In my view, it is not enough to hide behind Montessori’s deeply intuitive understanding of children! It is our responsibility to continue to search for deeper meanings, reflect on the marvels of early childhood and on circumstances, the children’s and our own, in which we have observed their behaviours, ways of learning, their developmental path, their joys and anxieties of life. How often have I heard “ Montessori said this a hundred years ago!” We also find, as we follow current research, that many of Montessori’s views of children and how they learn resonate in their findings. Yet from the Montessori angle they offer us tools for deeper understanding of Montessori’s legacy and their application to practice, particularly when we try to unravel and learn from our observations of children. We need to acknowledge the limitations of these models as we ponder who created them, their Eurocentric focus, and the limitations of linear interpretations of children’s learning and development. Now almost quarter of a century in into the new millennium, Montessori Musings offers our community a glimpse at these key theories and examines their relevance to our work with young children. At the start of 2023, I have reflected again on theories of child development, and how they have influenced our understanding of children through the 20 th Century.
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