Independence
Children learn to care for themselves, make choices, complete meaningful work, and feel proud of their abilities.
Parent Guide
Montessori vs Daycare
Choosing between Montessori preschool and traditional daycare is an important early childhood decision. Both can provide care, but their goals, classroom experiences, and approach to learning can be very different.
Understanding the Difference
Care, learning, and the early years.
Traditional daycare primarily supports families by providing supervision, routines, safety, and play while parents are at work. Many daycare programs create warm and caring environments where children can socialize, rest, eat, and participate in group activities.
Montessori education is different because it is intentionally designed as an early learning environment. A Montessori classroom is carefully prepared with hands-on materials that help children build independence, concentration, problem-solving skills, language, mathematics, practical life skills, and respect for others.
At Together We Grow Montessori School in Vancouver, our full-day Casa program combines thoughtful care with authentic Montessori learning for children ages 2.5 to 5.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Montessori school vs traditional daycare.
Montessori Preschool
- Child-centered learning
- Individual learning pace
- Hands-on Montessori materials
- Prepared classroom environment
- Long uninterrupted work periods
- Focus on independence and concentration
- Practical life, sensorial, language, math, and cultural studies
Traditional Daycare
- Supervision and care routines
- Group play and activities
- More flexible daily structure
- Toys and general learning materials
- Frequent transitions
- Focus on socialization and daily care
- May or may not include a structured curriculum
Why Families Choose Montessori
Montessori supports the whole child.
Montessori education is designed to help children become confident, capable, respectful, and curious learners.
Concentration
Longer work periods help children develop focus, patience, persistence, and problem-solving skills.
Hands-On Learning
Children explore concrete materials before moving toward abstract concepts in language, math, and culture.
Respect
Grace, courtesy, kindness, patience, and care for others are practiced every day in the classroom community.
Early Academics
Language and mathematics are introduced through developmentally appropriate Montessori materials.
Curiosity
Children explore geography, science, nature, culture, art, and music through meaningful discovery.
Montessori in Vancouver
A thoughtful early learning choice for local families.
Families in Vancouver often look for more than basic childcare. They want a safe, warm, inspiring environment where children can develop confidence, independence, communication skills, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Located at Unit 200 – 604 West Broadway, Together We Grow Montessori School serves families in Vancouver and nearby neighbourhoods such as Fairview, Mount Pleasant, Cambie Village, Kitsilano, and South Granville.
Our Montessori Casa program is designed for children ages 2.5 to 5 and offers a calm, purposeful, full-day environment where children can grow with curiosity, confidence, and joy.
Parent Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Is Montessori better than daycare?
It depends on what your family is looking for. Daycare provides supervision and care. Montessori preschool provides care within an intentional educational environment focused on independence, concentration, and hands-on learning.
Does Montessori still include play?
Yes. Montessori recognizes that children learn through meaningful activity. Children explore, move, communicate, create, and discover through purposeful work and social interaction.
Will Montessori prepare my child for kindergarten?
Yes. Montessori supports independence, communication, social confidence, early literacy, early math, practical life skills, and emotional readiness.
What age does Together We Grow accept?
Together We Grow Montessori School offers a full-day Montessori Casa program for children ages 2.5 to 5.
Experience Montessori in person.
The best way to understand the difference between Montessori and daycare is to visit a Montessori classroom. We welcome families to learn more about Together We Grow Montessori School and discover whether our program is the right fit for their child.
Book a School Tour