Why Children Struggle During the Holidays

For many families, maintaining Montessori during the holidays feels like a season of contradiction. Life slows down, yet feels more full. Schedules loosen, yet emotions intensify. Work pauses for some families, continues quietly for others, and children sense the shift immediately, even when they cannot explain it.

When parents ask how to “Montessori during the holidays”, they are rarely asking for themed activities or elaborate plans.

What they are really asking is this:

• How do we keep our children grounded when everything feels different?
• How do we slow down without losing all structure?
• How do we support independence, calm, and connection when routine gives way to flexibility?

At Guidepost Montessori, we approach the holidays as a season of balance. Montessori does not disappear when life changes pace. It adapts. The principles remain steady even when the days look different.

This guide is written for real families navigating the holidays at home. Families traveling and families staying close. Parents who are fully off work and parents who are still balancing deadlines. Children who feel joyful one moment and overwhelmed the next.

Start With the Environment. Always.

When children feel unsettled during the holidays, the environment is often the first place to look.

Holiday life tends to add more.

More decorations, more toys, more noise, more stimulation.

Montessori asks us to pause and simplify instead.

Practical ways to reset your space:

• Put away toys that are loud, flashy, or rarely used. Fewer choices support deeper focus.
• Create one calm area with books, paper, pencils, or art materials.
• Choose softer lighting where possible instead of bright overhead lights.
• Let decorations be intentional. Natural materials like wood, wool, greenery, and cotton support a sense of calm.

A simplified environment helps children regulate themselves. It communicates safety, clarity, and space to breathe.

Keep Rhythm, Not Rigidity

The holidays rarely follow a predictable schedule. Montessori does not depend on rigid routines, but on reliable rhythm.

Rather than managing every hour, focus on gentle anchors that stay consistent even when days look different.

Helpful anchors include:

• A familiar morning start that signals the day has begun
• One meaningful activity before lunch
• A quiet or rest period in the afternoon
• A predictable evening rhythm that supports sleep

These anchors matter more than exact timing. They help children orient themselves when the calendar feels fluid.

Use Practical Life to Ground the Day

When children become restless, emotional, or disregulated during the holidays, it is often a sign they are disconnected from meaningful work.

Practical Life is the heart of Montessori during the holidays, and the holidays are full of opportunities for it.

Invite your child into real work that supports the household:

• Baking or cooking from beginning to end
• Washing fruits or vegetables for meals
• Wrapping gifts with real paper, tape, and scissors
• Preparing the table for shared meals
• Writing notes or drawing pictures for family and friends
• Cleaning shared spaces together after gatherings

These activities build coordination, independence, and confidence. More importantly, they give children a sense of contribution. Children who feel useful often feel calmer and more secure.

For a few fun ideas, click here to read about Montessori during the holiday ideas from the Montessori homeschool collective!

Support Independence When You Are Still Working

For many families, the holidays are not a full stop. Some parents are still working part of the day, checking emails, or balancing quiet deadlines.

Children cope best when expectations are clear.

Helpful strategies include:

• Naming when you are available and when you are not
• Preparing independent activities ahead of time
• Avoiding constant switching between work and interruption

Set out work your child already knows how to use:

• Puzzles, building materials, or art trays
• Books arranged in a cozy reading space
• Folding cloths, sorting utensils, or simple food prep
• Calm games that do not require adult direction

Independence is not something we demand. It is something we prepare for.

Slow the Pace When Emotions Rise

The holidays amplify everything. Excitement, disappointment, fatigue, and big feelings often surface quickly.

In Montessori, the first response to emotional intensity is pace.

When a moment escalates:

• Slow your movements
• Lower your voice
• Name what you see without judgment
• Offer proximity before solutions

Simple language is powerful:
“I see this is hard.”
“It looks like your body needs a pause.”
“We can take a moment together.”

Children learn regulation by borrowing it from the adults around them.

Grace and Courtesy Are Practiced in Real Life

Holiday gatherings offer rich opportunities for social learning. New environments, extended family, and different expectations can be challenging for children.

