My son's rapid growth over three years! The 'educational power' I experienced at a French Montessori kindergarten
I'm Suiren, a mom living in France with my two half-Japanese, half-French sons (aged 2 and 5).
My eldest son, Ik-kun (5), just graduated from the Montessori kindergarten he attended for three years. Hearing about his growth from his teacher during our parent-teacher conference made me realize once again that choosing this kindergarten was truly the right decision.
In this article, I will talk about how Ik-kun grew through Montessori education, focusing on three specific aspects: independence, social skills, and communication ability.
Why we chose a Montessori school with full tuition costs
In France, public education from kindergarten to university is free, and even private schools are relatively affordable due to government subsidies. Given this, the reason our family chose a Montessori kindergarten where we pay full tuition is that we believe the environment and education a child receives during the crucial personality-forming years of 3 to 6 cultivate their fundamental qualities.
Developing 'social skills' naturally through mixed-age classes
One of the features of Montessori education is mixed-age education where children spend three years in the same class.
Younger years: Learning by observing the older children and being taught things they cannot yet do
Middle years: Starting to take care of the new younger children
Older years: Acting as a central figure in the class to help organize the environment
Ik-kun was also the type to observe from the back at first, but he gradually got used to the class, and by the time he was in his final year, he had grown into someone trusted by his classmates. A small society was formed within the class of about 30 students, and he was able to naturally learn his role within it.
The 'trust' gained from having the same teacher for three years
Being in the same class means the teacher is also the same for three years. They respected Ik-kun's personality and rhythm while supporting his growth from a long-term perspective.
A Montessori teacher is more of a 'guide' than a 'teacher.' It is not a one-way street; they always listen to the child's opinions. There are rules, but they explain the reasons clearly, using an approach that encourages understanding rather than punishment.
Thanks to this, Ik-kun has no strange prejudices against adults and can talk to them confidently without being intimidated. I feel that being treated as an individual rather than being treated like a child helped develop his confidence and communication skills.
'Independence' fostered by the environment
We originally emphasized independence at home, so he had no trouble with meals or getting dressed, but the Montessori environment further enhanced this. The layout of the materials and tools is all designed so that children can do things without adult help.
For example, on his duty days, he reportedly made bread and pizza for everyone's snacks without any help from the teacher. Through experiences like these, his confidence that 'I can do it myself' grew steadily.
'Communication skills' for facing emotions
What was particularly impressive was learning how to face negative emotions and how to repair relationships.
When there is a fight with a friend or something unpleasant happens, Montessori takes the following approach:
Verbalizing emotions: Putting into words what kind of feelings you are having
Analyzing the cause: Talking about why you feel that way
Resolution through dialogue: Communicating each other's feelings and repairing the relationship
The teacher does not decide who is right or wrong; the children themselves solve the problem (with support from adults). By verbalizing it, as if 'untangling a knotted thread,' they naturally acquire methods for resolution.
Growing up in Japan, I was never taught specifically about emotions, and even now, I am not good at expressing my thoughts. However, Ik-kun tells me properly when something unpleasant happens, and I feel that he is able to communicate reasonably well even when he is dissatisfied with a situation.
Summary: Three major growth areas gained through Montessori education
Through three years of Montessori education, what Ik-kun acquired is:
1. Independence
Because the environment is well-organized, he was able to accumulate experiences of 'I can do it myself' and foster self-confidence.
2. Social skills
Through changes in roles within a mixed-age class, he naturally learned leadership and compassion for others.
3. Communication skills
Through verbalizing emotions and problem-solving via dialogue, he acquired the ability to face others.
Education begins at home, but school education also greatly influences a child's growth. I realized once again that when the educational philosophy of the home and school are the same, a child can grow smoothly. Conversely, if both do not share a similar educational philosophy, the child may become conflicted, potentially even growing up to be inconsistent, changing their attitude depending on the situation or the person.
Montessori education respects each individual child and supports them from a long-term perspective during this critical period of personality formation. Looking back on Ik-kun's growth, although there was the burden of tuition, I truly feel from the bottom of my heart that I am glad I made this choice.
Montessori education doesn't make much sense unless the educational philosophy of the school and home are the same, so I cannot recommend it to every family, but I think it is one type of education that expands a child's potential. I hope our family's experience is of some help to you 🤍
Next time, I plan to talk in detail about the approach to learning and creativity cultivated through Montessori education. Look forward to it 😊
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If you have any questions you'd like to ask a Japanese-French family or any small doubts, please let me know in the comments anytime. I will answer as much as I can!