If you've started researching preschool options, you've probably run into the word "Montessori" a lot — and maybe wondered what it actually means beyond the name. It's not a brand or a style of decorating a classroom. Montessori is a specific educational philosophy, developed over a century ago, built around how children naturally learn. Here's a plain-language look at what it actually is, and what it looks like in practice. Where it comes from Montessori education was develo

If you're weighing preschool options for your child, "Montessori vs. traditional" is probably one of the first questions on your list. Both approaches can absolutely help a child thrive — but they're built on different ideas about how young children learn best, and that shows up in a lot of practical ways day to day. Here's an honest, side-by-side look to help you figure out which fits your family. Classroom structure Traditional preschool typically follows a teacher-led mode

Potty training questions come up in almost every conversation I have with prospective families — and for good reason. It's one of the biggest transitions of early childhood, and it can feel like a lot to navigate on top of everything else that comes with starting preschool. Here's how I think about it, and what I ask of families before their child starts at Pacific Montessori. It's a collaboration, not a hand-off One of the most common misconceptions is that preschool is wher

If you're considering Montessori for your child, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once: is my child actually ready for this? It's a fair thing to wonder. Montessori classrooms look different from a typical preschool room — children move freely, choose their own work, and spend long stretches of time deeply focused on a single activity. If you're picturing rows of desks and a teacher leading the whole group through the same lesson, Montessori can look alm