Rather than correcting after the fact, Montessori during the holidays emphasizes preparation and modeling.

You can support your child by:

• Practicing greetings and goodbyes ahead of time
• Modeling how to ask for help or space
• Demonstrating gratitude through words and actions
• Showing how to step away when overwhelmed

Grace and courtesy are not lessons we lecture. They are behaviors children absorb through lived experience.

Protect Rest for Everyone

Overstimulation often shows up as behavior. This is true for children and adults alike.

During the holidays, give yourself permission to:

• Say no to optional plans
• Leave early when energy dips
• Keep evenings simple after busy days
• Choose rest over performance

A rested nervous system is the foundation for connection and joy.

Peace Is Something We Prepare For

Dr. Maria Montessori reminded us that peace is not taught through instruction. It is prepared through environment, rhythm, and relationship.

To truly practice Montessori during the holidays, begin by recognizing that peace grows when:

• Expectations are realistic
• Children are trusted with real responsibility
• Adults move with intention rather than urgency
• The home feels calm enough to settle into

The holidays do not need to be extraordinary to be meaningful.

A Guidepost Way Through the Holidays

At Guidepost Montessori, we believe childhood deserves dignity, especially during busy seasons.

Montessori during the holidays is not about doing more for children. It is about inviting children into the real life of the family with care, clarity, and respect.

What children remember lasts far beyond the season:

• Being trusted to help
• Feeling calm in a prepared space
• Working alongside adults who valued their effort
• Being seen for who they are

That is how we Montessori during the holidays. Not perfectly, but intentionally.

This post How to Montessori During the Holidays: 8 Ways to Slow Down Without Losing Your Center first appeared on Guidepost Montessori and is written by Karolina Potterton

The Montessori Playroom: Do’s and Don’ts

You are probably here because you’re looking for “Montessori playroom ideas” and you need inspiration. Most articles will show you perfect shelves, coordinated toy rotations, and rooms that look like they belong in a catalog.

For many families, those pictures create pressure, not clarity. They make Montessori feel expensive, rigid, or out of reach.

This guide takes a different approach. Yes, you can create a Montessori playroom if you want one. But you do not need a dedicated room to bring Montessori into your home.

You also do not need to redesign your entire house or turn everything sad beige.

A Montessori-aligned home is not about following a specific look. It is about creating an environment where your child can explore with purpose, choose independently, and settle into calm, meaningful activity.

Instead of giving you steps to build a picture-perfect playroom, this guide shows you how to make any area in your home more Montessori. Your living room. Your child’s bedroom. Your hallway. Even your kitchen. Small environmental adjustments support independence far more effectively than any themed room.

You can bring Montessori into your home without buying all new furniture or creating a space that looks staged. You can do it gradually, simply, and in ways that support real family living.

This article walks you through how to use Montessori principles at home so your child experiences the same sense of independence, clarity, and calm they feel in a well-prepared classroom, adapted for everyday life.

What Is a Montessori Home Environment?

A Montessori home supports movement, choice, participation in real daily life, and responsibility. It is not a classroom. It is a place where children can explore real skills and meaningful materials without constant adult intervention.

In a Montessori-friendly home, you will often find:

• Low, accessible shelves
• Fewer toys and materials displayed neatly
• Realistic objects that invite exploration
• A small workspace on the floor or at a child-sized table
• A quiet nook for reading or rest
• Practical life items like a small broom or pitcher
• Space to move, climb, and build

The goal is simple. You want your child to feel capable, calm, and confident in their own home.

Can a Montessori Home Be Colorful?

Yes. Montessori is not a beige-only lifestyle. The guiding principle is intentionality. Color should support clarity and comfort, not overwhelm the senses.

Children notice everything in their environment. When there is too much visual competition, they may feel distracted or unsettled. When colors are used thoughtfully, they help define areas and support concentration.

Color can support a Montessori home when used in ways like these:

• A colorful rug that defines a workspace
• A cheerful reading nook with soft textures
• A few vibrant art prints hung at the child’s height
• Toys that are colorful yet clear in purpose
• Natural and soft lighting to keep the space calm

Color is welcome. Visual noise is not.

