Rural Kids and Their Montessori Kindergarten

Xiaochen, 7-year-old Yi boy in Wuding County of Yunnan Province, has inborn ear disability. He is now living together with grandparents who are already in their sixties, while his parents migrate to work in provincial city. Since his grandparents speak in Yi dialect for most of the time, Xiaochen had no knowledge on Mandarin till he was already three.

The ear disability made Xiaochen somewhat inferior and very quiet. One thing he said most in Yi dialect was “when I grow up, I'm going to buy many ears to use”. Granny said, "We used to bring him to the field every day.” When grandparents were farming, the boy played alone with the mud aside. Sometimes, he would also play together with his little friends."

The ear disability made Xiaochen somewhat inferior and very quiet. One thing he said most in Yi dialect was “when I grow up, I'm going to buy many ears to use”. Granny said, "We used to bring him to the field every day.” When grandparents were farming, the boy played alone with the mud aside. Sometimes, he would also play together with his little friends."

The Montessori Method focuses on cultivating children’s creativity and imagination ability through sensorial methods. It also emphasis on the development of students’ characteristics such as dependence, cooperation, concentration and discipline. The Method has been very popular recently, especially among those private early education institutions in big cities. However, for old people in this village who speak only Yi dialect in their entire lives, Montessori Method is really a strange concept they can hardly understand. But they are happy and supportive for the come into being of this new place, where their grandchildren can play at and with teachers looking after.

Changes are witnessed gradually. Xiaochen began to talk and became more optimistic. When entering senior grade, he could even speak and communicate in Mandarin fluently. Xiaochen said," I like kindergarten, for I can sing, paint and play games here."
To address the early education needs of rural areas, World Vision has been cooperating with local education bureau to leverage the teachers’ teaching skills and motivation. We hope the promotion of Montessori kindergartens in Wuding will help more and more children like Xiaochen to live a much fullness childhood.

（Written by Pu Aiqin)