Dr. Maria Montessori (1870–1952)
Maria Montessori
“Maria Montessori was the first female physician in Italy. A pioneer in observing child development, she demonstrated that children possess a natural capacity to learn, provided they grow up in a suitable environment.
From her work with children with difficulties, and later with the opening of the first Casa dei Bambini in Rome in 1907, she developed a pedagogy based on experimentation, observation, and respect for each child’s pace.”
Photo credit : Montessori AMI
His central belief is simple: the child builds himself. The role of the adult is then to prepare the conditions that allow him to act, explore and fully develop his abilities.
Throughout her life, she trained educators, wrote, and disseminated her research worldwide. Her pedagogy, based on autonomy, activity, and respect for child development, is now used internationally.
Learn more:
Website: AMS – Association Montessori Suisse
Website: Association Montessori Internationale
Montessori pedagogy
The fundamental principles of the Montessori method
Key ideas
Montessori education is based on an ambitious goal: to support the development of the child in order to help form a fulfilled adult, comfortable with himself, with others and in society.
The Montessori approach aims to support the natural development of the human being. It is based on the idea that a fully developed individual is better equipped to learn and find their place in the world. Before birth, the embryo guides its own development in utero. Montessori education is based on the principle that the role of the adult is to support the developmental forces already present in the child. This approach was developed through observation, without a pre-established model.
The key Montessori ideas, summarized here in three points, are derived from the scientific observation of children in different cultural contexts:
Four development plans
Ages 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24. Each period corresponds to specific needs:
1. In the first (0-6 years), self-development as an individual;
2. In the second (6-12 years), social development;
3. In the third (12-18 years), the emergence of adulthood and the construction of identity;
4. In the fourth (18-24 years), consolidation of a mature personality and orientation in the world.
Human tendencies
Human beings possess natural behavioral tendencies (exploration, experimentation, imagination, repetition, work, communication…) that allow them to adapt to their environment.
Sensitive periods
In each of the developmental planes, the child (or adolescent) possesses specific “sensitivities” to acquire a particular human trait. For example, a sensitivity that guides the child in language acquisition in the first plane (0-6 years) or in the development of a “moral compass” in the second plane (6-12 years).
Based on these discoveries, Dr. Maria Montessori set about developing an educational system designed to respond to this understanding of child development in a very concrete way: the Montessori pedagogy.
Montessori in practice
Respect for the child's individual pace
Each child develops at their own pace. The Montessori approach adapts to their needs, abilities, and level of maturity, without comparison or external pressure. This allows the child to consolidate their knowledge, gain confidence, and progress calmly in their learning.
Autonomy and self-confidence
The Montessori environment values the absorbent mind in children who learn naturally from their environment.
The child is encouraged to act independently: choosing their activities, manipulating objects, experimenting, and repeating. This structured freedom of action allows them to develop their autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and lasting confidence in their abilities. Learning then becomes a positive and rewarding experience.
The prepared environment
The Montessori environment is designed as a true pedagogical tool. Ordered, accessible, and adapted to the child’s size, it fosters concentration, freedom of movement, and engagement in activities. Each object has a specific function and contributes to the building of knowledge and skills.
Equipment that supports independence
Montessori pedagogy prioritizes the concrete over the abstract. Through scientific and sensory materials, the child manipulates, observes, experiments, and understands the concepts being addressed for themselves.
Self-correcting, it allows the child to identify and correct their mistakes independently, without relying on an adult. This helps them develop a constructive relationship with error and progress with confidence.
The role of the adult
In a Montessori classroom, the adult’s role is to observe, guide, and support learning without replacing the child. They do not impart knowledge directly, but rather support and accompany the child’s discoveries,
enabling each child to develop their own skills.
The environment is carefully prepared, materials are presented at the appropriate time, and support is tailored to each child’s needs to foster independence and concentration. All educators are trained and certified by the Association
Montessori Internationale (AMI), guaranteeing quality and adherence to the Montessori pedagogy.
Regulated freedom and the development of will
In Montessori, structured freedom allows each child to choose their activities and the duration of their engagement, according to their abilities and interests. This gradual freedom, guided by prior introductions, fosters self-
education and long periods of concentration. It takes place within a clear social and moral framework: respecting others, waiting one’s turn, taking care of the materials, etc.
Through this constant decision-making (free choice), the child learns to recognize and listen to their interests, to fully engage in their activities, and to interact with their peers, which directly contributes to the development of their willpower. It is
the balance between freedom and limits that forges their inner discipline, their sense of responsibility, and their awareness of the common good.
Montessori pedagogy – in practice
Why does Montessori work?
Here are the 8 central points validated by contemporary research:
“The major ideas developed by Maria Montessori are supported by a body of evidence in developmental psychology. None of the Montessori ideas that I consider central have been discredited. Others are not being researched.”
Montessori: The Science behind the Genius, by Angeline S. Lillard, PhD