When we think of creativity we often only think of arts and crafts, music and theatre, but creativity can be demonstrated in numerous ways!

In our Toddler and Children’s House classrooms the children have the opportunity to engage in the Arts each day. In the traditional sense this is observed when our children engage with materials from the Arts shelves; for example, cutting snippets, gluing, finger painting, easel drawing and painting. It is also evident during circle when the children enjoy boldly singing their repertoire of songs and fingerplays or explore with the Montessori bells. 

At Lauremont School our students also receive formal specialty lessons which focus on the Arts. Our Toddlers enjoy participating in the Music Keys program, our Children’s House 1 students enjoy daily circles for song and movement along with numerous thematic crafts and our Children’s House 2/3 students receive lessons throughout the week with our art, music and drama Specialists. They have the best of both worlds!

Creativity, however, is not typically treated in isolation in a Montessori school. Art, music and drama are integrated into the environment as part of the daily activities. Creativity requires freedom to develop. Children need to be free to select activities that attracted them. They need to explore without interruption. In a prepared environment, the child is free to choose, within limits, their work and engage in a purposeful and meaningful way for as long as they like. This enables them to discover solutions and ideas, problem solve, collaborate if desired and innovate.

Our students from Toddler onwards are free to work with materials they are attracted to and manipulate them in a creative and respectful manner. This exploration solidifies their understanding and knowledge of skills and concepts. This innovative investigation occurs inside the classroom and outside in nature.  It is truly inspiring to watch children be creative and create themselves

“Artistic activity is a form of reasoning, in which perceiving and thinking are indivisibly intertwined. A person who paints, writes, composes, dances… thinks with his senses. Genuine art work requires organization which involves many and perhaps all of the cognitive operations known from theoretical thinking.”
– Rudolf Arnheim