Apple Montessori Schools in New Jersey identify children’s strength and help them hone those skills in a way that is unique to them. And while Apple Montessori promotes independence and allows students to learn at their own pace, they also understand the importance of teaching children cooperative learning and teamwork at an early age.

Group and team building activities in the classroom can nurture social and emotional skills; language and literacy skills; fine motor skills; cognitive skills; and creative expressions through music skills. A child’s interaction with others at school can also help build social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making.

The earlier we allow our children to socialize and realize the importance of teamwork and cooperative learning, the more prepared they will be to work in group settings throughout the course of their life.

Unlike typical classrooms, Montessori schools combine students of different ages and allow them to interact and build off of each other’s development while also finding their own path to success. Building relationships with children of various ages as opposed to being around only one grade level all of the time will diversify a child’s social skills and teach them how younger children look up to older children and how older children are supposed to be a good example for younger children.

Children are urged to learn at their own pace at Apple Montessori Schools, and that goes for learning social and teamwork skills as well. A child’s level of interaction with others will never be forced at Apple Montessori, rather, the comfort and flexibility of the Montessori environment that allows children to be themselves and naturally creates a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates relationship building amongst students.

Montessori schools also often times have smaller, more focused classrooms that can be less overwhelming for children who are experiencing this type of setting for the first time. Having fewer students to meet all at once at Apple Montessori Schools makes cooperative learning and building teamwork skills more manageable.

Outside of school, signing children up for group athletics and clubs are also great ways to improve their cooperative learning and teamwork skills.

Apple Montessori Schools of Hoboken celebrated their annual Kindergarten Graduation ceremony June 22, recognizing each outstanding kindergartner for their accomplishments during their time at Apple Montessori.

With Apple Montessori’s mixed-age classrooms with children ages 2-6, kindergartners are the leaders of the class. Approximately 100 family members and friends attended the event to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates.

The graduation ceremony also included Disney-themed performances by the children with skits from Moana and Snow White. To demonstrate their public speaking and elocution skills that have been developed while at Apple Montessori, each child is given a speaking part in the performances.

The children worked collaboratively to perfect their performances, highlighting the interpersonal and teamwork skills honed at Apple Montessori Schools.

Each child’s role in the play spotlights the confidence and independence that is fostered at Apple Montessori. Additionally, the reading, writing and cognitive skills that Apple Montessori helps develop at an early age were evident on stage as the children performed.

Apple Montessori is proud of the graduated kindergartners who embody the school’s mission statement.

Apple Montessori’s kindergarten program is a great way to inspire discovery and development in your child. They prepare students for school success for life by modeling their preschool/kindergarten Approach to Learning Program after their elementary school program which consists of advanced core curriculum, enrichment and beyond. Apple Montessori’s kindergarten classroom is adapted to the development needs of each child, giving them a variety of choices that engage their natural curiosity and intellect.

Apple Montessori’s core kindergarten curriculum includes lessons in: practical life, sensorial, science, history and geography, math, language, and technology. Their enrichment programs include: art, music and drama, foreign language, character and ethics development, and physical education.

Kindergarten is one of the most crucial developmental parts of a child’s life. Be sure to make the most of it by enrolling your child in Apple Montessori Schools.

This story was originally published at The Digest Online.