At The Montessori Academy Edison Lakes, winter is not something we hide from. It is something we fully embrace. As soon as the first snow falls, our students from Early Childhood through Junior High head outdoors to explore, play, and discover the magic that only winter can offer.
Why? Because Montessori education has always recognized that the outdoors is not a break from learning. It is learning. Maria Montessori wrote that children need regular contact with nature to develop curiosity, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the world. Snow days simply expand the classroom.
Research and Montessori educators consistently show that winter play strengthens gross motor skills, boosts coordination and balance, and encourages imaginative and collaborative play. Snow transforms ordinary spaces into sensory playgrounds soft, cold, crunchy, bright inviting children to observe seasonal changes in ways no worksheet can match.
Winter experiences also build resilience. Navigating cold, wind, or uneven snowy terrain helps children practice adaptability and problem solving. Fresh air and natural light support mood, sleep, and overall wellness, something all of us appreciate during Midwest winters.
At TMA, you will find EC children making snowangles and marveling at icy patterns on leaves… Lower Elementary students building forts and testing sled angles like tiny engineers… Upper Elementary learners tracking animal footprints or experimenting with melting and freezing… and Junior High students taking responsibility as leaders, helping younger peers gear up and explore safely.
With the right layers, boots, and mittens, the outdoors becomes a joyful, expanded classroom. Winter does not pause our Montessori work. It deepens it.
At TMA, snow is not an interruption. It is an invitation.