By Vivian Cain

One of the most striking differences between a Montessori school and a traditional school format is the multi-age classroom setting. For those unfamiliar with the Montessori environment, it can be a bit perplexing to envision your child in a classroom with younger and older students.

One of the core beliefs behind the Montessori philosophy is that learning isn’t restricted by age but rather your child’s learning pace, interests, and personal development. This means that not only will your child learn social skills and unique perspectives they wouldn’t normally be exposed to in a traditional classroom, they will benefit from the following advantages of a multi-age classroom.

Leadership skills. If your child is older, you may worry that younger children in the classroom will distract your child or that the younger children will receive more attention and assistance. If your child is younger, you may