The Powerful Link Between Movement and Learning in Montessori Education

By Kiani Richardson | Navarre Montessori Academy

Before founding Navarre Montessori Academy… before I even studied education in college… I already knew this truth in my own body.

Ever since I was in third grade, I remember struggling to sit still for long periods of time. I wasn’t trying to misbehave—I just needed to move. Estar sentada tanto tiempo didn’t feel natural, and it made learning harder, not easier.

Years later, while studying to become a teacher, I began to understand the science behind what I had always felt: children are not meant to sit still all day.

Now, as a Montessori educator, I see that what I experienced as a child is a reality for so many students—and it doesn’t have to be that way.

Movement is Learning

Scientific research shows that movement improves brain development. Physical activity boosts blood flow to the brain, increases memory retention, and supports focus and problem-solving. According to studies published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, movement even helps regulate emotions and build executive function.

In other words, el cuerpo y el cerebro work together. Movement is not a break from learning—it is how children learn.

Montessori Embraces This Truth

In a Montessori classroom, children are free to move with purpose. They carry materials, clean, pour, count, build, write, and explore. The classroom is carefully prepared to invite movement, not restrict it.

When a child works with their hands, they’re engaging the mind and building concentration. They are not distracted—they are deeply focused. Aprenden con intención, through action.

As Dr. Maria Montessori said:“The hand is the instrument of the mind.”

Traditional Models: Reflexionemos

In many traditional schools, children are expected to sit still for hours. But let’s be honest—ni los adultos can do that! Why do we expect more of a five-year-old than we do of ourselves?

This structure often leads to frustration, restlessness, and even behavior problems—not because children don’t want to learn, but because they’re being asked to go against their natural development.

Our Mission at Navarre Montessori Academy

At our school, we create a space where movement is respected and celebrated. We understand that children need freedom to explore, use their bodies, and engage with the environment around them.

Our classrooms are filled with calm, purposeful motion—not chaos, but concentration. It’s a rhythm of learning that respects the whole child: mente, cuerpo y corazón.

“Movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth, which depends upon the impressions received from outside.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

At Navarre Montessori Academy, we are committed to honoring the natural way children grow. Because education isn’t just about what happens in the mind—it’s about the entire human being.