The Montessori Children's House: An Introduction
NAMTA's short introduction to the Children's House, written for parents of young children and built around one question: is Montessori education right for my child? 26 pages, soft cover, 2013 edition. Twenty six pages is a decision aid rather than a course, and that is the correct length for the moment it is written for, which is the evening before an open day rather than the first week of a training. Paper and cardstock.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The Montessori Children's House: An Introduction serves as a fundamental bridge between Montessori theory and classroom reality.
- Understanding the prepared environment's role in child development
- Recognizing key Montessori materials and their purposes
- Identifying developmental characteristics of 3-6 year olds
- Comprehending the role of the adult in the Children's House
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This NAMTA guide captures through photographs and clear text the essence of prepared environments designed for three-to-six-year-olds. Each page of this educational booklet reveals how Children's House classrooms meet the developmental characteristics unique to this age: the absorbent mind actively constructing knowledge, the drive for independence, and the sensitive periods for order, language, and sensory refinement. The photographic imagery in this introduction allows readers to observe real materials in use, demonstrating how each element of the Children's House responds to specific developmental needs. Through its comprehensive coverage, this booklet illuminates why multi-age groupings, child-sized furniture, and sequential material presentations create optimal conditions for self-construction. The guide's structure mirrors the Children's House itself, organized, accessible, and designed to reveal the interconnected nature of Montessori's educational approach.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Find a quiet space for focused reading. Have a notebook ready for observations and questions.
- 1
Begin with the introduction, noting key terminology
Create a glossary of Montessori terms as you encounter them - 2
Study each photograph carefully, observing material placement and child engagement
Notice how materials are arranged from left to right, simple to complex - 3
Read accompanying text while referencing the images
Mark sections that relate to specific developmental needs you've observed - 4
Review sections on daily routines and classroom flow
Sketch a simple floor plan based on the descriptions
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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