https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 19:07:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1678081 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:51:29 +0000 sunny 1678081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have our LO in a Goddard school. Like @Smurfette: posted, it is structured. There are set times for all the activities, but they do let the kids nap as long as they need to. </p> <p>Each Goddard is individually owned (its a franchise) and for our Goddard, the owner works on-site managing the business and there is a separate educational director. I liked that the owner was a person and not a big corporation like some of the other centers we toured.</p> <p>While Montessori is an educational philosophy, I think many centers probably interpret/implement it slightly differently. The one I toured basically said that they let the children choose what activity fascinated them and they could play with that item and if they were fixated on 1 thing for days, the teachers would gently nudge them towards other activities as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1678044 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:40:03 +0000 MsLipGloss 1678044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't mind Montessori for an older child . . . but the developmental differences in the age ranges for the younger kiddos--under 3--are just too significant (imo) to want them in classes with such large age gaps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1678041 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:39:38 +0000 Smurfette 1678041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just took R out of a Goddard School. We only switched cause we wanted something closer to the house. The Goddard closer to us would harder to get to with traffic and was more money then the place we chose.</p> <p>I think Goddard is a great school. It is education based. Once R moved into the toddler 1 room (12-18 months) it is structured class. Set times foryoga/movement, outside play, snack, circle time, lunch, naps, etc. But they have open play when they can play with whatever they want in the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1678021 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:32:13 +0000 lawbee11 1678021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I am definitely not an expert, but I believe Goddard is more structured/curriculum based than Monstessori. I also think there is a wider range of ages in Montessori classrooms (the ones near us have infant-3 year old classrooms and 3-6 year old classrooms). I don't think you can go wrong with either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1677818 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:42:39 +0000 Mamaof2 1677818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not all that familiar with Montessori but my DS went to Goddard for 3 years and its very much structured. You have set times for activities and the kids don't get to pick and choose like I would imagine Montessori allows. </p> <p>We loved it but we moved once DD was ready for DCP - we are now at Malvern which is very similar to Goddard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/goddard-vs-montessori#post-1677784 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:32:53 +0000 mrsjyw 1677784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are taking some tours in the upcoming weeks and my top two choices so far are a Goddard and Montessori school (based on location, tuition, schedule, reviews I've read, etc.) </p> <p>Can someone enlighten me as to the differences between their philosophies, etc? </p>