The Children's House

“Some persons complain that we give too few things to the children.  This is because they do not realize that what I do in fact is to give them the means to see better.  They confuse the keys to the universe with the universe itself”
Maria Montessori 
Montessori, Her Life and Work ​

Maria Montessori called her primary environment "Casa dei Bambini" which is Italian for the "Children's House."  Much like the home, the primary environment is designed to meet the developmental needs of the child between three and six years of age. The child receives an individualized education in the presence of a larger group dynamic.  As the child works to become an individual he learns his role and place in the larger society.  There is no set curriculum; using the scientifically designed materials the child works at his own pace exploring language, sensorial activities, mathematics, geography, art, music, biology, and practical life.  Working in a carefully prepared environment the child freely chooses activities that develop concentration, coordination of movements, and independence.  Ultimately, the child's strengthened judgment and will builds a solid foundation for the betterment of his character and personality, becoming part of him for the rest of his life.