Montessori education is frequently described as an “Aide to Life.” It is designed to help children with the task of creating themselves as a person as they grow from infant to adult. This philosophy is successful because it gives the teacher flexibility to adapt to the needs of each individual child, regardless of their skill level, learning style or social maturity. The Montessori environment is designed for mixed age groups to allow for academic and social development. There is a symbiotic relationship where the younger children observe the advanced skills of the older children, and in turn the older children help the younger children as they develop skills.