Young Thinkers, Mutiara Damansara

Teaching young children requires passion and of course, patience. When a child is underchallenged, boredom might set in and the child becomes demotivated. On the other hand, if the child is over-challenged, he may be ‘put off’ by the activity and ‘shuts down’. A teacher must be observant to each child’s requiremnet to achieve the right balance. – This statement was shared by Marisa, one of the founders of a Montessori preschool called Young Thinkers, during a recent interview with Kiddy123. It clearly depicts her profound understanding of what children need in terms of early education, which she strives to deliver together with her team of educators using the lauded Montessori method of teaching.

“When I first started out as a preschool teacher during the eighties, there weren’t many Montessori preschools set up yet at that time in Malaysia. Armed with a Montessori Diploma, she was fortunate to land a job as a teacher in a Montessori preschool that practiced the teaching method, philosophy and approach. It is that same philosophy and teaching method that brings her joy till this day.

Many parents may find themselves debating which preschool and teaching approach is best for their child. There is perhaps no escaping the question of whether or not a Montessori education would be it. But how would one define Montessori as a teaching pedagogy, and what are the benefits of enrolling your child at Young Thinkers?

What is Montessori Method?

Montessori, as we have come to understand from Marisa, is far more than a teaching method. It is a way of life. Using the Montessori method of education, the subjects covered at Young Thinkers are English, Bahasa Malaysia, Practical Life, Number Work, Sensorial, and Culture. “What we would like is for our children to be equipped with the necessary skills needed for their journey through school and into adulthood, within an environment which is homely, invitingly child-friendly and conducive,” she shared adding that the Montessori materials play a big role in the children’s day-to-day learning and developing at Young Thinkers. “Just having these materials at hand isn’t enough if the children do not know how to use them. It is a teacher’s role to guide them in using these materials for they are important learning tools in a Montessori classroom.”

Speaking of classrooms, the sizes of these at Young Thinkers are kept at an impressively small ratio of students to teachers. This is to ensure that the children get the individual attention and guidance they deserve during their critical learning period. At Young Thinkers, teachers are required to observe each child closely to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses, and consequently to help build on and address these respectively. No two children are alike after all, and each child also has their own hidden talent to uncover. When asked how do the teachers of Young Thinkers tackle the seemingly challenging task of seeing to each child’s learning needs, Marisa simply replied, “Tirelessly!”

Orderly yet homely environment for unpressured learning

The set-up at Young Thinkers is orderly yet homely, featuring a pleasant environment which allows children to feel at ease. While there is a lot at stake when it comes to building a solid foundation in terms of early education for children, there is little or no benefit of pressuring a child to learn. A positive early education is one where children are willing to participate, learn and discover, and that is exactly what one can expect at Young Thinkers. “I do not ever wish for one child (mine or anyone else’s) to be compared with another, or feeling pressured to perform better due to comparisons or any other reasons. At Young Thinkers, it is our duty as Montessorians to help our children reach their highest potential at the pace that is most comfortable for them,” Marisa stated with conviction. We are compelled to agree with her on that.

Ultimately, the aim of a good preschool education is to prepare a child for the future, through school and beyond. “My greatest joy as an educator is to witness the graduates of Young Thinkers emerge as independent, self-motivated young individuals who love to keep learning, what more with positive attitudes and confidence to boot!” Marisa concluded.