Scientific research from the past 30 years shows that the most important period of human development is from 0 to 8 years. During these early years, the development of cognitive skills, and social competence lay a solid foundation to achieve good physical, emotional, and mental health in the future. A person learns throughout their whole life, but in early childhood, the development rate for neural connections is the fastest. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, more than a million neural connections are generated every second during this period. Frequent physical and intellectual stimulation during this early time period tremendously benefits a child’s learning when he or she starts to attend school.
A child starts learning from birth and does continuously and meticulously. Play-ducation is one of the first natural ways of teaching children. This scientific insight was recognized first by the world’s leading human educationists Maria Montessori, Emmy Pikler, and Rudolf Steiner (the founder of the Waldorf School). Through playing, the child learns how to communicate and interact with others, solve physical and logical problems, encounter new experiences, and simply have fun. Play is the child’s first form of activity and learning.
Over the past 30 years, there have been many studies that have proven the importance of early childhood development. Many organizations, including UNICEF, Universal Primary Education, and the SDGs, continue to endorse early development models globally. Nowadays, few people are questioning the importance of play-ducation in early development and the application of effective pedagogical systems, such as the Montessori, Pikler, and Waldorf methods. These are gradually becoming more commonly used throughout the world, and Montessori furniture plays an important role in education as its usage increases. Here at WoodandHearts, we are doing our best to provide you with the greatest products in children’s play furniture, manufactured with exceptional quality materials from the bottom of our hearts.
Montessori
Main Principle: The motivation itself is the trigger for the learning
In this pedagogical philosophy, the child is at the center of every educational activity. Montessori’s system is focused on guiding and accompanying the child through the complications of early development. In a Montessori environment, play-spaces are minimalistic, neat, and clean. The simplicity of the environment calms the children and makes it easier and more comfortable for them to play and explore. Special Montessori playroom furniture plays an important role in the physical and mental activities of young and curious children.
Pikler
Main Principle: Special focus on spontaneous motor development
Under this system, children are free, active, and autonomous. The furniture used is meant to allow as much freedom of movement for the child as possible without placing the child in danger. The child tests the limits of his or her physical capabilities, and gets an understanding of what the human body can and cannot do.
Waldorf
Main Principle: The Child has to be treated with respect and taught with love
Free and meaningful play is the center of Waldorf’s system of teaching. It stimulates creativity and imagination. Keeping plastic items away from kids and providing them with natural and wooden products is also significant; this thinking gave birth to a new movement within play-ducation known as Waldorf furniture, which is the philosophy of making children’s furniture with natural beech wood and designing it to be as convenient for the user as possible.