Although it is not of materials designed by Maria Montessori, these panels can be created by respecting the criteria of the Montessorian materials. The important thing is that they do not propose a sensory overestimation, a wide chromatic variety and a aesthetic chaos
Within his “children’s homes” Maria Montessori had conceived some specific materials – such as i Lawning frames To learn to manage the different types of closing clothes, or the smooth and rough tablets, useful for learning to distinguish the two textures – which can still be found in schools with Montessori. These are tools that present some very precise characteristicsor the use of quality material, the aesthetic order and the chromatic order.
The “Montessori panels” do not fallin reality, in the List of materials created by Maria Montessori. These are tools that should entice the child to carry out in a series of activities – such as closing the buttons, hidden, two brores of velcro … – e stimulate its manual affinity Through a series of actions – grab, rub, put on, turn on and turn off a switch, lower a handle, put a key …
Very often i Montessorian panels They are created by teachers, parents, artisans or others respecting, in a more or less faithful way, the characteristics listed above. Other times, however, not only these criteria are not respected, but on the contrary one proposes one sensorial overestimation (as in the sensory games that are on the market), a wide chromatic variety and an aesthetic chaos. How to orient themselves then?
Types of Montessori panels
If a parent wanted to buy or Building Montessori sensory panels? The choice must fall exclusively on objects created on the basis of the Montessorian pedagogical indications, which favor the concentration and deepening of one competence at a time.
THE Multi-activity panels which are advertised and often sold to the public as “intelligent” or stimulating games for the growth of the child, they would go for example excludedsince with their chromatic chaos and forms they distract the child and do not allow him to focus on the refinement of the Mottime of the hand (colors, shapes and material should be neutral as possible).
So here is a Montessori panel in the shape of an elephant (or other animal or who knows what else), with auditory, tactile and mnemonic or multi-colors stimulations presented all together, will not guarantee relevance with the Montessorian pedagogy.
At what age to offer Montessori panels?
Having clarified the premise, if a parent wanted to create or buy a material for tactile, manual or sensory stimulation of his child can opt for one Simple geometric shape surface (square, round, rectangular, triangular) on which to fix objects with neutral colors and interesting consistency from a sensory point of view (metal, leather, wood …) with which the baby can refine his manual skills (through the closure of a padlock, a lock, a switch …).
A panel inspired by the principles of Montessori so structured can be proposed to the child aged Between 15 and 24 monthsobviously after evaluating his interest and his level of manual competence. This panel will go fixed to the wallso that it can be explored by the child standing or sitting.
How to create a do -it -yourself Montessori panel?
If a parent wanted Building a Montessori panel in the housewhat should you pay attention to? First of all, it is important to decide what competence of the child you want to stimulate through the do -it -yourself Montessorian panel, for example:
- Lighting of clothes (hinges, buttons, alamari, velcro, buckles …);
- openings and closures (Padlocks, switches, Chiavistelli …);
- Tactile exploration of various surfaces (smooth, rough, cold, warm, soft, pungent …).
Made the choice, a do -it -yourself Montessori panel must be resistant materialof good aesthetic quality and must have a chromatic order.
For the lacing you can inspire directly from the frames designed by Maria Montessori, as well as for the tablets of the smooth and rough. For closings or other types of sensory stimulation you can give space for fantasyhowever, always opting for the order, harmony and “cleaning” of the work space (select few experiences, therefore few elements to be included in the panel, but significant). A possible panel that allows the child to caress different surfaces could be proposed as an activity to be carried out with eyes closed for isolate the sense of touch and thus enjoy a more understood sensory experience.
