Movement and Montessori are intertwined. This is because movement is linked to freedom and respect which is are core Montessori principles. Movement allows freedom to choose, to socialise, to take in information and express ourselves. Children in a Montessori environment do not require permission to move as do other traditional classroom settings, as it is incorporated into the purposeful activities that the children choose from.
The benefits of exercise for the human mind are well documented. Maria Montessori observed the link between movement and cognitive function and this has been scientifically verified. Movement optimises learning significantly, particularly when it is combined with language.
An example of an unexpected Montessori activity incorporating movement and language, is when a child learns about the verb in a Montessori grammar lesson. The child, often accompaied by a friend, reads a verb word card at a mat. They then perform the action, demonstating their comprehension through movement of their body, as well as through saying the word.
Movement increases focus and concentration in children as it provides the opportunity for children to understand a concept deeply. Abstract concepts such as land and water forms can be viewed in a book. However, if you have a model that you can pour water into, as in the Montessori land and water form material, you can see where the water goes, to create an archipelago or a system of lakes. Children are wired to move. Static activities can mean that children seek movement in other ways not related to the task at hand, breaking the concentrated state.
Movement is certainly a building a block of a health 0-6 year old child. Not only is a child developing their muscles, but they are learning to coordinate and control their movement. The ability to inhibit and control movement is a learnt skill, and there is a whole set of practical life activities devoted to it. Coordination and control of movement can only be honed through practice, hence the Montessori activities are supporting the child's development.
A key component of communication in later learning is writing. The child requires control of the hand to write and to manipuate the objects that they learn from. This practice happens through all of the inbuilt movement activities in the Montessori environment.
Importantly, in a preschool environment, movement builds social skills. Through moving around the classroom as they go about their activity, the children's interaction spontaneously occurs. Stopping to chat with a peer on the way back to the shelf, having your eye caught by soemone else's interesting work, excusing yourself to walk by are all opportunities to interact and talk.
Lastly, movement allows a child to seek what interests them. This leads to choosing activities that suit their needs, which in turn fosters independence.
Comments