How Montessori Uses Color With Purpose

Understanding the philosophy behind color in Montessori materials (and Guidepost schools) can help parents make thoughtful choices at home.

Montessori uses color only when it clarifies a concept.

Nothing is random. The purpose is to direct the child’s attention to the activity, not to the visual decoration. Parents can take inspiration from this by choosing items that are clear, engaging, and not competing for attention.

For example:

Sandpaper letters use colors that clarify vowel and consonant differences. Nothing is random.

Infant mobiles use high contrast colors because newborns see best this way.

The Pink Tower is one color to support visual discrimination of size.

Parents can take inspiration from this. Choose materials and toys that support focus rather than compete for attention.

Home Is Not School

Montessori at home should feel like home. It is not meant to replicate the classroom or follow a rigid aesthetic.

A Montessori-aligned home does not require:

• All wooden toys
• Neutral-only color palettes
• Matching baskets
• Perfectly curated shelves
• Minimalist interiors

Remember, a Montessori playroom doesn’t need to be extravagant; simplicity often leads to greater engagement.

Children need comfort, warmth, and connection to their family environment. They decompress here after school. They rest, explore, and make real memories here. The environment should reflect family life while still supporting independence.

The essential requirement is simple. Your child should be able to move, choose, explore, and clean up independently.

Less Is More, but Less Does Not Mean Colorless

The Montessori principle of “less is more” is about cognitive clarity, not design rules. Children concentrate more deeply when they have a manageable number of choices.

You can maintain warmth and color while reducing clutter.

Try this:

• Display six to eight toys or activities at a time
• Store the rest in a rotation bin or closet
• Rotate materials every week or two
• Include real tools such as a sponge, brush, or pitcher
• Avoid overflowing toy bins or deep storage containers

A simple rotation method increases focus and freshness without requiring a redesign.

Five Montessori Home Ideas You Can Add Today

These quick changes require no renovation and no big purchases.

1. Reduce Toy Clutter
Remove half the toys and display only what your child can truly use. This increases focus.

2. Add a Low Mirror
Great for babies and toddlers. Helps with body awareness and movement.

3. Use Baskets and Trays
Place each activity on its own tray or in its own basket. This teaches order.

4. Bring in Nature
A plant, a bowl of rocks, seashells, pinecones, or a single flower in a vase adds calm and beauty.

5. Create a Soft Nook
A simple corner with pillows gives your child a space to breathe and reset.

How to Make Any Room in Your Home More Montessori

These steps work whether you want a playroom, a Montessori-inspired living room corner, or a child-friendly bedroom setup.

1. Low, Accessible Shelving
Choose shelves your child can reach. This gives them autonomy and helps with clean up.

Inspiration:
• IKEA Kallax or Trofast units placed horizontally
• Sprout Kids Montessori shelves
• Handmade pine shelves from Etsy

2. A Few Purposeful Toys
Offer a small number of toys that invite deep engagement. Ideally, they can be wooden, and can be colorful or neutral. The key is clarity and quality.

Inspiration:

• Lovevery Montessori-inspired Play Kits
• Monti Kids Sensorial + Practical Life Materials
• Hape Wooden Toys (open-ended)
• Guidecraft Wooden Unit Blocks

3. A Cozy Reading Corner
Create a quiet nook where your child can rest, reset, and enjoy books.

Inspiration:
• Floor Cushion / Beanbag: Yogibo Mini
• Picture ledges displaying books facing forward
• Kid-Friendly Soft Lamp: Hatch Rest+

4. A Defined Workspace
Provide a rug, low activity table, or floor mat that signals where building, sorting, painting, or creating happens.

5. Space for Movement
Children need room to climb, crawl, balance, and stretch.

Inspiration:
• Pikler triangle
• Balance beam
• Foam play couch

6. Opportunities for Practical Life

Children want to help around the house. Let them!

