Educational techniques for children in games

Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female doctor, scientist and psychologist. She created her own special system, which is not at all similar to traditional pedagogy. The most important thing in her method is to let the child choose the activity for himself. The teacher must guess what interests the baby and create only the necessary conditions for learning. The child is given complete freedom. Today the kid may want to play or draw, tomorrow – to count or read. The teacher remains, as it were, in the shadows. The principle of Maria Montessori: “Help me do it myself.” It is thanks to the non-intervention of adults that children become independent. Usually, classes using this technique begin with finger gymnastics, playing musical instruments or dancing. After that, the kids go to their rooms and do whatever they want: plant flowers, read, sculpt, etc. The study rooms are divided into five zones, each of which is equipped with special materials. For example, in the area of ​​practical life, a toddler can water flowers, make a salad, wash clothes, tie shoelaces, clean shoes, etc. In the area of ​​sensory development, materials have been collected that will help the baby learn to distinguish the characteristics of objects: size, color, shape, weight. In the math zone, the kid learns to count, trains memory and attention, in the language zone he learns to read and write. The space zone acquaints the child with the world around him, with the history and traditions of different nations. 15 minutes before the end of the lesson, the teacher rings the bell, and the children again gather in a circle – do exercises, watch a fairy tale and traditionally blow out the candle.

• Pros

The Montessori method is universal. With its help, you can teach a child to write, count, develop general erudition, logic, the ability to think analytically, fine motor skills. But the most important thing is that children become independent, they are accustomed to work and order, they understand the responsibility for doing work. One of the advantages of the Montessori technique is that the child does not need to be forced to anything, because the child will strive to learn and try something new on his own.

• Cons

Many psychologists note that children who practice the Montessori method have poorly developed imagination. Kids will count well and write competently, but they will never write essays themselves. Today Montessori has followers who are trying to pay attention to creativity. So, additional zones appear: music, art, theater. The Italian teacher is also criticized for too much responsibility of the child for his own development, the inability to work in a team. Teachers note that children who come to a regular school after Montessori kindergarten are uncontrollable and literally stand on their heads.

At one time, the Petersburg teacher Nikolai Aleksandrovich Zaitsev made a sensational statement that the alphabet was harmful. Instead of a primer, Nikolai Aleksandrovich created Zaitsev’s cubes. Cubes differ in color, size, sound. The fundamental difference between Zaitsev’s teaching methodology to read from traditional methods is that a child learns to read without composing words from individual letters, and not by syllables, but by warehouse. These are some combinations of a consonant-vowel pair that are organically connected with human speech and therefore are easier to learn. Unlike syllables, even a separate consonant can be a warehouse, if it is felt by ear that it is “soft” (there can be a vowel behind it, although it is not indicated when writing). Zaitsev teaches mathematics with the help of tables with numbers, which clearly show which number consists of what, what properties it has. The most important thing, according to Nikolai Alexandrovich, is that the child should perceive learning as a game.

• Pros

When playing dice, different channels of perception are involved each time. Children comprehend science through feelings, it is easier for them to understand the difference between vowels and consonants, voiced and soft. A great way to quickly learn to read.

• Cons

Zaitsev’s technique does not explain the letter composition of the word to the baby, she immediately invites him to get acquainted with the warehouses. As a result, at school, kids can swallow endings, make mistakes in the morphemic and phonemic parsing of the word.

In the late 40s, the American military neurophysiologist Glen Doman began to treat children with mental disabilities. The task of the specialists was not to teach the child to read by syllables, but to activate his brain. At first, the work involved reserve brain cells that were not affected by the disease. Children were shown cards with words written in large red print on cardboard, and they pronounced these words out loud. Classes lasted no more than 10 seconds, but regularly and several dozen times a day. The result was amazing: children with brain injuries not only became healthy, but also learned to read fluently. Doman’s technique works so well primarily because the child’s brain is focused on cognition from birth, and during its active growth (up to 3–6 years old), it does not need any motivation to learn. Using the cards, you can not only learn to read, but also count, solve examples, memorize foreign words and place names. After each lesson, it is imperative to praise the child, rejoice at his success, and form an incentive for further learning. Also, keep in mind that classes should be held according to a strict system: every day new cards are added to familiar cards, each card is shown no more than three times a day. Otherwise, teachers who practice the Doman method do not guarantee good results.

• Pros

At the age of three, the child has an excellent vocabulary, is fluent in foreign languages, and is erudite. Children who study according to Doman have excellent visual memory and reading technique.

• Cons

When learning, only the baby’s visual system works, other senses are not involved. He is loaded with knowledge, but not taught to think and analyze. This technique should only be used in conjunction with other learning programs. Only housewives will be able to study Doman with a child: the cards must be shown to the baby throughout the day, strictly observing the schedule of classes. This technique is time consuming for both parents and children.

