The Difference Between Montessori School and Playschool-converted
                     The Difference Between Montessori 
 School and Playschool
Are you about to send your child off to preschool? Wondering what the difference  
is between Montessori school and Playschool? As you probably know, preschool  
comes before formal school education, starting with kindergarten. What you might 
 not know is that schools can follow several different programs and curricula,  
including a playschool program, traditional curricula or a Montessori preschool  
program.
There are many pros and cons to each option, and it comes down to what is best for 
 your child. During this guide, we will outline what to expect with a playschool  
program and a Tokyo Montessori school program and the differences between  
each option:
●The curriculum
The Montessori program is based on a discovery method in which students learn  
by working with different materials and scenarios, rather than through direct  
instructions from the teacher. There are four key topics covered in Montessori  
programs, including sense organs, practical life, language and math skills. This  
curriculum promotes learning daily living skills, social skills, language, math and 
 physical education. The children tend to learn at their own pace using 
Montessori  equipment that is appropriate for their age and stage. Age group 
rather than  specific ages define the curriculum. Playschool, on the other hand, is 
an informal  nursery group that operates only a few hours per day, and the 
teacher sets the  curriculum. The program is about developing the skills and 
abilities of children  with play and help transition them to kindergarten. The 
playschool program  encourages free play and allows children with decision 
making and problem-  solving skills. The curriculum includes a lot of arts and 
crafts, dress up, outdoor  play and music activities.
●The teaching method
With the Montessori program, the student is at the centre of the learning process, 
 and the teacher merely helps guide the learning process. With Playschool, the  
teacher is at the centre of the learning process. Students participate with the  
encouragement of the teachers as learning is encouraged with tools, games and  
words.
●The learning method
With the Montessori program, teachers help students’ complete challenges and  
gain experience in an uninterrupted learning environment. The curriculum  
encourages the child to self-correct by spotting their errors with feedback from the 
 teacher. The child chooses the work on their own and reinforces their learning,  
giving them a sense of autonomy and achievement. In Playschool, the curriculum  
is much more structured, and the child is guided through the curriculum by the  
teacher. The play method allows them to express themselves before they can fully  
express themselves verbally.
●The environment
With the Montessori program, the environment of the classroom plays a huge role 
 in the learning process. The materials are easily accessible to the students, and 
they  are free to work anywhere they choose. The materials are multisensory and  
encourage physical exploration. In Playschool, the child has an assigned chair and  
table where they work either in groups or on their own. The students sit still and  
listen to the teacher during group sessions.
Both the teaching methods are popular, but the Montessori method has an edge 
as  it enables learning while the Playschool promotes it.