In the eyes of children, colors exist everywhere and are considered as a means of connection for children to form their worldview. To each child, the color will be seen and perceived under different shades and carries its own meaning.
There are studies conducted by scientists that show that colors are absorbed by transmission from the eyes to the brain which releases a hormone and can affect our emotions, mind and energy. Hence, during the age of forming the sensitivity to the surrounding world, colors play a crucial role in developing the child’s psychology, health, behavior and perception of the world around him. Understanding this, Dr. Maria Montessori once said:
“Not that the child shall know colors, forms or qualities, but that he refines his senses through an exercise of attention, comparison and judgment.”
So, which aspects should be prioritized in arranging a Montessori classroom and suitable living environments for children from 0-6 years old – the golden age of Microanalysis to have a positive impact on children’s development? Let’s find out with IMA.
- What color is the Montessori classroom?
If each Montessori classroom is a form of art, the Montessori educator will be surely an artist. These passionate artisans with a thorough understanding of Montessori philosophy will always have their own intention in the arrangement of layout and color coordination.
Every Montessori classroom needs to provide a feeling of relaxation, lightness and warmth so that children can focus on activities. Therefore, the uniformity of hues and the skillful coordination of colors in the learning corners are the prerequisites to create a standardized and appropriate Montessori classroom for children.
The picture below is the common rule used in the Montessori classroom:
- The function room space needs the “comfort as home”
Neutral colors and cool tones should be prioritized mainly in indoor activity areas such as dining rooms or reading rooms to boost concentration and improve memory. Colors with a calming tendency such as green or blue can calm the children down and offer a sense of comfort for them while living or studying.
Warm colors, especially red, can be utilized as a highlight function; hence, using some red materials as teaching aids or decorations to a small study corner could draw the children’s attentionand direct them to the initiative and stimulate their interest and creativity.
- Outdoor space – where children confidently work and have fun
In the midst of nature, children need to be encouraged to freely act. Therefore, yellow is an ideal choice to direct children to the limit of excitement and joy. Warm color schemes can help your child’s outdoor activities to be more joyful and energetic.
In general, to build a child-friendly living space, the activity areas need to be color-harmonized and should not combine more than 3 colors per area. The ideal colors to apply to preschools are blue and green since this type of education requires a calm and peaceful environment, which are mandatory for children to confidently grow and develop. In addition, the living space also needs to incorporate warm colors to support the child’s perfection in thinking, mindset and natural light so that he always brings cheerful and positive energy.
At IMA Montessori Academy, we always care about children’s holistic development physically, psychologically and socially. Hence, with each corner in the Montessori classroom, the school aims to select the right materials that fit children’s condition and needs. Aside from that, to balance the colors blue and green – the two main colors of IMA, we tend to make the most of natural light by utilizing glass-walled with curtains for every classroom instead of traditional wall.
In addition, art activities are integrated into the Montessori curriculum to boost children’s creativity and broaden their point of view. IMA children are encouraged to practice color classification and apply it into the real situation and to understand their “true colors”.
IMA hopes that, with the enthusiasm of our educators, IMA can become a childhood stop – where children can observe the world with multicolored lenses!