Maria Montessori’s first Casa dei Bambini
In 1906, Maria Montessori was approached by a social housing project in the inner-city district of San Lorenzo, Rome, to establish a Children’s House (Casa dei Bambini) for children under six. This was to support the local families so that both parents could go out to work. The school was set up using donations and second hand furniture, creating a homely environment that catered to the children’s needs. She was able to use her knowledge and experience from her earlier work, alongside observations of the children to create activities and materials to interest and engage the children. Life in the school offered hands-on experience, daily tasks and children’s independent learning.
The success of the school spread, with Montessori opening a second Casa dei Bambini in San Lorenzo in April 1907 and a third in Milan on October 1907. The knowledge of Maria Montessori’s approach interested many from different fields. The concept that the child was central to the pedagogical approach rather than adult-led or influenced by external factors felt innovative and intriguing. The success of Montessori’s child-led approach demonstrated the incredible learning that happens when children are given autonomy over their learning, independence in their environment and freedom to follow their own interests.
‘Scientific observation then has established that education is not what the teacher gives, education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment’
Maria Montessori, 1963
To celebrate the month Montessori opened her first Children’s House, 117 years ago, the Network revisits current articles that explore Montessori’s journey and her approach to early childhood education.
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