Do you know that children learn the best when they feel motivated and inspired? If you are a parent of a toddler who has started going to Montessori Sierra Madre, CA, you should encourage your child to explore and develop different skills. The concept of holistic learning encourages children to be confident, creative and independent learners. The main objective of this learning approach is to create a learning experience of exploration, self-improvement, and connection. This method fosters a love for learning through a childs interests. Children are encouraged to master their motor skills using art, clay, sculpting, nature, movement, books, music and mindfulness.
First, let's understand what holistic development is.
Holistic education is an approach to learning that highlights the value of the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of children, particularly in early childhood. This approach is based on the idea that every child has some unique needs and skills and they can be taught more naturally and engagingly.
Important aspects of including holistic education in Montessori curriculum:
- Holistic education helps kids to become more curious and develop better communication and social skills.
- Children feel encouraged to use their thinking and creative skills to make connections across subjects.
- Holistic education focuses on childrens psychological, social and emotional development.
- It makes the teaching-learning process more effective by making it a natural and engaging process.
- Children enjoy different learning experiences and feel motivated to participate in different activities to learn more.
- The holistic approach to learning allows the teacher to apply differentiation in class keeping each childs unique needs and skills in mind.
According Montessori Sierra Madre, CA, the following activities are helpful for the holistic development of the children.
Play with clay:
Exploring clay is an open-ended and sensory experience. Children can use their creativity and imagination to make different models [animals, houses, tree and different other objects] using clay. This type of creative practices enables children to exercise their imagination, ingenuity and problem-solving skills. They develop their motor skills while molding and manipulating the clay.
Singing and dancing to develop coordination:
Children love music. From their early childhood, they build a relationship with music and they are exposed to different expressions through sound. Singing and dancing speed up their cognitive development and improve their social and emotional skills. This type of fun activity helps children develop their mind and body coordination and stimulate brain development.
Yoga to improve motor and concentration skills:
Regular practice of yoga is very helpful for young children as it develops their concentration skills, gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and balance skills. Yoga also helps them to explore their bodies and make them physically strong.
Mirroring technique:
Montessori curriculum encourages kids to explore the mirroring technique to develop their self-esteem and communication skills.
Connect with nature:
In holistic education, nature plays a very important role. Children explore nature and try to connect with different natural objects. They also learn to take care of and explore the world around them. By exploring nature, children are exposed to the concepts of change, growth and the cycle of life.