Montessori Activities: Open Ended or Close Ended?
I frequently see images and ideas for beautiful, open ended children’s activities. The captions will say how well the activity is aligned to Montessori.
It’s not.
For those unfamiliar with the terms, open ended activities and materials are those that do not have a set outcome or way to use them. Art supplies, building blocks, and pretend play are common examples of open ended activities. Close ended activities are those which have a set way to use them and have a particular outcome. A board game, puzzle, or activities with a set of rules that must be followed are close ended activities.
After much trial and error, Maria Montessori developed a collection of materials designed to educate children. The activities were each carefully designed to show the child one thing. The sandpaper letters give children a sensorial experience when learning letter sounds. Geometric solids allow children to explore three dimensional shapes. Pouring activities allow children to practice pouring.
Close ended materials are the easiest way to teach children a new skill. You want them to practice using tongs? Set up a tonging activities. Are you trying to teach colors to your child? The color tablets are a great choice. The moveable alphabet is perfect for letting children build words. None of these activities lend themselves to free play. There are other educational outcomes, such as fine motor development or concentration. However, each material is designed as a closed ended activity.
Some of the benefits of Montessori philosophy and materials include:
- Freedom to make independent choices
- Explore complex ideas in a concrete way
- Supporting a child’s innate sense of order
- Give a child a sense of purpose and accomplishment
Open Ended Activities
Open ended activities are also great for children! There are other education methods that have far more emphasis on free play and open ended materials. Waldorf and Reggio Emilia schools come to mind. Open ended play encourages children’s creativity and expression. When children build with blocks, they create amazing structures. Children painting a picture explore color, lines, and other elements of art.
One of the things I noticed when comparing the benefits of open-ended versus close-ended, is the overlap of benefits.
- Children learn to express themselves in a variety of ways
- Children can navigate emotions and new experiences
- They have a sense of freedom and independence
- Development of confidence is supported
- Children explore concepts without realizing it: for example, exploring the rules of physics when playing with a ball.
My Own Conclusion
I believe children need both. Something I keep in mind is that Maria Montessori developed an educational methodology. In our home, where we are homeschooling, we have a mixture of open ended and close ended activities. In the playroom, close ended activities are things like puzzles and board games. Open ended activities are dolls and building blocks. There is also a mix with outdoor play. Children can often spend hours exploring and playing outdoors in free, open ended play. We also spend time gardening, exploring, and completing different tasks.
When I choose activities for homeschool, I typically choose close ended ones. Our goal is to teach specific skills and support our children’s thirst for knowledge and understanding. I cannot say my children are always excited about new lessons or choosing work. We certainly have our moments!
After school time though, it is not uncommon to find either of my children choosing school activities and practicing skills with their close ended activities.
