Montessori and Child Early Learning and Development Essay

Montessori and Child Early Learning and Development - Essay Example The Montessori approach in itself is scientific both in its aim and substance. The Montessori approach at the Early Years Foundation Stage offers children a chance to establish their motivation and exercise their independence within the favorable environment of the classrooms. The calm atmosphere, freedom within limits and respectful attitudes encourage and promote self-respect and self-esteem (Isaacs 2010, p. 78). This kind of environment promotes the development of the child’s personal, social and emotional aspects of his or her life. The Montessori approach offers a child a great opportunity to learn, explore and develop. The early years learning goals of children include the emotional, social, and personal development of the child, the child’s physical development, creative development, development of the child’s knowledge and understanding of the world and development of the child’s language communication and literacy. The Montessori approach provides a conducive environment, materials and activities for the sole purpose of achieving these primary goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is critical to have an understanding of a child’s development in order to have an understanding of the Montessori approach. According to Smith, Cowie, & Blades (2003, p. ... She believed that it was an escape from reality and was primitive. Jean Piaget, on the other hand believed that play had a role in the cognitive development of a child. He believed that adaptation depended on assimilation and accommodation processes and that children acted out an already established behavior, in play, and adapted reality to fit these. Vygotsys approach to play combined the cognitive and affective aspects of development. He believed that play is fulfillment of wish, not, however the isolated wishes, but generalized affects. He believed that the affective drive force behind play is the imaginary and illusory realization of the desires that are unrealizable, not with specific impulses but in a general sense to do with children’s mastery and confidence. He believed that play was the main source of development in children during preschool years. Clearly, based on the beliefs of Montessori, Piaget and Vgotsys, play is of great value in the development process of a c hild. In these paper we examine three activities that children can engage in and demonstrate how the Montessori approach supports the early learning and development d goals of a child. Three activities are analyzed closely. They include the rolling and unrolling of a mat, spooning grains and zipping and unzipping. Each of these activities has a sole purpose of enabling children enhance their learning and development and in the long run meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The learning should occur primarily due to the interests and abilities of the children and that any planning done for purposes of learning should take this aspect of development and learning into account. Unrolling and rolling of mat According to Montessori for there to be personal,