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

Staff Interview: Lisa de Silva

Introducing one of our Primary teachers, Ms. Lisa from Western Australia, who has been with IMSP since 2017. Since coming to Prague she has furthered her love of work in early childhood education and completed an AMS (American Montessori Society) Early Childhood (ages 3-6) Teacher Certification. Read more about Lisa in an interview with IMSP here:

Communicating with the Toddler Child

As teachers, we are often asked what special tips or tricks we use to get children to cooperate. Most often parents ask questions like “How can I get my child more interested in dressing and eating by themselves?”or “How can we make the mornings run more smoothly?” It can feel challenging when our patience is tested, but we must remember that children are learning to develop their own will and sense of obedience which is a natural process lasting until around six years of age.

IMSP Toddlers: Help Me to Do It Myself

One of the key concepts and skills that Montessori education develops in different ways and from different perspectives through the entire childhood and through the entire educational process is independance.

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.”

Forest Exploration with Toddlers

At IMSP we are fortunate enough to have access to a forest right on our doorstep. This offers invaluable opportunities for our toddlers to explore the natural world with the support of their guides. Interaction with the natural environment provides mental and physical health benefits for children and adults alike and allows children to be inspired by the world around them, away from their usual home or classroom environments.