Easy ways to create a Montessori Home

Montessori is more than an academic pedagogy it is a robust framework that supports independent thinkers. There are easy ways to create a Montessori home right now in a nurturing and beautiful environment. Here’s what you need to know.

Who was Maria Montessori?

Maria Montessori is best known for her hands-on, child-led educational method. Her method left a permanent stamp so let’s learn more about this amazing woman. Montessori began her career as a physician, a rare career choice for a woman at the turn of the 19th century. She began working with children at a residential hospital for children that were labeled incapable of learning. Dr. Montessori observed a lack of sensory stimulation at the residential center. She surmised that this sterile environment was the major contributor to the learning delays.

Additionally her work in an urban neighborhood and observations of those children led her to develop meaningful tasks for children to complete during the day. These tasks included folding, stirring, sweeping and other practical tasks. Montessori ordered custom child size furniture, and invited the children to “work” in their little school. She observed that movement was directly correlated with an improvement with the children’s behavior and learning. As a result the children took joy in their practical work and busied themselves with these tasks for hours at a time. Following her time with these children, Dr. Montessori opened the first Children’s House. The Children’s House was a learning environment for preschool aged children and often what people associate with Montessori.

So is Montessori for homes or for school?

Montessori developed her method of education to be used in a school, but it works beautifully outside of an academic environment. The reason for this is that Montessori designed her Children’s House, and other environments to look like a home. These environments are curated to be warm, nurturing places where children move freely between interests during their work cycle. A Montessori classroom does not look like a traditional American preschool. There are natural rugs, lamps, and plants for children to water in the Montessori classroom. The classroom looks like a miniature home stocked with framed art and tables instead of desks.

The Montessori method also does not divide children out by age or grade. Children are kept together in groups spanning about three years. A Children’s House, which is a preschool/kindergarten program, is for children ages 2.5-6 years of age. The Montessori method follows a 3 year cycle, the third year students are able to mentor and help the children who have just emerged from the toddler program.

The Montessori Home

Now I’m going to describe Montessori at Home, which is super popular on social media right now. You may be familiar with images of adorable toddlers and preschoolers doing adult tasks. The Montessori home does not need to imitate a Montessori classroom because it’s your home. With that being said, you may have more Montessori style in your home than you’re even aware of. Do you invite your children to help you clean around the house and help you make meals? Do you allow your children to work independently and do hard things my themselves? Perhaps you have child sized furniture for your child or use a step stool for them to brush their teeth and wash their hands. All of these things point towards Montessori.

I’m not Homeschooling can I still use Montessori?

Yes, absolutely you can. Montessori is for anyone who wants to look at their child as a bright, capable being. Montessori was not developed as a Homeschool curricula, Montessori was developed for a classroom environment. That being said the tenants of Montessori blend perfectly when you create a Montessori home. Remember I said earlier that Montessori is not solely based on academics, it is HOW you view the child, environment and yourself.

Let’s describe how a Montessori adult views children

Children…

• Begin learning en utero and are naturally curious from birth.
• Have the ability to grasp skills with little effort beginning at a young age.
• Have an internal drive that pushes them to obtain the skills that they need to acquire their goals.
• Use all of their senses to acquire information about their environment.
• NEED movement they CRAVE movement and movement is a catalysis for learning.
• Can teach themselves many necessary skills such as talking and walking.

Purpose of the Environment

When I refer to environment I’m including every space your child uses in your home. A Montessori environment…

• Should nurture learning.
• Will directly effects how much and how a child learns.
• Is of the most benefit when it’s ready for the child.
• Permits children to move about freely because it is free from clutter, broken toys and missing parts.
• Encourages independence because items are easily accessible and appropriate for children to use.

Well I don’t know about you but my home is not clutter free and always prepared for the child. But there are small things we can do each day to work towards a beautiful environment. We can prepare our homes and make them more Montessori with a few easy steps.

• Declutter common spaces and children’s bedroom.
• Remove broken toys and games, torn books and ratty items.
• Add a step stool for small children so they can safely reach items.
• Give them access to dishes, cups, and cleaning supplies they can use safely.
• Add photographs and artwork including the children’s artwork to the living spaces.
• Add a child and pet safe plant to a living space, place it low enough for the child to help water.

Hopefully this list feels doable and if you noticed, there are only a few items that even require spending any money. Montessori is not about purchasing all of the trendiest items, it’s a mindset.

Is Montessori expensive?

Well it certainly can be!

But Maria Montessori created her method for children who were far from wealthy. Furthermore some were living in a psychiatric residential hospital and lived in the slums. Montessori was not designed for the “haves” but for the “have nots”.

But let’s break down this question even further.

Remember we’re talking about how to create a Montessori home right now and not homeschooling. You can find many of the items that your child needs for practical life for a few dollars. Small children do need tools created for small hands and I’ve found many of these items at Target, IKEA and thrift stores. As your children grow they are more capable of using materials for adults. Generally speaking when it comes to purchasing furniture I’ve found that taking your time to buy the right piece is better than buying the trending piece. Ask yourself a few questions before purchasing child sized furniture.

• Can this piece be used for more that one child? For example a bed that a younger sibling can use.
• Is there a similar less expensive piece that will do the job well? For instance a stool instead of a Montessori Tower?
• This item is marked “Montessori” but do I actually need it? An example is an xxpensive, custom bookcase compared to plywood shelves.

Authentic Montessori materials can be costly, however there are “DIY” options and ways you can thrift or repurpose materials. Below you see a photo of my youngest son with an Octahedron Mobile, mine was homemade by using a template similar to this.

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So how do I start creating a Montessori Home?

Start with the mindset of creating a home that allows your child to “work” and play independently.

Here a 3 easy ways you can create a Montessori home right now. And remember to keep rotating through this list, as you have more children, schedules change and the seasons of life differ you will need to revisit this list and make adjustments to your environment.

Declutter

Declutter, declutter, declutter. Children need room to move about freely, movement is important during all stages of childhood. Children cannot move about freely in cluttered rooms.

Give infants, toddlers and young children less choices. More choices can lead to frustration, place unused toys out of sight.

Place toys in child’s line of sight instead of in toy boxes or chests. If toys need to be in bins add a label that children can understand.

Keep out the toys that your children enjoy and maybe one toy they haven’t used in awhile, observe if they use the the toy in a new way or ignore it. You have the freedom to rehome unused toys.

Independence

If possible give children safe access to food.

Place snacks in the pantry on a shelf children can reach unassisted.

Put tableware such as plates, cups, bowls and napkins in a low cupboard that children can reach independently.

Place clothing in a place that children can access without assistance.

Display books on low shelves facing out so non-readers can choose a book based on the cover art.

Use a bed that allows infants and toddler to move in and out of it freely. I know this is a hard one and you can read more about my journey with a Montessori bed here.

Demonstrate new skills

Teach children to pour water unassisted or use a stepstool to get water from sink or pitcher.

Demonstrate how to place dishes on counter, in sink or in the dishwasher. Do what works for your family.

Use a mirror to show children how to comb/brush their hair, how to clean their face and check their clothes.

Get children involved in the kitchen, even young children can wash vegetable and stir ingredients in a bowl. Older children can use knives and other kitchenware if you demonstrate how to use them safely.

So what are you waiting for?

You can do this, start small but get started and you will see how these easy ways to create a Montessori home will make a difference today.