Benefits of Hands-On, Interactive Learning

More and more schools are moving toward hand-on, interactive learning for young children. From the beginning, this has been the Montessori approach, in recognition of Maria Montessori’s observance of children during her early studies. The benefits can be remarkable, helping children learn faster and giving them real-world experience they will remember.

Montessori Materials

The materials used in a Montessori classroom are designed for use by children. From simple objects to more more advanced materials, everything in the room is designed to pique a child’s interest and make them want to play with the materials, learning as they do so. The idea is to provide children with learning materials they want to use, and derive pleasure from doing so. In this way, Montessori schools use hands-on learning to encourage hands-on education.

STEM Activities

Giving children a hands-on approach to science and math have a proven body of research to support it. Science is much easier to comprehend when the students are actually doing science experiments, and math, such as counting coins, can be put into perspective to help children understand how it works. As children get older, they can build on early STEM activities to acquire more knowledge and relevant experience.

Growing with the Children

Montessori activities are designed to allow them to be expanded on as children gain knowledge and experience. In this way, simple classroom tools will serve different purposes as your child moves from skill or focus subject to the next. Different subject lessons can even be taught using the same tools, adding to the familiar aspect of hands-on learning.

Social Interaction

Hands-on education gives children the opportunity to interact with each other. There is a growing body of research which indicates that social interaction is vital to emotional and intellectual development, which makes joint projects, games and other group activities integral to the early learning process. In the process, having a point of focus during social interaction helps children learn about etiquette and general good manners. And sharing the information between older and younger children is one of many benefits for the multi-aged classroom.

From social skills to motor control, hands-on learning is a better way to learn. Interacting with other children to accomplish goals and enjoy activities builds a sense of community and provides children with a sense of belonging that may not always be available through traditional education systems. The benefits are many, and the drawbacks are few, which should be reason enough to pursue hands on education at home and in school.

The Montessori Children’s Center in Fremont, CA uses interactive and hands-on learning throughout all daily activities. Based on Maria Montessori’s method, using this approach allows students to explore things with each other and at their own pace.  To see this method in action, contact us today to schedule a tour.

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