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The Indaba Method

Montessori-Rooted. Made Practical.

The Indaba Method brings Montessori principles and the wider field of child development into learning that adults can use the same day: at home, in a care setting or in a classroom.

The eight principlesHow learning is designed

Concept illustration: Adult supporting a child's work at a table
Concept · Adult supporting a child's work at a table.

01Our roots

Standing on What Has Proven Its Depth.

Indaba does not invent a new pedagogy. Our method is Montessori-informed: it keeps faith with respect for the child, the prepared environment and learning through purposeful activity, and it draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience and the wisdom of the communities we work with.

The result is not dogma, but practice: principles that hold across cultures, languages and settings, applied with care to the realities of each one.

Who it serves
Parents, caregivers, teachers and the facilitators who support them.
Where it is used
Indaba Guide, the learning Pathways and Deploy programmes. Each product page shows its current status.
Where it comes from
Montessori principles, the wider field of child development, and practice in South African communities.
Where to study the underlying practice
The Indaba Institute: Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma and certificate courses, Community Rooted Education (CoRE) and CARE caregiver training. AMI programmes follow AMI’s own curriculum.

02The eight principles

Eight Principles. One Way of Seeing the Child.

Indaba experiences, from a Guide collection to a facilitator’s training, are designed around the same eight principles.

Concept illustration: Adult helping a child with tabletop materials
Concept · The adult prepares. The child discovers.
Concept illustration: Child pouring from a jug into a glass
Concept · A small task. A growing sense of independence.

  • 01

    Respect for the Child

    Every child arrives with unique gifts, potential and dignity.

    When children feel seen, heard and respected, they find the confidence and security to explore the world and form healthy relationships.

  • 02

    The Prepared Adult

    Children become what they experience.

    The strongest influence in a child’s life is not a curriculum but the adults around them. Calm, patience, self-awareness and intention can be learned.

  • 03

    Independence

    “Help me do it myself.”

    Children flourish when they are trusted with meaningful responsibilities. Independence is not taught; it is built through experience.

  • 04

    The Prepared Environment

    The environment becomes the silent teacher.

    Ordered, accessible and beautiful surroundings invite concentration, exploration and independence. Every detail says something to the child.

  • 05

    Observation

    Before we guide, we must learn to see.

    Observing a child’s interests, strengths and needs lets adults respond with understanding rather than assumption.

  • 06

    Practical Life

    Real life is the curriculum.

    Preparing food, caring for a space, getting dressed, helping others: everyday tasks like these build concentration, competence and a sense of contribution.

  • 07

    Grace & Courtesy

    The foundations of human connection.

    Empathy, respect, patience and consideration are learned through everyday interactions, and they shape relationships for life.

  • 08

    Freedom within Limits

    Children need both roots and wings.

    Freedom lets children explore and discover. Clear, consistent boundaries give them the safety they need to develop genuine self-discipline.

03How learning is designed

Designed for What Adults Actually Do.

A good learning experience changes what an adult notices, understands and does. Each Indaba experience follows the same rhythm.

  1. 01

    Learn

    Short, clear explanations of one idea at a time.

  2. 02

    Apply

    Put it into practice the same day, in a real setting.

  3. 03

    Observe

    Watch what the child does in response: evidence before opinion.

  4. 04

    Reflect

    Discuss with peers, a mentor or a facilitator, and refine.

04Universal in principle

Universal in Principle. Local in Practice.

Adults concentrating on handmade learning materials
Adults concentrating on handmade learning materials.
Concept illustration: Adult observing a child in a spacious classroom
Concept · Adult observing a child in a spacious classroom.

Principles travel; materials and routines must fit. CoRE, designed by Educateurs sans Frontières (EsF), is delivered with the Indaba Institute; it helps practitioners prepare supportive environments and make learning materials from local resources.

In the 2021 Kayamandi course, CoRE sessions were held in English and isiXhosa, because pre-training questionnaires showed the need for training in local languages. A second phase added basic literacy in isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English.

The red rods

Montessori and AMI programme names identify educational traditions and pathways. They do not imply that any Montessori organisation endorses Indaba.

See it in practice

See the Method at Work.

Find the experience designed for you, or meet the Institute where the method is taught in depth.

Explore Guide & PathwaysMeet the Institute