Hey Montessori!
We’re Ben and Nicole, and we’re thrilled to guide you through the rewarding journey of implementing Montessori at home and beyond.
We still remember the first time we took our Montessori principles “on the go”. We were out for dinner, and instead of ordering for our son, we encouraged him to communicate his choice to the waiter.
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It was a small step towards independence, but a significant milestone in our Montessori journey.
Whether you’re new to Montessori or looking to deepen your understanding, this post will provide a comprehensive introduction to the key aspects of Montessori at home and beyond.
Understanding Montessori
The Montessori method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centered educational approach that fosters independence, curiosity, and a love of learning.
It’s not just a teaching method—it’s a way of life that can be incorporated into your daily routines and home environment.
At its core, the Montessori method respects the individuality of each child and encourages their natural desire to learn.
It’s based on the belief that children learn best when they’re actively engaged in doing, rather than passively receiving information. This means providing hands-on learning experiences, allowing children to explore at their own pace, and nurturing their intrinsic motivation to learn.
It also involves creating an environment—both physical and emotional—that supports their development and respects their individual needs and interests.
In a Montessori environment, children are not just learners—they’re active participants in their own education, making choices, solving problems, and discovering new things about the world and themselves.
Setting Up a Montessori-Friendly Home
Creating a Montessori-friendly home is about more than just choosing the right toys and furniture.
It’s about creating an environment that encourages exploration, independence, and respect for the child’s natural development.
Creating a Montessori-friendly home means designing spaces that are child-centered, where everything is within their reach and scaled to their size. This allows children to navigate their surroundings independently, making choices and engaging in activities without constant adult intervention.
It’s about providing materials and activities that are developmentally appropriate, sparking curiosity and inviting interaction. But beyond the physical environment, a Montessori-friendly home also cultivates an atmosphere of respect—respect for the child’s work, their concentration, and their eagerness to do things for themselves.
It’s a place where children feel valued, capable, and inspired to learn.
We’ll delve deeper into this topic in a future post, but for now, consider how you can make your home more child-friendly and conducive to independent learning.
Montessori-Inspired Activities
Montessori-inspired activities are designed to engage children’s curiosity and foster their natural desire to learn.
From practical life skills to sensory exploration and creative play, these activities can be tailored to suit different age groups and interests.
Stay tuned for future posts where we’ll share some of our favorite Montessori-inspired activities for each developmental stage.
Incorporating Montessori Principles into Daily Routines
Montessori is not just for school—it’s a lifestyle that can be incorporated into every aspect of your child’s day.
From meal times to bedtime routines, there are countless opportunities to promote the Montessori principles:
Independence: Montessori encourages children to do things for themselves, fostering self-confidence and self-reliance. This can be practiced by allowing children to dress themselves, prepare their own snacks, or clean up their toys.
Freedom within Limits: Children are given the freedom to explore and learn at their own pace within a prepared environment. This can be seen in allowing children to choose their activities, while ensuring the environment is safe and conducive to learning.
Respect for the Child: Montessori emphasizes respect for each child’s individuality and development. This can be practiced by listening to children’s thoughts and feelings, and involving them in decision-making processes.
Prepared Environment: Montessori environments are designed to meet the needs of children at each stage of development. This can be implemented at home by creating child-friendly spaces that encourage exploration and learning.
Learning through Doing: Montessori believes in hands-on, experiential learning. This can be incorporated into daily routines by providing opportunities for practical life skills, such as cooking, gardening, or household chores.
Absorbent Mind: Montessori recognized that children have an innate capacity to absorb information from their surroundings, especially at a young age. Parents can support this by providing a rich and stimulating environment, both physically and emotionally.
Peace Education: Montessori promotes peace education and conflict resolution. This can be practiced by modeling peaceful behavior, teaching children to express their feelings constructively, and guiding them to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.
Remember, these principles are not just for school—they can be incorporated into every aspect of your child’s day, from meal times to bedtime routines, fostering independence, responsibility, and a love of learning.
We explore this topic in more detail in the core principles of Montessori, providing practical tips and examples to help you incorporate Montessori principles into your daily routines.
Montessori On the Go
One of the beautiful things about Montessori is that it’s not confined to the home or classroom—it can be practiced anywhere, even during errands or meals out.
Whether it’s encouraging your child to help with grocery shopping or navigate a menu at a restaurant, there are countless opportunities to promote independence and practical life skills on the go.
We’ll share more tips and ideas for practicing Montessori on the go in a future post.
Embracing Montessori at home and beyond is a rewarding journey that can enrich your family’s life in countless ways.
We’re excited to share this journey with you, providing the resources, inspiration, and support you need to make Montessori a part of your everyday life.
Stay tuned for more in-depth posts on each of these topics, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or topics you’d like us to cover.
Here’s to a future filled with learning, creativity, and growth!