Mixed Ages: Fostering Social Life
Montessori discovered that a mixed-age grouping of three to six year olds
fosters the development of a wonderful, active, little society where
"all the older ones become heroes and teachers, and the tinies are their admirers."
The older children feel protective of the younger ones and come to their aid when they are hurt or needing some kind of assistance. The older children also love to give the younger children lessons. While the younger children obviously benefit, so too the older children as it helps them
better understand what they know.
All begin to feel part of a group to which their activity contributes, and they respect one another's efforts. There is great admiration for anything well done. Someone's achievement will bring enthusiastic compliments from the others and often starts the whole group trying the same thing - name writing for example, with children teaching children (a beautiful sight to behold!).
Because there is freedom to move about and interact with one another, not only during outside play but as they go about their work inside, children in a Montessori class are always in active community. This means lots of experience problem solving (socially and otherwise), behaving well in a group,
and behaving well for the good of the group.
Children usually stay for two or three years, through Kindergarten, so they become very well acquainted with each other and their guides/teachers. This creates special bonds and mutual affection, and
gives the group a sense of cohesiveness and unity. It also means that traditions are
passed down from older students to younger students; the class has a heritage.
fosters the development of a wonderful, active, little society where
"all the older ones become heroes and teachers, and the tinies are their admirers."
The older children feel protective of the younger ones and come to their aid when they are hurt or needing some kind of assistance. The older children also love to give the younger children lessons. While the younger children obviously benefit, so too the older children as it helps them
better understand what they know.
All begin to feel part of a group to which their activity contributes, and they respect one another's efforts. There is great admiration for anything well done. Someone's achievement will bring enthusiastic compliments from the others and often starts the whole group trying the same thing - name writing for example, with children teaching children (a beautiful sight to behold!).
Because there is freedom to move about and interact with one another, not only during outside play but as they go about their work inside, children in a Montessori class are always in active community. This means lots of experience problem solving (socially and otherwise), behaving well in a group,
and behaving well for the good of the group.
Children usually stay for two or three years, through Kindergarten, so they become very well acquainted with each other and their guides/teachers. This creates special bonds and mutual affection, and
gives the group a sense of cohesiveness and unity. It also means that traditions are
passed down from older students to younger students; the class has a heritage.
