Preparing the environment is a key tenet of the Montessori method. If you are a parent, your environment is your home. So, you have your work cut out for you. Definitely a more difficult, or at least different, task than setting up a classroom. There are first steps to bringing Montessori into your home that will help. Once you’ve simplified your home, you’ll be in a much better position to implement Montessori at Home. This post includes a few simple ideas to bring Montessori into your home.
Montessori at Home Environment
Montessori Playroom
- Everything has a place. That phrase is my mantra. Plus, it makes life with a young child a lot easier (sort of).
- Toy & Book Rotation is key. Every 3-4 weeks, take the time to rotate and even purge a few items.
- Say goodbye to plastic and loud, annoying, distracting toys!
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Montessori Bedroom
- Give your child the freedom to decorate his room but encourage the less is more approach.
- Provide a child's sized laundry basket
- Place artwork (maybe even your child's work) at the child's eye level
- Accessible clothing with low shelves, rods, and hooks
- Relaxing lighting but don't completely block out natural light
- Definitely make the space for your child with books and even a few toys. Keep it simple, though. Avoid clutter!
- Calm and soothing colors
- Essential oil diffuser is a nice touch
Montessori Bathroom
- Include a mirror at bath time so the child can truly acknowledge the difference between clean and dirty.
- Make the bathroom accessible for kids with a Faucet Extender, Light Switch Extender, and Stools. One of my pet peeves as a parent is having to pick up my child to wash his hands. I do it because it is important but why not find a way to help the child help himself? Win. Win. There are ways to do this without having to reconstruct your adult sized bathroom. Kids will relish in being able to wash hands and turn on/off the lights all by themselves.
Montessori Kitchen
Using real dish ware and glasses is a tough transition for most of us parents. Using real kitchen utensils, glass cups, and plates is the way to go. Search goodwill for beautiful glasses and plates. You'll find great deals! Furthermore, in the event, as children are learning grace & courtesy, an accident occurs you don't feel too guilty about it. Montessori Services is a wonderful resource for kid sized kitchen, garden, and cleaning tools. Also, use visuals of real images in learning and routine charts.
Peace Corner
One of my favorite simple way to integrate into your home is with a peace corner. This space is meant for observation in silence, to calm down or to simply be. So you can include a plant for caring and observing, a fish tank for watching, or simply a window for gazing at the wonders of the outdoors.
- Gather activities to encourage mindfulness in children is through journaling, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga and place them in accessible areas of the home. Consider a Cretan’s Labyrinth or ABC Yoga Cards in a basket.
- Read this wonderful book called Nurturing the Spirit: In Non-Sectarian Classrooms. The author shares ideas about cultivating stillness that you can integrate into your home.
I hope you enjoyed this post!
Marnie
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