Montessori education emphasizes independence, hands-on learning, and respect for a child’s natural development. One way parents can incorporate these principles into everyday life is by involving children in the preparation and serving of snacks at home.
This simple daily activity encourages self-reliance, responsibility, and an understanding of healthy food choices while also fostering fine motor skills and a sense of order. Here’s how to bring the Montessori method to life when preparing and serving snacks at home.
I’m in the process of transforming our home based on the Montessori philosophy. I have so many ideas whipping around my brain that I decided to make one change each week or try to at least, that gets us closer to the goal. I’ll share these steps with you.
How to Prepare and Serve Snack at Home with Kids
Create a Child-Friendly Environment
The first step in encouraging your child to prepare and serve their own snacks is to set up an environment that enables them to do so independently. Montessori environments are designed with the child’s perspective in mind, which means everything is within easy reach. In the kitchen, this might mean designating a lower shelf or cupboard for snack items and child-sized utensils.
For younger children, a small stool or step can help them reach the counter or sink. You can also create a dedicated snack station where fruits, vegetables, and other healthy options are stored in easy-to-open containers. The more accessible everything is, the easier it is for your child to take the initiative in preparing their snack.
Offer Simple Choices
A core tenet of Montessori education is giving children the freedom to make choices within a structured framework. When it comes to snacks, offer a few healthy options and allow your child to choose. For example, set out a small selection of fruits, vegetables, and proteins (like cheese or nuts) and ask your child which two they would like to have.
This practice not only promotes independence but also teaches decision-making and personal responsibility. Children are more likely to eat what they’ve chosen, and they begin to develop a sense of what fuels their bodies in a healthy way.
Involve Your Child in the Process
From washing vegetables to peeling fruit or spreading nut butter, children can take part in every step of snack preparation. Montessori encourages the use of real tools, so let your child use child-safe knives, peelers, or graters when appropriate. Even a simple task like arranging crackers or cutting soft fruits can be empowering for young learners.
Guide your child through each task initially, demonstrating how to handle food and tools with care. Over time, as they build confidence and skill, they’ll become more capable of completing these tasks on their own. This is also an opportunity to teach concepts like portion sizes and kitchen safety in a natural, hands-on way.
Encourage a Clean and Orderly Space
Another aspect of Montessori philosophy is maintaining a clean and orderly environment. After preparing and enjoying a snack, encourage your child to take responsibility for cleaning up. Provide child-sized cleaning supplies, such as a small sponge or cloth, so they can wipe down the counter, and have a small broom available for sweeping any crumbs.
This not only reinforces the importance of cleanliness but also instills pride in their work. Children often take joy in knowing they’ve completed an entire task, from start to finish, all on their own.
Practice Grace and Courtesy
Montessori also emphasizes the importance of grace and courtesy. Snack time is an excellent opportunity to practice polite behavior, such as using manners when serving others, waiting for everyone to sit down before eating, and offering to help clean up when finished. These moments teach children social skills and respect for others in a real-world setting.
Montessori in the Home – Snack
One idea is to create a snack drawer, or cabinet, that is easily accessible to the child. This change might scare some of you. It certainly scared me.
Give my child 24-hour access to his snacks? What?
Well, you will be shocked at the result, I promise. There will, of course, be a transition period, which will require you to guide your child into knowing 1) the right times to access his or her snack drawer and 2) that choosing four of the same snack bar in one day might not be the best choice.
Snack Drawer
So here is what we did:
- I emptied out a “catch-all” drawer (which was fabulous to do for me anyway!) at a good height for my 2-year-old to access
- I chose snacks to include in the drawer for variety and to really bring home the idea of “choice”. We include Peter Rabbit’s Veggie and Fruit Puree Pouches, Clif Z Bars, Individual sized applesauce containers, fruit leather, and raisins.
- I created a designated snack table.
You will be happy with the results – in the timing and choice of snack – that occur after a bit of transition. My son revels in the idea that he has access to and can choose his own snack.
He has control over his experience with food. That is huge. Kids seem to love being independent. Having the opportunity to have control over such a small thing in his life certainly makes my son feel, or so it seems, confident.
Amazing that such a small change can go such a long way in self-esteem! It is also a relief to me to simply be able to say, “why don’t you go grab a snack from your snack drawer?”
Instead of waiting on him hand and foot. Win. Win.
Thanks for reading!
Marnie
