“The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.’
Maria Montessori ‘The Secret of Childhood’ 1966
The prepared environment is one of the foundations of the Montessori philosophy. From school to school, city to city, and even country to country you will notice that all Montessori classrooms have the prepared environment in common. The idea supports Maria Montessori’s vision that everything the child comes into contact with would facilitate and maximize independent learning and exploration. The calm, well-ordered environment has a lot of movement and activity where children are free to choose and work on activities at their own pace. Here, they experience a combination of freedom and self-discipline that is guided by the environment. The prepared environment is crucial to the success a child experiences with Montessori education. Here at Maria Montessori Academy, you will notice that the prepared environment differs from age to age but the pillar remains the same; the children have access to the materials that will facilitate their own learning and freedom within boundaries.
