Demands in Early Childhood Education: Montessori Pedagogy, Prepared Environment, and Teacher Training

Abstract

Recognizing the inherent attention in examining how educational practices affect our future, there is little known about society’s demands related to early childhood education. This paper aims to analyze the current preschool enrolment situation in the Euro-Western world and the demands of society, focusing attention on the characteristics needed in the prepared environment and in teacher training practices that inclusive education offers. Different socio-cultural theories have been analyzed, and practices regarding human development have been presented as they guarantee an integral development of the child, one which respects infant developmental stages and offers the right scaffolding and environment to stimulate a child’s interest and potential. All these aspects are claimed in society, and are reflected in the Montessori Pedagogy principles, where thanks to the observation and knowledge regarding children’s needs, educators can prepare stimulating environments that lead to personal formative development.