An interesting read...

I came across an article on The New York Times this week which brought up an important point that supports this month's theme: Montessori inside and outside. The article is rather extensive but its main argument is that today's approach to early education should be less didactic, and more shaped towards allowing children to learn through play: "Many educators want to curtail play during school... [it is] often perceived as immature behaviour that doesn't achieve anything' says David Whitebread, a psychologist at Cambridge University who has studied the topic for decades. 'But it's essential to their development. They need to learn to persevere, to control attention, to control emotions. Kids learn these things through playing". 

In Montessori, we aim to approach the children's core - to develop their self control, independence, critical thinking skills and ability to concentrate. In fact, many of the these things can be learnt outside, in the "playing" environment.