Inspiration:
• Child-sized broom
• Small pitcher and bowl
• Step stool for kitchen activities

7. Artwork at Child Level
Hang art where your child can actually see it. This gives them ownership and appreciation of the space.

Inspiration:
• Nature photos
• Botanical prints
• Realistic animal watercolors
• Framed family photos

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re setting up a Montessori playroom or simply want to make your home more “Montessori”, we encourage you to remember that your home does not need to be perfect, or beige, or curated. It needs to be thoughtful, calm, and supportive of your child’s independence.

Color is welcome. Clutter is not. Clean lines and clear choices help your child focus. Warmth and beauty help them enjoy their space.

Above all, you do not need a full playroom to bring Montessori into your home. You simply need small, intentional changes that make your child feel capable, connected, and at home in their environment.

This post 7 Steps to Setting Up a Montessori Playroom That Truly Works for Your Child first appeared on Guidepost Montessori and is written by Karolina Potterton

Building Scissor Skills: What Happens the Day a Child Snips Their Hair

Every Montessori guide has a version of this story.

A focused child sits at a small table, cutting paper strips with tiny scissors. The room hums with quiet concentration. Then a small pause—and a soft surprise. A single lock of hair lands gently on the mat.

It happens.

Sometimes it even makes us smile, especially when a parent replies, “He’s been needing a haircut. Thank you!” But behind the humor is something important. Each of these moments is a chance to teach care, safety, and responsibility—the foundation of all early scissor skills development.

This real story from one of our classrooms inspired us to share why we teach scissor skills in Montessori, how we keep it safe, and what parents can do at home to support this important milestone in fine motor growth.

Why Scissor Work Matters in Montessori

In Montessori classrooms, scissors are more than an art supply. They are an essential tool for building independence, focus, and coordination.

When a child practices cutting, they are developing far more than craft skills. They are building the strength and control that support writing, self-care, and confidence in daily life.

Here’s what scissor work supports:

• Hand strength and coordination that later help with writing, dressing, and other fine motor tasks.
• Concentration through a clear beginning, middle, and end—cutting requires sustained attention.
• Independence with a real tool that calls for awareness, safety, and care.
• Practical life confidence by mastering a skill used in everyday life.

Each careful snip builds physical strength and emotional confidence. Scissor skills empower children to say, “I can do this myself.”

How We Set Children Up for Safe Scissor Success at School

Prepared Environment

Montessori classrooms are intentionally designed to make scissor work safe and meaningful:

• Child-sized, blunt-tip scissors that cut paper easily but reduce risk.
• Paper strips with clear cutting lines, matched to each child’s level.
• Defined workspace and trays that contain materials and limit distractions.

Intentional Modeling

Before children begin cutting, guides demonstrate how to use scissors safely and respectfully:

• How to carry scissors with blades closed and pointed down.
• The clear rule: “Scissors are for paper.”
• How to make one slow cut and return the scissors to the tray.

Close Supervision

For beginners, guides stay within arm’s reach, maintaining visibility of hands, faces, and hair. This allows gentle correction before accidents happen.

Kind Redirection

If hair or clothing gets too close, we pause kindly:

• “Let’s tie your hair back so you can see better.”
• If control needs strengthening, we switch to tearing or pinching activities before returning to scissors.

This approach protects safety while preserving the child’s confidence.

The Five Step Process: When a Hair Snip Happens

Even with preparation, surprises happen. When a child snips hair, our goal is not punishment—it’s learning.

Here’s how we respond step by step:

1. Pause and stay calm. “I’m going to help you keep your body safe.”
2. Secure the scissors. Gently place them on the tray.
3. Check and tidy. Smooth the area, gather paper, and stay composed.
4. Coach the why. “Scissors are for paper. Hair stays on your head.”
5. Reset with success. Offer a short, safe paper-cutting task to rebuild confidence.

Calm, consistent responses teach scissor safety and build self-regulation—two lifelong skills. Learn more about our approach to all practical life skills.

What You Can Do at Home to Build Scissor Skills

Parents often ask how to safely introduce scissor activities at home. The key is preparation, simplicity, and consistency.

