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In Montessori education, the '''Prepared Environment''' refers to a setting designed to facilitate independent learning and exploration by the child.<ref>Montessori, M. (1966). The Secret of Childhood. Ballantine Books.</ref> The environment, prepared by the adult, contains only the essential materials and tools for optimal development, removing any superfluous items. Key attributes of a prepared environment include order, reality, beauty, and simplicity.

The environment features child-sized furniture and materials to promote the children's independent functioning. A vital part of this prepared environment is the presence of a trained adult and a mixed-age group of children, which further enhances the child's development and social interaction.

== Montessori Quotes ==

*"The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult."<ref>Montessori, M. (1967). The Discovery of the Child. Ballantine Books.</ref>

*"The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences."<ref>Montessori, M. (1949). The Absorbent Mind. Clio Press.</ref>

== Research and Critiques ==

*'''Pros''': The prepared environment supports the Montessori principles of autonomy and self-directed learning. It allows children to learn at their own pace and according to their own interests. This kind of environment has been associated with positive outcomes in terms of cognitive and social development.<ref>Lillard, A. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.</ref>

*'''Cons''': Critics argue that while the prepared environment promotes autonomy, it may not provide enough structure for all learners. Some children may require more direct instruction or may not learn effectively in a self-directed environment.<ref>Egan, K. (2002). Getting it wrong from the beginning: Our progressivist inheritance from Herbert Spencer, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. Yale University Press.</ref>

== Comparisons to Other Methods ==

Traditional education often takes place in a more structured environment where learning is largely adult-directed. In contrast, the Montessori prepared environment is designed to support self-directed, experiential learning and foster a sense of autonomy and competence.<ref>Mooney, C. (2013). Theories of Childhood, Second Edition: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky. Redleaf Press.</ref>

== See Also ==

*[[Montessori Method]]
*[[Children's House (Montessori)]]
*[[Points of Interest (Montessori)]]

{{Glossary of Montessori Terms}}

== References ==

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