kind.
Want to give your child that head start with a Montessori education? Visit Brighton Montessori today and learn more about how our programs can benefit your child’s development.