1. Create a Small Cutting Station

A designated spot makes cutting predictable and safe:

• Child-friendly scissors (blunt-tip, spring-loaded, or easy-open).
• Narrow paper strips, recycled magazines, or construction paper.
• A small tray and recycling bin for cleanup.

Keep the setup consistent and at your child’s height.

2. Use Simple, Consistent Language

Short, repeated phrases build safety habits:

• “Scissors are for paper.”
• “Blades down when you walk.”
• “Hair behind your ears or in a clip.”

These statements reinforce scissor safety rules without creating fear.

3. Practice Together

Sit nearby at first. Watch with curiosity instead of correction.
Acknowledge focus and effort:

• “You kept your fingers safe.”
• “You followed the line so carefully.”

This shows that process matters more than perfection.

4. Keep Humor Handy

If a small snip happens, take a breath and stay calm. A light tone turns a mistake into a lesson.
If your child repeatedly cuts hair or clothing, share this with their guide. We’ll collaborate on next steps.

Respectful Words We Use with Children

Language shapes how children see themselves. We guide rather than criticize, using phrases like:

• “I see you working carefully. Keep your fingers behind the line.”
• “Let’s tuck your hair back so you can see better.”
• “Scissors rest here when your hand rests.”

This approach turns rules into confidence-building routines.

A Reminder for Parents

Learning to use real tools is a milestone in childhood. Children feel immense pride when they can cut, glue, fold, and create independently.

With a prepared environment, clear rules, and a strong partnership between home and school, even a small haircut mistake becomes a meaningful reminder of something much bigger: your child’s growing confidence, curiosity, and care for themselves and their environment.

This post 5 Smart Ways We Teach Scissor Skills Safely in Montessori Classrooms first appeared on Guidepost Montessori and is written by Karolina Potterton

Learn about how you can introduce Montessori into your home from the day your baby is born

Montessori education is most commonly associated with Montessori schools, but it’s not limited to those four walls. Anyone – parents, caregivers, educators – can make a Montessori environment at home.

Those first few moments after becoming a parent bring a whirlwind of emotions. Joy when seeing their tiny fingers and toes. Excitement about the things you’ll do together as they grow. Love – just pure, unadulterated love for this new member of your family.

Even with months to prepare your home for this new arrival, you start to wonder if you’ve done everything you can to be ready. From baby-proofing electrical outlets to getting the perfect books to read, you’ve checked every box you can think of – yet your doubts persist.

“To stimulate life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself – that is the first duty of the educator.”

Maria Montessori

While there’s no manual for raising a child, there is one for creating an environment where any child can use their inherent ability to learn through the world around them. For over 100 years, parents have used the Montessori philosophy of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori to help their children physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially explore their expanding world.

In this Ultimate Guide to Montessori at Home, we’re going to walk you through what you need to know about Montessori education, how to create a Prepared Environment at home, and give you practical ideas to adapt your home Montessori as your child grows.

The Prepared Environment at Home

The foundation of the Montessori experience is the Prepared Environment. Montessori classrooms are designed to be places where children can explore and learn under their own direction. You won’t find rows of desks facing a teacher for a structured lesson plan. Instead, children in Montessori classrooms can move freely as their interests evolve. 

Dr. Montessori believed that every child is capable of greatness when given the opportunity to learn, make mistakes, and grow. Having the right environment to do that is essential. If you’re concerned about the costs, don’t fret – creating the Montessori experience at home is affordable and adaptable to the space in your home.

It’s essential to remember that the Montessori experience isn’t limited to a room for learning. Your child doesn’t stop learning and exploring when they put a book back on the shelf or clean up their art supplies. The Montessori experience is a whole-home experience – from the kitchen to the bathroom, from the bedroom to the living room.

Form and function

For many of us, making the switch to working from home took more than just setting up a computer monitor and keyboard in the basement. Businesses invest in office furniture to create a space for you to do your best work. The same type of investment is needed in creating your home Montessori Prepared Environment. We’ll go into the specifics of what you need later in the guide – but there are three key things to keep in mind.

