Improving gross motor skill development through the Montessori method in children aged 3-5 years

Introduction: Montessori is a method of teaching children based on children activity. It can activate gross motor skill development in children.

Objectives: To assess the effect of the Montessori method on the gross motor skill development of children aged 3-5 years.

Method: This study used a quasi experimental research design with pre-test and post-test with control group. Purposive sampling was used. Sample size was 40 children consisting of 21 children in Nur Hidayah Early Chidhood Education (ECE) Centre as intervention group and 19 children in Bina Kasih I ECE Centre as control group. Research instrument was Denver Development  Screening Test (DDST) II. Statistical data analysis used was the Mann-Whitney test and the Wilcoxon test.

Results: Of the 40 children 23 (57.5%) were female, 32 (80%) were in the 49-60 month category and 25 (62.5%) were first children. In 35 (87.5%) the parental income was less than 795,000 Indonesian Rupaiah. There was no difference in the development of gross motor skill development of children in control and intervention group before intervention. There was no difference of the development of the gross motor skill development in early childhood (3-5 years old) before and after intervention in control group. There was a significant difference of the gross motor skill development in early childhood (3-5 years old) before and after Montessori  method in intervention group (p =0.014).

Conclusions: Montessori method is effective for improving gross motor skill development in children aged 3-5 years.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2020; 49(4): 347-352