Boris Pavlovich and Lena Alekseevna Nikitin are one of the creators of the methodology for the formation of creative abilities from early childhood. The authors have raised seven children and 24 grandchildren. During the practice, the Nikitins developed three basic principles. First, children need to be tempered. The child should wear light clothing and have a sporty environment at home. Secondly, it is the freedom of creativity in the classroom. No special training, exercises, lessons. Thirdly, parents’ indifference to what and how the kids get it. The Nikitins are convinced that there are two extremes that must be avoided. This is “overorganization” (sterility, continuous activities, entertainment, games, as a result of which the child does not have time for independent activities) and “abandonment” (when communication with the baby is reduced only to serving him – to feed, dress, put to bed). The mental abilities of Nikitin’s children were also studied from early childhood. At the same time, Boris Pavlovich invented his own intellectual games, which became widespread: “Fold a pattern”, “Fold a square”, “Unicub”, “Frames and inserts”. They are intended for children from 2 years old, when babies can distinguish between shape and color.

• Pros

Using the Nikitin system, you can raise healthy, hardened and intelligent children. It is important that the Nikitins from the very beginning taught children to make decisions on their own and correct their own mistakes.

• Cons

Nikitins paid great attention to the development of physical capabilities, creative intelligence, work skills, and the humanitarian, aesthetic and moral aspects were practically absent.

The Waldorf school emerged in the first quarter of the 10th century in Germany in connection with the search for new forms of social life in the post-war crisis. The founder of the new technique, the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, opposed the early development of intelligence. For example, reading and writing can be taught when the emotional and spiritual world of the child is formed, that is, from 12-XNUMX years old. Waldorf teachers believe that children should receive certain knowledge at the age when they are interested in it. In elementary school, kids sculpt, knit, draw, play musical instruments. Much attention is paid to erythmia (shaped plastic). This technique does not provide for the presence of a TV, computer. Even toys are made from natural materials. Hand-made designer dolls make the child fantasize, come up with images.

• Pros

Children learn in a comfortable atmosphere for them, mastering the material at a convenient pace. The children’s team at the Waldorf School is very close-knit, and the relationship between children and teachers is trusting. If you want to educate a future musician or artist, then this technique is ideal.

• Cons

The main direction of Waldorf gardens and schools is humanitarian. Mathematics and logic are given a secondary role here. Children in Waldorf kindergarten live in their own world, where there is no punishment or instruction. Children begin to read and write only from the third grade. When a child takes off rose-colored glasses, it will be difficult for him to adapt to the modern world.

Unlike Steiner, a Japanese engineer and entrepreneur, one of the founders of Sony Corporation Masaru Ibuka said that “after three years, it’s too late.” It is during the first three years of life that the brain develops at an incredible rate. This is the time when up to 80% of neural connections between brain cells are formed, thanks to which it ensures the intellectual and creative development of a person. At an early age, the baby absorbs information like a sponge, so you can easily teach him foreign languages, music, drawing. At the same time, Ibuka’s method is not limited to teaching a child to read and write from the cradle. The most important thing is to develop the ability to reason, evaluate and perceive. At the same time, Masaru did not offer a specific program, he only gave some advice to parents: learn more poems by heart, take the baby in your arms more often, give the crumbs pencils as early as possible, diversify the child’s activities, train the left hand as well as the right, not buy for children a lot of toys (this distracts attention and does not develop imagination), move more (walking stimulates the thought process).

• Pros

The system of classes for each child is developed individually, based on his preferences and capabilities. The technique allows you to educate a versatile person.

• Cons

Lack of clear instructions. There are only general guidelines.

Acting teacher, mother of two daughters Cecile Lupan has created her own method of child development. Lupan outlined the main advice in the book “Believe in your child.” The main idea of ​​the author is that the best teachers for a child are parents. Only they know exactly what the child needs and how to develop it correctly. Education, according to Cecile, is not a goal, but a means of harmonious development of a child. The kid should play and communicate with parents, and classes are just an addition, and you should not abuse them. Cecile also describes specific exercises for physical development, reading and writing, logic and numeracy, music, drawing, foreign languages, history, geography, newborn swimming and horse riding. At the same time, Cecile herself warns parents not to blindly follow her method, but to choose only what is right for their baby. Every child is different and every child needs to be treated individually.

• Pros

Harmonious early child development in several areas at once: physical (swimming, horse riding, dancing, etc.), mental (logic, writing, reading, counting, languages), aesthetic (music, drawing, poetry), healthy psyche. Close communication between the child and the parents.

• Cons

It takes a lot of patience and time from parents. Cecile’s method is not scientific and can be used as a guideline.