• Fewer Distractions – Simple, functional furniture is preferred for Montessori learning. There is no prescription for natural materials versus man-made materials — the furniture should be clean and (ideally) free of distractions such as cartoon illustrations.
• Real-World Tools – Montessori spaces create opportunities for children to manage themselves. Having child-sized cups and containers allows them to do simple things like get their own water. These opportunities build confidence and resilience that children will take on to each step of their growth.
• Child-sized – Montessori education works to create a normalized child – one that can function independently on everyday tasks around your home and in the classroom. It’s best to choose furniture that is sized to the stage of life of your child. This includes beds close to the floor so your child can explore on their own when they wake up in the morning, or tables and chairs for their size rather than high chairs and booster seats. 

Everyday objects and toys

Materials in the Montessori classroom range from everyday household items to scientifically designed learning materials that inspire children to conceptualize and create an understanding of the world around them.

The same philosophy of using simple and functional furniture applies to the materials in your home Montessori environment. Plastic play kitchens are replaced with appropriately sized actual kitchenware and utensils. With Montessori education, the goal is for children to learn through authentic experiences.

Using everyday household objects also teaches an important lesson: responsibility. Children learn to treat their things and possessions of their friends and family with care when those items are breakable or fragile.  

Order and cleanliness

Children learn in many ways, including by imitating the people around them. They yearn to contribute to the running of the household because they’re inspired by the love they have for their parents. Providing opportunities to help when they can is always encouraged. 

Organizing your home for Montessori means having an order to where everything goes and being set up so that your children can tidy up after themselves.

• Instead of bins or buckets of mismatched items, your home Montessori environment should be organized and straightforward. Toys and books should be grouped by subject. As you notice your child’s interests changing, you can introduce new groupings of toys and books.
• Cleaning cloths should be accessible so your child can clean up after they’re finished with a meal or snack. This gives children the space to develop a sense of care and stewardship over their environment.
• We like the slightly amended acronym K.I.S. – keep it simple. Messy desks might be the sign of a genius, but an organized, simple space helps children become calm, happy, and independent.

Parenting the Montessori Way

Creating a Prepared Environment takes you only part of the way towards bringing the Montessori Method into your home. The next step is to prepare yourself to parent the Montessori way.

“Discipline must come through freedom.”

Maria Montessori

Montessori philosophy is built upon the concept of a child developing within a Prepared Environment – a classroom that has been designed for the needs of each child, so that they can move around it with dignity, requiring as little help as possible to carry out daily tasks. As the parent, you’re there to guide your child as they investigate their surroundings and explore their interests. Parenting the Montessori way is simply being mindful of your child’s interests and present in your interactions with them. 

Dr. Montessori also argued that children develop as strong individuals when you help them build up their inner motivation rather than using rewards to motivate.

Three steps to being a great Montessori parent

1. Observe your child as they explore. The foundation of the Prepared Environment allows parents to take a step back and truly observe their child. Children as young as six months can begin to notice the differences between pictures that show different numbers of objects. As you observe your child, look for signs that they’re interested in an object or a subject and create a tray or basket of similarly-themed toys and books for them. For example, if you’re out on a walk with your child and they demonstrate an interest in birds, put together a few books about birds and bird toys for them to explore in your home.  
 
This is the primary difference between regular parenting and the Montessori way. As parents, we’re naturally inclined to want to teach our children about the things we think they should learn. Parenting the Montessori way gives the direction of education back to the child, empowering them to fill their absorbent minds with what they genuinely crave to know about. (What’s an “absorbent mind,” you ask? Visit the Guidepost Glossary of Montessori for a breakdown of all the Montessori terms you need to know).

Later on in this guide, we’ll discuss the importance of curating these materials and how to rotate them out as your child’s interests change. 

