Montessori philosophy comes to North Kildonan

New day care opens this fall

Visiting Kildonan’s newest nursery school, North Kildonan Montessori at 1115 Roch St., is guaranteed to leave parents thinking, “I’ve never seen a day care like this.”

Besides feeling like a giant amongst miniature tables, chairs, library shelves, and even toilets and brooms, parents will probably be wondering where all the stereotypical kid stuff has gone.

At Montessori, there is no Snakes and Ladders, Barbies, race cars or Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Instead there are row upon row of “activities” that aim to teach children – ages two-and-a-half to five – skills that will help them integrate into the real, confusing world that surrounds them.

In the “practical life” activity area, kids can learn how to clean glasses, fold napkins, polish shoes, arrange flowers, transfer water using a sponge and the basics of pouring a material from one container into another (at first using beads, then sand, then water).

“Montessori is very different from a regular preschool,” said Candace McRea, the director of North Kildonan Montessori, which will begin operations this fall.

This, she says, is because of Maria Montessori and her philosophy that “children become the things they love.”

That’s why, at Montessori, computers are used not for games, but for teaching kids how to use digital cameras.

Montessori, a doctor and teacher who lived in Italy in the late 1800s, believed that early childhood education is the most crucial time for a person to learn.

She believed that a supportive , independent, and diverse environment gives children the opportunity to learn and grow.

From these philosophies comes a variety of alternative methods of teaching young students.

For example, Montessori teachers will avoid giving children time limits when involved in an activity.

“We allow them the time that they need to feel comfortable to complete an activity in a non-pressured environment,” said McRea.

Most activities have a variety of difficulty levels and a ways for students to realize for themselves when they have successfully completed an activity.

Also included at Montessori is a kitchenette where kids are free to fix themselves a snack at any time, a “peace shelf” that teaches kids about yoga and relaxing, music lessons by Manitoba Conservatory of Music instructors, a reading/library area, a language arts area that teaches through phonetics, a math area, a backyard garden and play area, and a pet rabbit.

“It’s all about making kids become thoughtful about their learning process,” said McRea.

Cathy Malcowski from North Kildonan, whose children were enrolled at Montessori A B C School at 1777 Grant, said she is very excited that a Montessori is opening in her area.

“It became really inconvenient to drive them, seeing that we live in North Kildonan. It’s important to me because children at this age are just sponges and soak up so much,” she said, adding that the Montessori schools are very accommodating for working parents.

Melanie Farser, director of the Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre said different pre-schools operate with different methods and it’s important for the parents and children to be comfortable in that environment.

“You want to take a child where they will be happy and somewhere that makes you happy as a parent and goes well with your family values,” said Farser, adding that a safe, caring environment is the basis for any good day care.

For more information on Montessori, including pricing and a tour, parents can call the school at 668-4114.