by Katelyn Boggs and Dessy Atwell
Incorporating Montessori principles at home is a great way to extend the benefits of this educational approach, by creating a supportive environment for your child's growth and development. Keep reading to learn about a few ways to implement Montessori philosophy in your home:
Simplify and Organize the Environment
A key tenet of Montessori is simplicity. Use low, open shelves and limit the number of toys available at any given time. Group smaller items into baskets or trays to encourage orderly play and easy cleanup. Display art or pictures at your child's eye level to make their space beautiful and inviting. An added bonus to make the space more personalized is to display the child’s own artwork.
Establish Consistent Routines
Children thrive on predictability. Build a daily rhythm in your home that includes age-appropriate tasks, such as putting away shoes, watering plants, or cleaning up after meals. Learning to care for their environment helps instill responsibility and a sense of personal accomplishment. Check out this image for a list of age-appropriate chores your child could begin assisting with!
Foster Independence
Montessori emphasizes the importance of encouraging children to do tasks independently.
Equip your home with child-sized tools such as step stools, cleaning supplies and kitchen utensils. This encourages participation in household chores. Allow your child to take part in activities like food preparation, tidying up, or folding laundry, even if it takes a little extra time.
“The child has to acquire physical independence by being self-sufficient; he must become of independent will by using freedom of his own power of choice; he must become capable of independent thought by working alone without interruption. The child’s development follows a path of successive stages of independence.” ~Maria Montessori: The Absorbent Mind, p. 257
Respect and Care for Nature
Outdoor activities play a vital role in Montessori education. Gardening, nature walks, and caring for plants or pets teaches children about sustainability and the beauty of the natural world, as well as our responsibility to cherish and care for the world around us. Discuss eco-friendly habits like recycling or conserving water to reinforce these lessons and foster environmental stewardship.
Encourage Curiosity and Problem-Solving
Provide opportunities for hands-on learning by allowing your child to explore and solve problems at their own pace. Simple, open-ended toys or tasks such as building blocks or matching games, can keep them engaged while developing concentration and critical thinking skills.
Respecting the Distinction Between School and Home
In Montessori education, school and home serve unique and important roles. Montessori guides are specially trained to facilitate learning through work materials and methods specifically designed and tailored to each child, which cannot be replicated at home. We discourage incorporation of Montessori work materials at home, as this can disrupt the balance between the education at school, and the personal, family-centered environment of home. Instead, parents can apply Montessori principles through daily life activities like cooking, organizing, or fostering independence with chores. This ensures children can thrive in both spaces!
Emphasize Respectful Communication
Treat your child with the same respect you'd show any other adult. Encourage open communication, validate their feelings, model problem-solving behavior, and demonstrate a growth mindset. This creates a positive and nurturing environment where children feel respected, valued, and heard.
By adopting these Montessori-inspired practices at home, you'll create a space where your child can develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning that will benefit them for years to come. For more inspiration, check out these videos of a Montessori-friendly kitchen and bedroom prepared environment by one of our staff members for her 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Essential Reading:
"Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents" by Maria Montessori "How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way" by Tim Seldin
"The Montessori Baby", "The Montessori Toddler", "The Montessori Child" by Simone Davies
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