What is Montessori ? Montessori is an approach to the education of children. It is a way of observing and understanding children. It is a view of how children develop and learn which has been translated into a systematic method of education based upon careful scientific study. Dr. Montessori Maria Montessori, MD, internationally renowned child educator, was originally a medical doctor who brought the scientific methods of observation, experimentation and research to the study of children, their development and education. As a doctor, Maria Montessori came to believe that many of the problems of the children she was working with were educational rather than medical. In examining education she felt that children were not achieving their potential because education was not based on science. How she established her educational method. Her first step, was to attempt to abandon preconceived ideas about education and to begin to study children, their development and the process of learning through scientific methods of observation and research. In doing so, she made what she considered startling discoveries. One of the greatest discoveries for Dr. Montessori was that children preferred work to play. She found that play was a substitute for what children really wanted to do, but could not. For example, children like to play "house". If given a choice, the children prefer to be in a real kitchen with their mother or father learning how to prepare real food. Another discovery by Dr. Montessori was that children have a deep sense of personal dignity. They want to be capable and held in high regard. Children want to be able to do things for themselves.