Have you ever read a wonderful book called Nurturing the Spirit? One of my all time favorite go to resources when I need to recenter and to refresh my home and classroom. I thought I'd share a few ideas on how to integrate Montessori peace into your home using this book as my inspiration.
Integrate Montessori Peace Education Simply & Easily
Natural Light
A space that allows for natural light is an easy way to incorporate Montessori peace. Beyond that idea, you can celebrate light by creating a rainbow with contact paper on your window. This suncatcher from No Time for Flashcards is sweet and gets to the point. You can also create “color windows” with sheets of cellophane to look at the world in a different light.
Real Plants
Incorporating plants into your Montessori peace environment allows a child to experience nature and to care for an object. The child's spirit will be nourished simply by watching a seed sprout, then caring for the plant will happen naturally.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a big piece of Montessori peace education. One way that we incorporate gratitude into our home is at dinner. We take a moment to go around the table and talk about what we were most grateful for that day.. Sometimes I phrase it simply as “What was your favorite part of the day?” Parents and teachers included!
Related Read: What is Montessori Parenting?
Reducing Waste
Clear receptacle – One of my instructors has her students place their trash in a clear bag or receptacle to connect the children to the impact trash makes on our earth. Nothing speaks more clearly than a visual representation of the amount of trash collected by each of us every day and the impact we can make if we each reduce the habit.
Reusable Napkins is an easy way for all of us to reduce waste.
Decomposition
Another interesting and powerful way to ground children in environmental responsibility is by using a similar clear receptacle but allowing time for decomposition to take place.
Other Ideas on Bringing Peace into your Home & Classroom
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Magic Box
- I Spy Someone Being Kind
- Birthday Celebration
- Books that Teach Peace
- Peace Rose
- Chimes
- Balls for Feelings
- Community
- Peace Pole
Do you have any ideas?
Marnie