3 Skills Taught at Montessori Child Care Centers That Prepare Children for College Success
It may seem strange that a Montessori child care center can make college easier for your child. After all, college may be fifteen years away or more. However, early childhood is one of the most vital times in your child's life—children learn extremely quickly when they're very young, and developing good habits now helps to set your child up for future success. Read on for three major benefits that a Montessori education provides your child that can greatly aid in college success.
1. Knowledge of Which Academic Subject Areas Are Interesting
A Montessori child care center can aid your child in discovering what his or her true academic interests are. This is accomplished through the presence of structured workstations. Children can learn at whichever workstation best suits their interests and all workstations have an academic component. Other child care centers may not have much of an academic focus. Additionally, the Montessori philosophy never holds children back according to their age. Children who have a very focused interest in a single academic subject are allowed to utilize their strengths in their areas and learn advanced concepts beyond what is expected of their age.
When a child finds out what his or her favorite subject is at an early age, this can be a great help later on in college. Some students go to college without particularly knowing which major they want to focus in—this can lead to switching majors in the middle of their college careers when they finally find out what subject area interests them. Unfortunately, this can lead to a significant delay in how quickly a college student will be able to graduate. A child that finds his or her passion early can be more likely to go to college with a definite major in mind.
2. Time Management and Self-Regulation Skills
The most important skill a college student can have is the ability to self-regulate. Many students find themselves lost in the college environment because courses are less structured than they're used to in traditional K–12 schools. Montessori child care centers are more similar to college in that children are allowed to work at their own pace.
Much like college, deadlines exist in the Montessori philosophy. However, children are allowed to work on their tasks on a timetable that feels natural to them. They can either gradually work on their learning activities or mix quick bursts of intense effort with breaks in-between. This allows children to develop the ability to self-regulate their education and discover which style results in the best outcomes. It's a very useful skill in a college environment; students are often required to write papers or study for tests with very little supervision or reminders from their professors.
3. The Ability for Self-Directed Study
The ability to study independently is another very important skill for college students to acquire. At a Montessori child care center, the teacher acts more as a facilitator for a child's learning rather than a lecturer. Children develop the ability to learn on their own and accurately assess their comprehension of a subject. Many college students have had the experience of feeling confident about an exam only to discover their understanding of the subject matter was not as strong as they thought. When a student learns the ability to measure comprehension, it also allows them to know when they should ask the professor for clarification about a subject. Realizing when you understand the material and when you don't is a very useful skill in a college course.
Overall, a Montessori child care center can set your child up for college success by providing an environment that is very similar to college itself. Children learn the ability to direct their own education and realize where their talents lie. If you want your child to experience the benefits of the Montessori educational philosophy, contact a local Montessori child care center and ask when enrollment begins.