At school, skills are introduced from the simple to the complex, with new elements added gradually. The new work still contains enough of the familiar so that the child can succeed. Prior experience creates comfort, confidence, and skill. Since creating a Montessori classroom in your kitchen and living room isn’t practical, how can you bring Montessori home? Here are some easy ways to turn your home into a Montessori classroom!
Organize Your Space: Have you heard the phrase, “A place for everything, and everything in its place”? We bet your kids have! When setting up a proper place for your child’s things, show your child how to put these things away. Use shelves, baskets, and cubbies, or any other kid-friendly organizational method.
Rotate Those Toys: If you put all of your child’s toys out at once, it’s overload on their senses. To keep the confusion and clutter down to a minimum, rotate a limited selection of toys every few weeks. You can keep the rest in a closet or somewhere your child does not go.
Kid-Friendly Spaces: Have you noticed how low the desks and chairs are at your child’s school? It’s made especially for them. But it doesn’t stop there! Include children’s books, art supplies, as well as small plates, cups, and utensils to help develop your child’s skills while giving them items fit for them.
Sound of Music: Children love music! If possible, set up a portable radio somewhere easily accessible so your child can load CDs and listen to music. You can also keep small drums or other musical instruments in this area.
Give Them the Tools: If there’s one thing we know here, it’s that our students love to clean up their areas! Keep a small broom and dustpan on a hook for your child to reach for when they make a mess. A small bucket and sponge can help them wipe tables or their desk. Let your child teach you how to clean up!
Nature-Friendly: Go outside with your child and see what you can find! Take a walking tour of your backyard and talk about the trees, flowers, grass, and bugs that you spot. If you have space, buy some seeds and work with your child to make your own garden.