The whole child development as applied in kindergarten in Singapore using the Montessori approach has boomed in popularity as one of the ways to prepare children for the future. Nevertheless, the part and force of parental engagement in the rise of Montessori learning experience is amid to be unnoticed. This piece examines the true nature of the role that parent engagement plays in the education of children within Montessori schools, considering the mutual partnership formed between the parents and educators.
Understanding the Montessori Philosophy
At Montessori schools, child-focused learning is emphasised more than anything else, and freeing the child, sparking imagination, and exploring oneself are the three aspects that are given so much significance. Students are allowed to take the initiative while studying and take responsibility for lessons. Thus, this approach is a tool to make children discover and eventually start to learn successfully throughout their lives.
A fundamental element of a Montessori approach is that the classroom consists of a multi-age group. Students of various age groups are allowed to collaborate and develop their interpersonal skills within the same classroom setting. With this type of organization, older students become role models and tutors for their younger peers. Through this, young children can easily learn from older children’s examples and life attitudes. Additionally, this learning environment generates a more social collective where students help each other while building relationships, enhancing both emotional and academic learning.
Practical educational materials constitute the basis of the philosophy of the Montessori method, which effectively allows for experiential learning with the help of hands-on practical tools. The children participate actively and gain new knowledge and skills while doing practical activities with manipulative materials which have been specially designed to make such subjects more interesting.Â
Importance of Parental Role to Kid’s Success
Creating a Supportive Environment: Parents shoulder the big part of the work regarding the environment at home which is required to be fully supportive of the Montessori rules and learning philosophy. Through creating a supportive environment in which the children are treated with care, they achieve their learning goals successfully.
Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom: Talking and doing at home, like discussing homework, and participating in classroom-related activities keep teachers at home constantly learning. Questioning the world around them and trying to engage in it outside the classroom walls will help the children develop a deep abiding interest in learning which will last a lifetime.
Partnership with Educators: Parent’s cooperation with teachers can facilitate access to parents with more details about their child’s performance at school and enable them to adjust the support in accordance with the child’s needs. Parents imply this by maintaining open communication and actively carrying out school activities, thus depicting themselves as true partners in their child’s education.
Encouraging Independence: Home is where children learn to value time management by handling their own chores reinforcing the teaching process at the Montessori classroom that leads to their sense of independence and self-reliance. Giving kids a chance to exercise self-control, to select what is right, to solve a problem and to manage their responsibility increases the likelihood of them growing into individuals who are capable and resilient.
Enhanced Communication Skills: The constant interactions between parents and teachers are key that opens the dialogue and provides solid support for children’s all-around growth. Through exchange of information on strengths and weaknesses, and achievements accomplished, parents as well as school supporting staff learn a lot which forms a teamwork strategy for the education of students.
Final Thoughts
With the Montessori method constituting one of the fundamental approaches in kindergarten in Singapore, parental participation assumes the role of a mainstay in the learning experience of the student. School adequately brings parents and teachers together as one team to ensure that children of Montessori schools in Singapore get the enabling environment needed for maximum development. Parents and teachers are the primary characters who go through the whole process of the journey of exploration, discovery and learning together with their Montessori learners.