The Essence of Montessori

I came across this video and had to share it. I love the look on the child’s face when he fits the knob cylinder into the correct hole. It is priceless and an authentic representation of why Montessori is so wonderful. He has not be coerced into fitting the cylinder in the correct hole by parent, teacher, or a noisy toy–no, he has discovered it on his own.

“Learning is a dynamic process in which the whole person of the child must be actively engaged. A free choice of activity which confronts the child with alternatives and which therefore teaches the child to become independent is the essence of Montessori.”