Forbes Article highlights mental health benefits of Montessori education
A recent Forbes article highlights how Montessori's cooperative education vs. competitive education provides better mental health outcomes for children. The article's author states:
"But many people don’t realize that, along with some of the more well-known practical benefits associated with Montessori education, there are also a host of mental health benefits. These include improved emotional stability, increased confidence, better cognitive function and reduced stress and anxiety among children who attend Montessori schools."
Here's our favorite section:
What are the mental health benefits of Montessori education?
Beyond improved academic performance, the less rigid teaching environment of Montessori education means "there is a lot less stress, anxiety, and pressure to perform," says Franchek.
"A guiding Montessori philosophy is 'freedom within limits,’" echoes Johnson. "Our children know that if something doesn’t work out exactly as intended the first time, it’s a good lesson learned to build on for the next attempt." This approach builds confidence and improves executive function skills, says Lillard.
There’s also an element of growth that occurs when children learn in an environment where manners, mutual respect and consideration for others are taught and exemplified. "Montessori really emphasizes psychological safety," says Franchek. "The environment is highly predictable, so children have a space where they feel supported and respected."
The approach seems to be working. "In one of our studies, we collected hair samples of students in public Montessori schools and compared them to ones from students in conventional public schools to test for cortisol—a stress indicator for the prior two to three months of a person’s life," says Lillard. "We learned that stress levels were lower in students at Montessori schools."
Even more compelling, the health benefits of Montessori education appear to have staying power. "Adults who attended Montessori schools as children have higher adult wellbeing than those who attended only conventional schools," says Lillard, "and we've seen that the longer they attended, the higher their wellbeing."
Full article can be found here:
