What is the importance of the 3-year-age mix in a Montessori classroom?
The children of three different ages 3, 4, and 5 form an equal distribution of 2 -6 year olds with the youngest children typically attending just morning or half-day programs. This age mix of children in one classroom provides excellent opportunity for the younger ones to learn from the older and the older children to take on the role as mentors (we learn things best of all when we teach them to someone else and this leaves us with a tremendous sense of pride). Younger half-day children can move to a full-day program usually around the age of 4 (usually in the second year) or sometimes earlier, based upon readiness of the child and joint agreement between parents and the directress. In some cases the younger children may attend a full-day program.
