The children's house
It's not important to be able to enjoy the cakes, but to be able to prepare them, offer them, host a party - that's what a child needs. The most important thing is not the beautifully laid table, but being able to set the table beautifully, being able to do it yourself.
In the 1940s and 50s, Dr. Maria Montessori immersed herself in understanding the early childhood development of the under-3-year-old child. During this time, she found inspired companions in Adele Costa Gnocchi, Gianna Gobbi and Dr. Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro, who enriched and continued her work.
Adele Costa Gnocchi, a midwife and psychologist, took part in the first Montessori training course in 1909. From 1939, she offered Montessori education specifically for children under the age of three in her “Casa dei Bambini”. Together with Dr. Maria Montessori, she developed a Montessori program “Assistant to Infancy” for children from 0 to 3 years – a curriculum for Montessori courses.
Gianna Gobbi, whose medical training shaped her special interest in pregnancy and childbirth, joined Dr. Montessori and Dr. Silvana Montanaro in 1957 to jointly design the subsequent Montessori courses.
Dr. Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro, a surgeon and psychiatrist, discovered Montessori education by employing an “Assistant to Infancy” for her own child. Her fascination led to the writing of probably the most important work ‘Understanding the Child’, which describes the development from 0 to 3 years. Dr. Montanaro was thus largely responsible for the spread of Montessori education by offering Montessori courses for children from 0 – 3 years worldwide.
Our Montessori children’s house, Montessori Toddler Community is located on the mezzanine floor of a turn-of-the-century house in the 8th district, Josefstadt Vienna. It offers children from the age of 1.5 space and room for personal development. The main characteristic of this developmental period is the child’s special ability to unconsciously and easily absorb knowledge and experiences from the environment.
The premises of the Montessori Kinderhäuschen are precisely tailored to the needs of the young child and create a place where the first steps towards independence can be taken. The teachers accompany each child sensitively and support them in developing basic social-emotional skills.
