Montessori, what is it for Fraise & Bois ?

Home Fraise & Bois, we share in part the values described by montessori pedagogy. During all of our product designs, we have a heart to create furniture suitable for children, made of quality wood, functional and aesthetic. Our products are simple and practical in nature. The term ‘Montessori’, we borrow it from a more global and complex current of thought to describe and summarize the main features of our furniture. But what does "Montessori" mean?

Montessori pedagogy is an educational approach developed by the italian doctor and educator Maria Montessori early 20th century. It is based on the principle that children are active and naturally curious learners, able to develop independently through interaction with their environment.

Montessori pedagogy emphasizes respect for the child as a unique individual and encourages its overall development, including intellectual, emotional, social and physical aspects. It is based on several key principles:

1. The prepared environment : the space is carefully organized and equipped with specific educational material, accessible and adapted to each stage of development of the child. The environment is designed to promote independence, exploration and discovery.
2. Self-directed learning Children are encouraged to choose their activities and to work at their own pace. They are free to explore different areas of learning and to focus on the subjects that are most interested in them. The adult acts as a guide, observing and supporting the child in his/her learning.
3. Self-correction and evaluation : The specific Montessori equipment is made to allow the child to self-corrigate and evaluate. Children learn to recognize their mistakes by themselves and to find solutions through practical experience. This promotes self-reliance and self-esteem.
4. Social learning : Montessori pedagogy emphasizes the social and emotional development of children. The aim is to foster collaboration, mutual assistance and mutual respect. Children learn to interact with each other, to resolve conflicts and to develop social skills.

Montessori pedagogy has become popular throughout the world and is applied at different levels of education, from early childhood to adolescence, in specialized school or at home. It aims at promote the total development of the child, allowing him to become an independent, confident and responsible learner. This is a way of thinking the development of the child in a global way.

Montessori pedagogy also translates into the choice of furniture for children. Environmental development and furniture play an important role in promoting the independence, autonomy and active learning of children.

The main features of furniture called ‘Montessori’ are a suitable size, accessibility, organization, natural materials and versatility. These are the same criteria that we take into account in the development of our products at home Fraise & Bois.

Furniture is designed to be proportionate to the size of children. Furniture and shelves are adapted to their height, allowing them to easily access objects and manipulate them independently. This promotes their independence and confidence in them. This is for us, for example, for our lava-main furniture Gaspard : it is suitable for children to wash their hands alone, a guaranteed success at the time of going to the table.

Furniture must be arranged so that children can easily access it without the help of an adult. For example, shelves and their contents are arranged in an orderly and attractive manner, which encourages children to freely choose and manipulate learning materials. The furniture says ‘Montessori’ promotes the organization and structuring of the environment, and especially accountability.

The furniture Montessori is often designed to be versatile and evolutionary, it is also our will at home Fraise & Bois. For example, a coffee table can be used for different activities, such as eating, playing or working. Some furniture can also be adjusted to height or transformed to adapt to the changing needs of children as they grow, as our observation tower Alix : the steps adapt to the height, and the upper part of the tower takes away once the child is larger.

In short, Montessori furniture aims to create an environment suitable for children, promoting their independence, autonomy and active learning. It encourages free exploration, manipulation and decision-making, while providing a safe, aesthetic and space for the overall development of the child.