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Who Was Maria Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), one of the first female Italian physicians ever, devoted her life and career to researching and understanding child development, and founded the Montessori Method of Education (earlier called Scientific Pedagogy).
The Montessori Method was a revolutionary, ground-breaking practice, based on the principle that children are very capable, intelligent, and creative individuals who deserve our respect, trust, a voice to be heard, and an active role in their own lives.
For over 100 years, the Montessori Method has inspired educators and parents around the world. Her insights into the nature of childhood and the importance of nurturing a child’s natural curiosity have never been more relevant.
If you’re curious to learn more, here’s everything you need to know about the Montessori Method.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most impactful and inspiring quotes from Dr. Maria Montessori.
I hope these words offer you guidance and inspiration!
Read more: The Best Montessori Books: Beginner to Advanced.
The Best Quotes By Maria Montessori
“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.”
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”
“The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”
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“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.”
“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.”
“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”
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“Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water.”
“Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create.”
“The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.”
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“It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it.”
“We cannot know the consequences of suppressing a child’s spontaneity when he is just beginning to be active. We may even suffocate life itself. That humanity which is revealed in all its intellectual splendor during the sweet and tender age of childhood should be respected with a kind of religious veneration. It is like the sun which appears at dawn or a flower just beginning to bloom. Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.”
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, “The children are now working as if I did not exist.”
“What the hand does, the mind remembers.”
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“Within the child lies the fate of the future.”
“Of all things, love is the most potent.”
“Scientific observation then has established that education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
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“No social problem is as universal as the oppression of the child.”
“Do not erase the designs the child makes in the soft wax of his inner life.”
“The things he sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul.”
“Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.”
“To stimulate life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself – that is the first duty of the educator.”
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“The environment must be rich in motives, which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”
“The task of the educator lies in seeing that the child does not confound good with immobility and evil with activity.”
“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”
“Teach by teaching, not by correcting.”
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“The knowledge of the little child’s mental development has to become widely diffused, for only then will education be able to speak with a new voice and say to the world with authority: “The laws of life are such and such. They can not be ignored. You must act in conformity with them, for they proclaim the rights of man which are universal and common to all.”
“Recognizing the merits of the child does not diminish the authority of the father and the mother for when they come to realize that they are not the constructors, but merely the helpers of this construction, then they will be able to do their duty better; they will help the child with a greater vision.”
“The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”
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“The child looks for his independence first, not because he does not desire to be dependent on the adult. But because he has in himself some fire, some urge, to do certain things and not other things.”
The Montessori Method is a rich, deep, and complex practice, but the results are incredibly rewarding.
If you’re just getting started with Montessori at home or if you’re interested in learning more, I strongly recommend that you get your hands on at least one of these books (they are my absolute favorites for getting started):
The Montessori Baby
If you are expecting or have a newborn baby, I highly recommend The Montessori Baby. This is a great book to help parents get started with Montessori at home from birth.
The Montessori Toddler
From the same series of The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Toddler is an amazing book if your baby is already one or if you have multiple kids!
This book is a very straightforward guide that has nearly everything you need to get through the first years of your kid’s life without any other Montessori resources.
The Montessori Home: Create a Space for Your Child to Thrive
This book is all about setting up your home the Montessori Way. The Montessori Home: Create a Space for Your Child to Thrive helps parents calm the chaos and transform their home into a space that fosters curiosity, creativity, and independence through simple and inexpensive changes.
Teach Me to Do It Myself
When it comes to activities, this is the best book to go for. It gives you plenty of activity ideas, examples, and step-by-step guides on how to set them up, including the supplies you’ll need. Teach Me to Do It Myself is THE book for helping you raise a confident and independent child.
I hope you found this inspiring and helpful! Check out my latest blog posts below!
