What is Montessori's view on screen time?
Montessori classrooms for under-6s generally avoid screens, focusing on hands-on, real-world activity. At home, Montessori-minded families limit screen time and favour real tasks, books and outdoor play. Health bodies such as the WHO recommend very limited or no sedentary screen time for young children.
What this means in practice
Montessori emphasises the hand as the instrument of the mind.
Alternatives
- Practical life tasks
- Books
- Outdoor play
- Puzzles
- Art
If screens are used
Choose slow, quality content, watch together, set limits.
Practical next steps
- Set screen rules.
- Offer alternatives.
- Model limited use.
- Review.
ExampleA family replaces morning cartoons with breakfast preparation together.
What to keep in mind
Be realistic; reduce gradually.
Common follow-up questions
Do Montessori schools use tablets?
Rarely in 3–6.
Is TV harmful?
Excess can displace active play.
Sources
Examples are educational illustrations with made-up names. How these answers are prepared.