Answers to the questions parents ask most.

Not at all — Dr. Montessori simply observed that competition is an ineffective tool to motivate children to learn. Traditional schools challenge students to compete for grades and class rankings. In Montessori preschools, students learn to collaborate rather than mindlessly compete.

Children discover their own abilities and develop independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline. In an atmosphere where they learn at their own pace and compete only against themselves, they learn not to be afraid of making mistakes.

Competition does evolve naturally on the playground and in class — when children choose it themselves. The key is voluntary participation rather than pressure imposed by adults.

By the end of age five, Montessori children are normally curious, self-confident learners who look forward to going to school. They ask thoughtful questions and honestly want to learn.

Most children adapt to their new setting fairly quickly, making new friends and succeeding within the definition of success understood in their new school. There’s nothing inherent in Montessori that causes them to struggle when transferred to traditional schools.

What you might notice: some children find the pace or curriculum less enriched than what they had. Others may not understand why everyone in the class has to do the same thing at the same time. But adapting is what children do — and they’ll bring their Montessori-developed independence and love of learning with them.

Dr. Montessori named her first school “Casa dei Bambini” — the Children’s House — to emphasize a fundamental difference from traditional schools.

The Montessori classroom is not the domain of the adults in charge. It’s a carefully prepared environment designed to facilitate the development of the children’s independence and sense of personal empowerment. This is the children’s community. They move freely within it, selecting work that captures their interest. Even very small children are responsible for the care of their own child-sized environment.

Four generations of parents have been amazed to see small children in Montessori classrooms cut raw fruits and vegetables, sweep and dust, pour water without spilling, and calmly go about their work like the masters of the place. Because that’s exactly what they are.

Two- and three-day programs are attractive to parents who don’t need full-time care, but five-day programs create the consistency that is essential for young children to thrive in a Montessori environment.

The primary goal of Montessori involves creating a culture of consistency, order, and empowerment. Children build routines they can predict, relationships they can rely on, and a mastery of materials that develops over time. Interrupted attendance disrupts all three.

That’s why most Montessori schools — including FLMA — expect children to attend five days a week.

Children ages six weeks through twelve years. We have programs for infants, toddlers, Pre-K, Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and school-age children (before and after school plus summer camp).

We’re open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hot lunch and snacks are served daily.

Three simple steps: connect with us, submit an admission packet, and settle in.

Our Admission Center lays out every way to start — book a visit, call (916) 351-9448, or go straight to an application. We’ll walk you through everything from there.