Creating a Montessori Home

Discover simple, easy ways to make your child's space comfortable, beautiful and educational, according to time-tested Montessori guidelines and principles.

From birth through toddlerhood, preschool and Elementary years, the home is the foundational environment where your child plays, learns and grows. This is where they make countless discoveries, bond with the most important people in their life (you!) and form their understanding of the world.

In Montessori education, we speak of the „prepared environment“ of the classroom being the key to the child’s development. The same thing applies to your child’s home! We know that children grow and learn better in places that feel safe, comfortable and stimulating, all at the same time – but how to accomplish that? Below are a few tips.

Montessori environment for kids at your home / Montessori pokojíček pro děti

Consider your child’s point of view

Here is some surprising information: children are smaller than adults. That means that they see a different perspective of every space. Get down on your child’s level – literally, sit or crouch down in their room – and consider, can they see and access their toys? Are the pictures and decorations actually in their sightline? Are the tables and chairs a comfortable height? Does the space fit their body, allowing for cozy nooks to snuggle down in?

Less is more

When you see our classrooms, you might notice there are no boxes and chests for materials (or toys), no piles and bins. Everything is easy to see, orient yourself in, and choose from. It is far better to have a handful of toys out and the rest locked away in a closet, and switch out the „seasonal offer“ regularly, than to overwhelm your child with choices. Rule of thumb: if your child hasn’t touched a particular toy in a week, it’s safe to put it away for a time; it will be that much more fresh and exciting when it appears again in the future.

Go natural

There is such an overwhelming quantity of plastic offered up to young children in our society. It’s understandable – plastic is cheap, easy to clean, and bounces when dropped – but by focusing on this one material, we are making children miss out on the many tactile pleasures of wood, porcelain, metal, glass, textiles and more. Whenever possible, offer your child real, natural materials that give them a wealth of sensory experiences as well as a real perception of beauty and a connection with nature.

Allow for both contrast and peace

It is a somewhat common and very unfortunate misconception that children need an endless barrage of bright colours and loud sounds to capture their attention. Of course, all people (not just the small ones) are drawn to bright and colourful things – but by bombarding our children with constant sensory overload they become more numb than stimulated. Provide a neutral, peaceful background – soft colours, light, naturally coloured furniture and fabrics – that will allow your child’s eyes and mind to rest; it will make their toys and activities stand out that much more.

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

TOILET TRAINING: A KEY HOW TO SUCCEED

Gallery
Comments

Další články

Freedom and the Montessori Classroom

“To give a child liberty is not to abandon him to himself."

Dealing with Emotions Through Art

“Social and emotional learning(SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

IMSP Podcast: Meet Alumna Diana Peštová

It’s our pleasure to introduce you to this week’s guest on the IMSP podcast series: Diana Peštová. Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Diana now studies language and culture at the University of Amsterdam. Diana catches up with our host, Mariana, as she reflects on how IMSP helped her to think outside of the box. Passionate about writing, singing, and acting, Diana shares how Montessori education allowed her to explore her interests at her own pace.

Holiday Baking With Your Toddler

It's beginning to look a lot like winter - with first frosts and early dark, but also bright twinkling lights and seasonal decorations wherever you look. Is it any wonder that we populate the long, cold nights of December with candle light, evergreens and the smells of a myriad festive treats? So many delicious flavours belong firmly at the close of the year - hot chocolate and sweet tea, spiced pies, delicate cookies and savoury roasts, all keeping us cozy and warm as well as full.

Understanding your child's inner sense of order

Have you ever noticed that your child enjoys singing the same song over and over again, or wants you to repeat the same story for what feels like a million times? Dr. Montessori highlighted the importance of sensitive periods in children, which are known as windows of opportunities for children to develop skills, including movement, language and most definitely, order. A child’s need for external order is present as early as childbirth and peaks in their second year, before fading at about the age of 5. This period of development helps a child to develop a connection between themselves and the world, process information and overcome challenges.