Why do Montessori schools have children use rugs?
In my visits to Montessori schools all over the world I have see Montessori students working at floor mats as well as at child-size tables. The purpose of the floor mats and tables is to define the student’s workspace and to reinforce Montessori’s principle of “freedom within limits”. There is such an element of respect with having that defined workspace and it is something that the students take very seriously.
The Montessori preschool students are shown how to walk around the mats, how to place their work on the mats and how to respect one another’s personal workspace. They also learn that it is never okay to disturb a classmate’s work or join a classmate’s work unless permission is given by that student
