The team of early childhood educators at Miniapple Montessori believe that individualized learning can begin at a very young age. The philosophy is based on the realization that a child's developmental needs are met through freedom within limits in a prepared environment. Over a century ago, Dr. Maria Montessori discovered an approach to education that emphasizes the potential of young children by means of a sensory rich "prepared environment", specially trained adults, and carefully created materials. The Montessori classroom is filled with attractive and interesting hands-on materials. These objects are progressively designed so that concrete tasks and simple activities lead to those that are more complex, abstract, and challenging. Children are helped to help themselves discover, learn, and reach their fullest potential as they make choices in selecting their own work and proceeding at their own pace. This freedom within limits is the key to the wonderful feelings of success and accomplishment Montessori children enjoy as they develop intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. ...read more