Exploring What is Montessori: Connecting Neuroscience, Development, and Practical Strategies

• March 12, 2025
• Posted By : Sarah
• 0 Comment

A Blog By Milinh Villanueva, Head of School, Cantera Montessori

As parents, we all want to support our children in the best way possible. But how do we truly understand their developmental growth and create an environment that nurtures their natural learning process? Montessori education provides valuable insights into child development, combining neuroscience, environmental influences, and hands-on learning. In this blog we highlight our recent Parent Ed Event exploring what is Montessori: Connecting Neuroscience, Development and Practical Strategies, we’ll explore three key areas: understanding developmental growth, implementing Montessori strategies at home, and Parent Self-Care and Modeling.

This event was led by two experienced professionals who bring both personal and professional expertise in child development and education:

Milinh Villanueva – AMS Primary Credential, MA in Montessori Education, and a dedicated Montessori parent of a 12-year-old. She specializes in bringing Montessori principles to life in both the classroom and home environments.

“Kiki” Guchao Xiong – MS in Clinical Mental Health, Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and National Certified Counselor. As a Montessori mother of a 4-year-old, she integrates neuroscience with therapeutic techniques to help parents foster their child’s emotional and cognitive development.

Understanding Your Child’s Developmental Growth

Children’s brains are constantly evolving, shaped by their environment, experiences, and interactions. The Montessori approach recognizes that each child progresses through distinct developmental stages, known as the Four Planes of Development. Dr. Maria Montessori identified these planes as critical periods of transformation in a child’s life, each with unique characteristics and learning needs.

The First Plane (Birth to 6 years): The Absorbent Mind

• During this stage, children are like sponges, effortlessly absorbing language, culture, and foundational life skills from their environment.
• They thrive on sensory experiences, movement, and hands-on exploration.
• This is a critical period for developing independence, order, and social interactions.

The Second Plane (6 to 12 years): The Reasoning Mind

• Children become more curious and start to think more abstractly.
• They develop reasoning skills, seek explanations, and begin forming moral and ethical understandings.
• Social interactions become increasingly important, and they enjoy collaborative learning experiences.

The Third Plane (12 to 18 years): The Social Self

• This is a period of self-discovery, identity formation, and social awareness.
• Adolescents seek autonomy while still needing guidance and structure.
• Hands-on, real-world learning experiences and mentorship play a crucial role in their development.

The Fourth Plane (18 to 24 years): The Independent Adult

• Young adults refine their personal values, career goals, and life direction.
• They develop a sense of responsibility and independence while continuing to explore their place in society.
• This stage focuses on self-sufficiency, purpose, and meaningful contributions to the world.

Research in neuroscience confirms that early childhood is a critical time for cognitive development. During this period, a child’s brain forms billions of neural connections, shaping their ability to think, reason, and interact with the world. These early years lay the foundation for future learning, behavior, and emotional well-being.

Children thrive when they are given opportunities to explore, make choices, and engage in hands-on learning. Montessori education is designed to support this natural development by creating an environment that fosters curiosity, independence, and active engagement. Through carefully prepared activities and materials, children refine their executive functioning skills, such as planning, decision-making, and self-regulation.

Practical Montessori Strategies for Home

Many parents wonder how they can integrate Montessori principles into their daily routines. Here are a few simple strategies to create a Montessori-aligned home environment:

• Create a Prepared Environment: Organize spaces with child-sized furniture, accessible materials, and minimal clutter to promote independence.
• Encourage Practical Life Activities: Let your child participate in daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and self-care such as brushing hair and teeth. These activities build fine motor skills, responsibility, and self-confidence.
• Foster Intrinsic Motivation: Instead of using rewards or punishments, acknowledge your child’s efforts and allow them to experience the natural consequences of their actions.
• Support Independence Through Choice-Making: Offer limited, age-appropriate choices that allow children to develop decision-making skills.

By applying these Montessori techniques at home, parents can help children feel empowered, capable, and eager to learn.

Why Parent Self-Care Matters

Self-care is often seen as a luxury, but in reality, it is a necessity. When parents take the time to care for their own physical, emotional, and mental well-being, they are better equipped to respond to their child’s needs with patience, clarity, and empathy. A well-balanced parent fosters a well-balanced child.

Key benefits of prioritizing self-care as a parent include:

• Emotional Regulation: When we manage our own stress levels, we create a more peaceful and predictable home environment.
• Resilience and Adaptability: By taking care of ourselves, we model how to handle challenges with grace and perseverance.
• Stronger Parent-Child Relationships: A parent who is well-rested, emotionally fulfilled, and mindful can engage more fully and meaningfully with their child.
• Encouraging Independence: Demonstrating self-care helps children learn that it is okay to prioritize their own well-being as they grow.

Modeling Healthy Behaviors for Your Child

Children are highly observant and absorb the behaviors, attitudes, and habits of their parents. The way we care for ourselves directly impacts the way our children learn to care for themselves.

Ways to model self-care and emotional regulation:

• Demonstrate Emotional Awareness: Express your feelings in a healthy way. Instead of suppressing frustration, say, “I’m feeling overwhelmed right now, so I’m going to take a deep breath.”
• Show the Importance of Rest: Let your child see that taking breaks and prioritizing sleep are valuable habits.
• Engage in Self-Reflection: Talk about learning from mistakes and the importance of growth.
• Encourage Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Share techniques like deep breathing, exercise, or creative expression as ways to manage stress.
• Be Kind to Yourself: Children learn self-compassion by watching how we speak to ourselves. Avoid self-criticism and model self-encouragement.

Parenting is not about perfection, they are about intention. By understanding developmental growth, integrating Montessori principles at home, and prioritizing parent self-care and modeling, we can create an environment that nurtures a child’s natural learning journey. Montessori philosophy teaches us that the role of the adult is to prepare not only the environment but also themselves. Together, we can support our children in becoming independent, resilient, and lifelong learners.