In this video I’m sharing what Montessori actually is—without the fluff—so you can decide if a Montessori nursery/preschool (or Montessori at home) is the right fit for your family. I talk about Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who developed the Montessori method through careful, scientific observation—originally in classroom environments with preschool children. Even though Montessori was designed for schools, I explain how we can still take so many of the principles and apply them at home, even if we don’t have a huge classroom or all of the expensive materials. I break Montessori down into the key characteristics: the prepared environment, mixed-age groupings (typically in three-year spans), the scientifically designed self-correcting materials, and the adult’s role as a guide and observer rather than a “teacher at the front.” I walk you through what a prepared environment looks like—child-sized, calm, tidy, accessible shelves, trays/baskets, and work mats—so children can choose work independently, concentrate without interruption, and return everything to its place. I also explain Montessori’s four planes of development (birth–6, 6–12, 12–18, 18–24), what “self-correcting” really means (it’s not about being wooden or pretty), and how adults support learning by observing, intervening as little as possible, and demonstrating with very few words. Finally, I outline the Montessori curriculum areas for preschool (practical life, sensorial, language, maths, arts & culture) and the “cosmic education” great lessons for ages 6–12.