How to Montessori your home
In this week's blog we look at the home, it’s heightened role during lockdown and how small changes can have a big impact on your toddlers behaviour.
My home has suddenly become the epicentre of family and work life. When it functions well we’re calm and focused, but when it's dysfunctional, we’re conflicted and stressed about the additional work generated.
In Montessori the child’s environment is equally important as the adults around them and we painstakingly prepare the Play Studio and garden in response to our children’s interests, abilities and reach. It plays a role in developing their confidence to move, explore and choose, alongside fine motor skills.
But….don’t feel pressured to homeschool in a hurriedly constructed home classroom! You are parents and this is your child’s home. Instead, inviting them to help with everyday practical activities will provide endless entertainment, make them feel useful and help boost confidence. We’ll discuss ideas in future blogs.
None of our suggestions require spending much or redesigning your home, we’re talking minimum tweaks for maximum impact. And note that we’ve avoided the standard Pinterest playroom images (pictured below is the Play Studio) because they miss the point. These principles apply no matter your space, storage or toys.
“The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult”
montessori, 1966 (the secret of childhood)
Child size
Our homes are designed for adults and this causes not only great frustration for our children, but hinders their independence. Try being at their level. Can you hang your coat? Get yourself a glass of water? It surprises most parents when they realise how hard we make it for our toddlers to be independent.
To kickstart change, begin with your toy area, hallway and kitchen. Ensure toys and books are on accessible open shelves alongside a small table and chair. Install low coat hooks (sticky ones are fine), a box for shoes and a small chair near the front door. In the kitchen, house your toddlers crockery, cutlery, a small water jug and glass on a low shelf or cupboard they can reach and provide a stool, child sized soap pump and accessible towel for hand washing. As with our previous blog on observation, think about how you might provide the least assistance possible on day-to-day tasks. It takes a leap of faith to put this much trust in your child, but once you have you won’t turn back. For more room by room ideas, see ‘How We Montessori’s’ lovely blog.
Simplified
If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of toys kicking around, it's likely your child does too and it's probably why they seem to demolish the lounge but never focus for more than two minutes. Decluttering creates calm and avoids arguing over tidying up. We suggest recycling anything that's broken or unloved and, controversially, moving 30-50% out of sight. Start with around 6 activities displayed at once. It will feel very minimal, but you’ll get a much better understanding of interests, ability and will observe the materials that spark curiosity and those that hold little value.
Ordered
Children go through sensitive periods when they are especially attracted to and able to learn about something. They’re sensitive to order from birth until around 5, with a peak in early toddlerhood. Maybe you’ve experienced an earth shattering tantrum because the puzzle isn’t quite as they’d left it or you’ve changed their toothbrush. By giving toys a clear home your toddler will know their location and where to return them, an ordered environment = an ordered mind. It will also aid repetition and mastery, an essential ingredient in their development. Don’t think because they’ve completed a puzzle once you should remove it, only after a few more attempts might they be satisfied and ready for the next level.
Curated
During lockdown we want toys and activities that draw our toddlers in (self directed learning) and keep them engaged for as long as possible. Key to this, is sourcing interesting materials and keeping things fresh. Rotate toys based on use and preference, injecting new challenges when needed and displaying toys to pique curiosity. Ensure the whole activity can be seen and is displayed unmade, a completed puzzle will look far less enticing. Finally, think about how your child will move the activity. Little trays like these are great for transporting and keeping loose parts together. For more tips on presenting activities check out this Montessori Notebook video.
Karen Partridge founded Playhood and is mum to a two year old.
Laura Perfetti is an experienced Montessorian and Playhood Head of School.
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If you’re interested in learning more about integrating Montessori principles at home, Montessori Centre International are currently offering a free online course to parents at home with young children. Its a mixture of articles, videos and access to a community of parents in the same boat for discussion. We highly recommend it. And if you’re interested in Playhood membership, our team are offering 121 family coaching via zoom between now and when we open, so if you were thinking of joining anyway, get in touch.