The Role of Montessori Education in Child Development

Abstract:
Preschool education has a great role in the development of children. Montessori school is one of the schools that has a great role in child development. The main purpose of the article is to explain the pedagogical features of Montessori education, the main principles of this education and its impact on child development. Maria Montessori, the founder of Montessori education, was an Italian physician, educator and innovator. The main features that distinguished her approach from other approaches were that the child learns by making mistakes independently and drawing conclusions from these mistakes, giving children freedom of choice, game-based learning, based on children's joint activity, and the teacher as a facilitator. Montessori noted that children have 4 stages of development. Each of these stages is described in detail in the article. Montessori training serves 3 main goals: motor training, affective training and language training. The principles of Montessori education are reflected in the article: respect for the child, absorbent mind, sensitive periods, comprehensive education, individualized learning, movement, freedom of choice, prepared learning environment, intrinsic motivation, and the principle of independence. Montessori education plays an important role in child development. Thus, this training forms independence and self-confidence in children, develops critical thinking skills in them, supports social skills and emotional development in children. In addition to developing creative thinking and imagination in children, it instills problem-solving skills and a love of learning at the same time. The Montessori method, which develops children's fine motor movements, also leads to language development in them.

Keywords: Montessori, Independent learning, Facilitator, Motor learning, Affective learning, Language learning.