From this, one comes to concretely appreciate, actually and literally that in Montessori education, play is not entertainment, but learning. It is a method where children’s learning environment has been designed to involve work with purpose mixed up with play so as to encourage learning. These activities commonly termed as work under the Montessori model aims at Concentration, Creativity and Cognition. Play, in Montessori terms, is actual work and as such the children explore their environment in order to acquire knowledge.

Play as a Tool for Cognitive and Physical Development

Play in Montessori classrooms is developmental and covers all areas of a child’s development. The materials for children are chosen to be of their age and children are exposed to items that are responsive to touch, sight, sound, taste and feel to enhance mental growth as well as improving problem solving skills. For instance, building blocks, sorting objects, and puzzles give a child’s brain a good exercise and strengthens his or her hand muscles. These activities assist children in developing aspects such as, coordination, spatial skills and good reasoning. Montessori play is different from playthings where the child has to use his mind and body at the same time utilizing movements that have practical application.

Encouraging Social Interaction and Emotional Growth Through Play

In many ways, play is also highly important in the social development of children in the Montessori system. The children in Montessori learning environment engage in group projects that call for co-operation, negotiation and value for the other team members. These interactions are important especially in social emotional development as children learn how to share, resolve conflict and perceive things from others’ viewpoints. Children participating in group play activities get to learn on how to relate with others and also learn the importance of group play and togetherness. The Montessori approach which allows children to freely select their activities therefore enhances independence and improves a child’s self-esteem and emotional ability.

Balancing Structure and Freedom in Montessori Play

Montessori classrooms are very disciplined and give the child a free roaming in that they are allowed to play without being dictated on what to do and when to do it. The strategy is to strike a proper balance between prescriptive instructions and allowing the employees freedom to be creative and act independently. Kids are allowed to engage in the activities of their choice but only those activities are engaged in that are beneficial since the environment has been arranged in a way that will allow learning to take place. The choice is simple because this approach lets play make learning fun, and offer kids a chance to explore as they build fundamental life skills.

Conclusion: 

Play as the part of Montessori education system is crucial to the child, as it connects learning and having fun. This is particularly true for Montessori classes where play is not just a mere pastime but rather incorporated in the course of a day’s activities, to enable the children discover the world around them and at the same time develop their mind, body and spirit. Through manipulative, children are able to acquire their fine motor skills, increase their problem solving skills as well as enhancing their creativity all of which are as a result of exploration. Lastly, Montessori education reconstructs the play and a child, therefore, introduces a new aspect in his life. It provide a positive learning atmosphere where the child can learn on their own through play while at the same time building up their character and love for learning. This invaluable strategy makes play not only the concept, but the way toward self development and successful studying.