Society is a diverse collection of cultures, religions, and lifestyles, and your child is an important part of it. In their early years, it’s important to expose your child to the various backgrounds they live among so they can recognize and embrace the uniqueness of each person.
If your child is between 6 weeks and 2 years old but hasn’t attended daycare or been outside of their family much, they can attend Montessori daycare and become familiar with different cultures.
Montessori daycare embraces cultural differences
Learning about differences at an early age allows children to build a foundation for respect so they can recognize and reject hateful rhetoric and behavior. This is an important component of the Montessori method, which aims to develop children into outstanding individuals and citizens of a multicultural society.
Your local Montessori daycare teaches children to embrace diversity the same way it approaches any educational topic. Diversity is incorporated into activities and curriculum without much fanfare, treating it as a fact of life. Below are several ways diversity is taught in a Montessori daycare:
Multicultural learning tools and toys
Montessori daycare students are given toys and learning tools that represent a multicultural society. Dolls and puppets might be of various races, backgrounds and capabilities, such as dolls in wheelchairs, figurines with visual impairments or prosthetics, and others. For children transitioning from an in-home daycare to a Montessori environment, the variety of toys and learning materials will also keep their minds active and exploring.
Multicultural daily activities
Daycare students are taught songs and stories about different cultures, including the meaning and values behind them. During school events, parents might bring dishes from their culture to delight children with a global taste. Children can even learn more about their own culture.
Diversity matters beyond your Montessori daycare
Diversity is a regular part of the world your child is beginning to explore. A culturally diverse daycare will help your child immerse themselves into a global community they might not have experienced or seen before.
Hill Point Montessori is dedicated to building confidence and lifelong skills, starting from infancy. Our daycare program serves children 6 weeks to 2 years old. Schedule an in-person tour to learn more about our approach to cultural diversity in Montessori daycare.
