Prepared Environment Essay

420 Words2 Pages
he environment, like the teacher, is very important for the child's normalization. The smallest mistake can distract a child and impede his development. Montessori Method of Education fosters the physical, mental and social development of the child in a safe, peaceful, child-centered environment. Since a child constructs his mental powers by activity of the mind and body, and by absorbing from the environment in the early years of his life, a prepared environment built around the needs of the child that allows him to explore and discover freely is necessary for the proper mental development. Montessori also referred to the prepared environment as the “revealing” environment because such a context revealed a child’s true nature (i.e.,normality and the capacity for deep concentration). - The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult. (Maria Montessori. The Secret of Childhood, 1966.) The main goal of the prepared environment is to make the child independent from the adult. Since the child develops his mental powers by exploration and activities through his own efforts, the prepared environment is safe and simplified to allow the child to move around freely without help from the teacher. There is control of error built into each material that allows the child to be free of the adult, and detect his own mistakes and correct them. It prepares him for further learning in life with logical thinking and problem solving skills. Within the prepared environment, the child must experience freedom of movement, freedom of exploration, freedom to interact socially, and freedom from interference from others. This freedom ultimately leads to a greater freedom: freedom of choice.( namc) The classroom should have child-sized furniture, sinks and toilets to give the child the freedom to
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