How to Look for a Montessori School for Your Child

I made a mistake looking for a school for my oldest son. The lesson is a hard one to learn. I want to help you avoid the pain. Finding the right Montessori school is particular tricky and important because there are many schools that rock Montessori and there are many school that slap on the Montessori label without embracing the philosophy behind the classroom doors. It is important to ask the right questions and look for the right language in the school’s background.

Parenting comes with a lot of pressure because you want the best education for your child. You know that the kind of training you give him or her today will have a great impact on the type of person they’ll grow up to become tomorrow.

Now Dr. Montessori’s schools are exceptional schools without question; even Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge is sending her first son to a Montessori preschool this year.

Still, how can you decide which one is the best fit for your child? Read the following tips to understand how to find your kid’s perfect preschool:

Two Big Questions When Looking for a Montessori School

Do you prefer the paid perks of a private preschool?

Contrary to popular belief, not all these specialized schools are private. Public schools are starting to adopt some of Dr. Montessori’s practices as well, which could make them a better choice if you have a more modest education budget and you want your child to socialize more during their formative years. Nevertheless, private schools often have excellent reputations for high teaching standards, and some offer scholarships.

Would you rather have your little one graduate from an accredited school?

Only a small minority of all these preschools rank as accredited institutions according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, also known as the “NAEYC.” However, the general opinion is that the majority of Montessori-style preschools don’t need to have an accredited status to be great schools.

A better yardstick for comparison might be inquiring to see if each school has an affiliation with one of Dr. Montessori’s organizations in order to gauge how closely they follow this teaching method. Schools that adhere more strictly to Montessori’s method are likely to be a member of societies like Montessori’s International Council, for example. Do take note that technically any educational center can claim Montessori’s title in their name without having teachers who’ve received the official training of this particular educational approach.

Here’s the bottom line:

After narrowing your search using the above tips, you must go to the school in person to make the final choice. Sit in on a class to observe their protocols and see if your child would get along well with the kinds of children you see there. Ask the teachers about their personal teaching approaches in the classroom.

Then you can finally make the right choice and cross this preschool-evaluation process off your parenting to-do list.

Read More About Choosing a Montessori School:

5 Benefits of a Montessori School

What Parents Want From Their Child’s Montessori School