Choosing between Montessori and a traditional classroom is one of the first big questions parents face when looking for a Montessori nursery school in Lagos. Both approaches can produce happy, well-prepared children. The right choice depends on your child’s personality, your family’s priorities and the quality of the teachers.
Here is a balanced look at each approach, so you can ask better questions on your next visit.
What the Montessori method is
The Montessori method was developed by Dr Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. Its heart is the belief that young children learn best through hands-on activity, in a carefully prepared environment, at their own pace.
In a Montessori classroom you will usually see children choosing purposeful activities such as pouring, sorting, threading, counting with beads or tracing letters. The teacher acts as a guide, observing and stepping in when needed, rather than standing at the front and talking to everyone at once.
Montessori classrooms often mix ages, so younger children learn from older ones and older ones build confidence by helping.
Dr Montessori also emphasised order and independence. Child-sized furniture, low shelves and clearly arranged materials let young children choose, use and return things by themselves. Many parents notice that Montessori-style habits, such as tidying up after an activity, begin to appear at home.
How traditional nursery classes differ
In a traditional nursery class, the teacher normally leads the whole group through a timetable: songs, stories, letters, numbers and play. Children usually work on the same activity at the same time, and the day follows a set structure.
This approach has real strengths. Routine helps children feel secure, group activities build listening and cooperation, and parents often like seeing clear progress through familiar milestones such as writing letters and reciting numbers.
Many good schools today borrow ideas from both methods, so the labels are often less important than what actually happens in the room.
The key question is whether a traditional class gives children enough time to move, explore and make choices. If the timetable is rigid and children sit for long periods, young learners may become restless. If it is balanced with play and activity, it can work very well.
Our founder’s Montessori story
Montessori thinking sits at the root of Palmville. Our late founder, Olori Chief (Mrs.) Caroline Ayodele Bello Bankole, known as the “Iya Ewe of Lagos” (Mother of Children), trained in the Montessori method at St. Nicholas College, England, in the 1970s.
She went on to found Agalaji Day Nursery in Idumota and later Palmville Children School in 1989. Her belief that children flourish through patience, respect and careful attention continues to guide our early-years work today, and you can read more on our about page.
How to choose for your child
Rather than asking which method is better, ask which environment suits your child. A self-directed, curious child may enjoy the freedom of Montessori. A child who needs clear routines and group energy may thrive in a structured class. Most children adapt well to either when teachers are warm and skilled.
On a visit, look at the children as much as the materials. Are they engaged and calm? Do teachers get down to their level and speak kindly? Is there space to move, play and explore?
Remember that you know your child best. If your toddler is easily overwhelmed, a gentle and predictable setting with a warm teacher may help them settle. If they are eager and independent, a more open environment may suit them. Either way, watch how they react during a trial visit.
- Ask what a typical day looks like from arrival to closing
- Find out how much time children spend in play and hands-on activity
- Ask how teachers support children who are shy or slower to settle
- Check class size and how many adults supervise
- Ask how the school prepares children for primary school
Frequently asked questions
At what age can a child start a Montessori programme?
Many Montessori programmes accept children from around two to three years old, though this varies by school. Ask the school which ages it admits and how it supports new starters.
Will my child struggle in primary school after Montessori?
Children from any good nursery programme can settle well in primary school. What matters most is that they have gained curiosity, independence, early literacy and number skills, and confidence around others.
Both Montessori and traditional methods can give your child a strong start. Look past the label, observe the classroom, and choose the nursery where teachers are patient, children are engaged and your child feels safe.
Palmville Children School welcomes parents to visit and see our early years at work. Learn about our nursery and primary school or book a visit to meet our teachers.