Both Froebels Kindergarten and Montessori's Children's House place importance on educating children aged 3 to 7 years old and view the child as the central focus of education. They emphasize allowing children to naturally develop and express themselves through hands-on learning experiences like sensory activities. However, they differ in their philosophical foundations, with Froebels being more idealistic while Montessori has a scientific basis, and their teaching methods, such as Montessori using practical self-correcting apparatus instead of stories and group activities.

1. Froebels Kindergarten and Montessori’s
Childern’s House:
Similarities and dissimilarities
Dr.M.Deivam
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
The Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University)
Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu – 624 302

2. Similarities
• Both the methods have given importance to the
education of children, between the age of three
and seven year.
• Froebel and Montessori made the “Child” as the
centre of the educative process.
• They recommended the education which brings out
the inner nature of the child.
• Both have emphasized sense training for the
children.
• Method of teaching, special apparatus or gifts and
detailed instructions are given.

3. Cont.,
• Froebel and Montessori have stressed the
education, which should be the process of
unfolding the child’s self expression.
• In both schools, the children have self-expression,
and self activity in a atmosphere of freedom.
• Both have respect for the child’s individuality and
love for the child.
• Both methods have teachers who do not actually
teach.

4. Froebels Kindergarten Montessori’s Childern’s House
1 This is based on idealistic
philosophy
It has a scientific foundation
2 Since stories, songs, fairy
tales, drama and poetry are
taught, this method is
rather metaphysical.
There are no stories, poetry and
drama in teaching. This method is
rather practical.
3 Since the children carry on
group activities, there is too
much of socialization
Since the individual is doing his
own task, in his own way, at his own
speed, there is too much of
individualism.
4 Physical training is done
through group work
It is done through specially designed
apparatus.
5 There is classroom teaching
according to a time table.
There is no time table at all in this
system. Children are free to move
from room to room.

5. 6 Series of twenty gifts for
sense training are used.
Three different kinds of
apparatus are used.
7 Play and play activities
are given importance.
Self-corrective apparatus are
given in this method
8 Manual activities like
gardening, paper cutting,
are done by the children.
Daily routine activities like
dressing, undressing and
dusting are done by the
children.
9 Teacher act as a guide. The teacher acts as an
observer.
10 Without the gifts also,
the teaching can be
managed.
Without the apparatus the
teaching will not be
effective.