Prepared environment

Montessori's education method called for free activity within a "prepared environment", meaning an educational environment tailored to basic human characteristics and to the specific characteristics of children at different ages. The function of the environment is to allow the child to develop independence in all areas according to his or her inner psychological directives. In addition to offering access to the Montessori materials appropriate to the age of the children, the environment should exhibit the following characteristics:

• Construction in proportion to the child and his/her needs
• Beauty and harmony, cleanliness of environment
• Order
• An arrangement that facilitates movement and activity
• Limitation of materials, so that only material that supports the child's development is included