Early childhood education philosophies. Summary and L’Atelier’s view

Disclaimer: L’Atelier believes that none of these philosophies are exclusive or comprehensive enough. The best early learning experiences which we offer at L’Atelier incorporate elements of different approaches to meet the needs of different children and families.

Montessori

Maria Montessori is one of the first Italian women doctors of the 19th century. Working in a psychiatric clinic for children, she began to apply her personal teaching methods to them and later adapted them for other children.

Basic principles of the methodology:

• Groups of children must be of different ages. Older children teach the younger ones and acquire leadership qualities, while the younger ones take care of each other and learn to help each other.

• The room in which the child is located should be divided into zones - scientific sensory mathematical creative and sports. The child chooses the location independently.

• Adults play a secondary role. He is not a mentor but a guide.

• The main direction in development is fine motor skills, which train the brain and develop the maximum.

• Criticism and prohibitions are unacceptable.

• Strict discipline for cleaning all items that the child played with. All books and toys should be put on their shelves.

We trust:

• The principle of natural development in a learning environment.

• The role of an adult who is a helper and friend.

• We also pay great attention to the development of fine and gross motor skills.

• We support the desire for independence of the child.

We don’t apply at L’Atelier

• The concept of a teacher as an observer not an active participant of the education process.

The motto of Maria Montessori:

“The task of the teacher is to make sure that, the child does not mix good with passivity, and evil with activity’.

The Reggio Emilia

The Reggio Emilia technique got its name from the small town of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. The author of the methodology is psychologist Loris Malaguzzi. The methodology presents the best from teachers and psychologists of that time - J. Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori

The motto of Loris Malaguzzi:

Children have a hundred languages ​​for expressing themselves - the language of the drawing of music, the creativity of movement, but the school takes 99 languages ​​​​and leaves only one - the language of words.

Basic principles of the methodology:

• learning through art.

• Training in small groups.

• The room in which the children are large and bright. All items are arranged nicely and neatly. Each corner has its own purpose.

• The child is the center of the process. An adult is nearby.

• Each child has a huge number of materials at hand (paper, paints, natural materials, stones, etc.) and tools (musical instruments, theatre costumes, toys, etc.)

• An adult listens carefully to the child, looks into his eyes, does not interrupt, and respects his personality. Offers help

• Parents are obligatory participants in the process of interaction between the student and the teacher.

• Mandatory documentation in which almost everything is recorded- interesting thoughts of children, conversations in a team and with parents, storage of children's drawings and photographs.

• If during the learning process the child is tired or wants to be alone for a while, he goes to a room with a secluded corner where he can recover and return to class.

We trust:

• In L’Atelier we support with great pleasure the desire of our students to express themselves creatively through drawing, crafts, music, and movement.

• Groups in our center are also small, which ensures attention and an individual approach to each child.

• We carefully store all the work of our students and keep an individual development map with a fixation of the progress of each child.

• The formation of aesthetic taste is one of the important components. In our center, we tried to create an atmosphere of lightness and beauty

• we really appreciate the trust of parents and from the very beginning we build trusting relationships and are ready for feedback at any time

We are inspired by Regio Emilia and believe that the Regio Emilia technique has absorbed the best.

Waldorf

At the beginning of the 20th century, Rudolf Steiner opened a school in Germany for the children of workers, at the “Waldorf Astoria” tobacco factory. The main idea- is the natural development of the child at his own pace and rhythm without the involvement of educational activities up to 7 years.

The motto of Rudolf Steiner: “Know the world by knowing yourself!” Basic principles of the methodology

• A child under 7 years old is engaged only in what interests him. No learning and development process is required at this stage. This is the time for games of fun and movement.

• A complete ban on early development and learning to read, count and write up to 7 years.

• The training lasts 11 years.

• Groups in kindergartens and schools of different ages

• From the very beginning to the end of the training is led by one teacher.

• Two languages ​​are studied at the same time from the age of 7.

• Preference is given to disciplines of the aesthetic cycle (music, art, and practical skills (gardening, needlework)

• A large number of holidays, accompanied by theatrical performances, for which children thoroughly prepare: they rehearse, sew costumes, and make dolls and gifts for their parents.

• There are no textbooks, no tests, exams in the Waldorf educational system. There is no competitive system.

• Teachers and parents manage the educational process. The institution does not have a director.

• Children at preschool age do not play with conventional toys. Instead, home-made dolls, pieces of clay and wood, knitted blankets.

We Trust:

• We consider environmental education an important aspect and instill in our pupils a love and respect for the environment.

• Preparation for performances and holidays helps to create a festive atmosphere and promotes team building. Creativity and self-realization are one of the goals of our educational methodology.

• We also welcome bilingual and multilingual environments. The child has no fear of making a mistake or not expressing himself correctly. Learning several languages ​​at the same time is easy and natural for him.

• For us, interaction between the child, the parent and the teacher is also extremely important. Only by using common principles of upbringing and training a good result can be achieved.

We don’t apply at L’Atelier:

• Neurophysiologists and psychologists agree that the early stages of development are the time of active formation of neural connections and brain development. The foundations of intellectual creative and physical development are laid at a very early age. Learning and development cannot be excluded at this stage.

• Each teacher brings their own dynamic and varied notes to the learning process. A variety of types and methods of teaching makes the process bright for our students.

• Each age group is not similar to the other either in terms of developmental characteristics, or in leading types of activities, or in ways of learning.

Emmy Pickler

Emmy Pickler is an outstanding Hungarian physician and educator. Working as a pediatrician, Emmy Pickler drew attention to the increased injuries in children, whose parents strongly guarded the child and fettered his independence. The main idea of Dr. Pickles is in the motor freedom of the child without restrictions from the adult. Her method has received worldwide recognition and is also approved by the World Health Organization.

The moto of Emmy Pickler.

"It is important that the child opened as many things as possible by himself. If you help him in solving any problems, you take from him exactly what is for mental development the most important!

Basic principles of the methodology:

• Full attention, especially when it comes to caring for a child. Do not combine childcare with any other activity. Devote this time only to the child.

• “Deceleration principle”. In our active time, we are oversaturated with various stimuli that make children nervous and mothers tired. Create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility around you and your child.

• Do not attach to the body of a child at an early age such forms that he has not yet mastered on his own. No pillows, walkers, wheelchairs, and a half-sitting position.

• Do not interrupt the child's play and generally try not to interfere with the play process. Then the child independently uses the entire environment around him and explores it.

• Observe the child's signals. If the child turns away from the offered food or drink or does not want to continue some kind of activity - do not offer him again!

We trust:

• We, too, strive to dedicate ourselves entirely and channel our energies into interacting with our little students.

• We do not restrict the free movement of the child if it does not threaten life and health.

We don’t apply at L’Atelier:

• We consider active interaction between an adult and a child in games and in the classroom a very important element. Even when teaching independence, an adult is nearby and helps the child in mastering the skills.