Episode 16: Dr Montessori and Nature

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of nature, Barbara and David explore Maria Montessori’s advocacy of all things natural. Montessori believed that modern children, who are effectively imprisoned in our urban, degenerate, artificial lifestyles, should be reconnected with Nature at large. By this she meant not just flower gardens, petting zoos, and parks with sandpits — but wild, scary and uncomfortable Nature, wet, windswept, scorched and frozen, ‘red in tooth and claw’. This reconnection with real Nature, she believed, frees the child’s expansive spirit, slows life to the pace of the seasons, engenders respect for all living things, and releases the child’s inner strength to thrive in adversity.

Om Podcasten

In the early 20th Century, Maria Montessori transformed our appreciation of the importance of early childhood to every individual and to society. Her followers are astounded by the ongoing relevance of her insights to contemporary issues — freedom, justice, peace, nature, identity, progress, independence, faith and love — all thoughtfully explored by Montessori experts and guests in this series of podcasts. The hosts are Barbara Isaacs, leading Montessori authority and President of Montessori Europe, and David Gettman, founder of My Montessori Child software, which sponsors this podcast.