2. Mistakes Happen. Parenting the Montessori way means using the mistake as a lesson in self-discipline and responsibility. Mistakes and accidents are a natural part of the learning process. It’s through mistakes and errors that we test and push through our limits of understanding and comprehension. Children, especially through age six, have absorbent minds that take in everything around them. It’s these varieties of experiences – both successes and failures – that children use as a launchpad for a life of thought and action.

Our first response to an accident, such as a child dropping a plate is to move the child away and grab a broom and dustpan. Instead of removing the child from the room, invite them to participate in the clean-up. They could carefully pick up some of the larger pieces and put them in the trash, before moving onto more complex tasks like using the dustpan and brush. It’s an opportunity for the child to participate in their environment and build an understanding of natural consequences to actions. 

3. Avoid being a helicopter parent. As parents, we all want to protect our children. It’s our natural instinct. But like every road paved with good intentions, we can become too protective – turning into helicopter parents and micromanaging our children’s daily schedules down to the last minute. Following the Montessori Method can help parents avoid becoming helicopter parents as it removes the need to constantly entertain the child.

Putting young minds into rigorous schedules of activities can seem like the right thing to do. Dr. Montessori’s research showed that children develop best when given the freedom to explore their interests under their own direction. 

The goal of all Montessori parents is to help guide their children to become happy, healthy, independent individuals. This path to independence is built in the Prepared Environment at home through opportunities to develop their inner discipline by contributing at home. 

Studies have shown that ‘helicopter parenting’ can cause children to lose their sense of independence and confidence, potentially leading to feelings of sadness or inadequacy. Being a Montessori parent means creating a Prepared Environment where your child can make mistakes and learn safely. Providing a healthy snack station where your child can serve themselves provides them the experience of managing their own serving size and cleaning up any messes. Giving your child the space to govern their actions builds that sense of inner discipline that Dr. Montessori’s research identified as the keystone of a happy, engaged, and curious child.

Organizing your Home Learning Environment

When parents discuss using the Montessori Method at home, the discussion often turns to the associated costs. There’s a myth that bringing Montessori into your home is expensive. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way.

We’re going to share what you need to know to make Montessori at home affordable and straightforward. It’s important to note that Montessori at home is a whole home project. Each room should be organized so that every member of the household can be as independent as possible. The inner discipline of the child that Dr. Montessori described is developed through Practical Life activities, including personal hygiene, cleaning up after meals, and taking care of their belongings and the belongings of the family.  

Before exploring what Montessori at home looks like from room to room, here are three concepts that make Montessori at home successful for your child and you. 
 

1. Keeping things at eye level. Keep things organized so that your child can easily access the materials they need for their self-guided learning. Look for ways to add a child-safe shelf to your kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms so your child can get the materials they need when they need them.
2. Less is more. We’re always tempted to add more toys and books to our children’s spaces to teach and entertain them. But with Montessori at home, less truly is more. Instead of deep baskets of toys, use smaller baskets and trays to organize books and toys by themes. Using your Montessori parenting skills, observe your child and introduce new materials as their interests evolve.
3. Everyone picks up a broom. Keeping materials at eye level is for more than their learning materials. Put child-safe cleaning supplies such as clothes and hand brooms at eye level for your child. Doing this allows your child to take ownership of tasks, from getting their own healthy snacks to cleaning up a spill (it happens to all of us).

The Montessori Learning Space

Whether it’s an office, a cubicle, a hot desk, or a coffee shop, we all crave a dedicated space to do our work. Many children share that same need for a dedicated space for their learning and exploration. 

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”

Maria Montessori

With Montessori at home, creating a learning space can be done easily with many things you already have in your home. 

• If your home allows, create a dedicated space to separate learning from home that is just for them.
• Use simple, functional furniture for the Prepared Environment at home. The materials can be wood, plastic, or other composites, but it is important that they are free of distractions including illustrations, cartoon characters, or other branding.
• Use baskets and trays to organize materials on an easy-to-reach shelf to help keep their things organized. Children can focus more on the topics they’re exploring when their dedicated learning space is uncluttered.

While Montessori spaces are uncluttered, that does not mean bare walls are preferred. Displaying artwork that ties in with your child’s current interests can help inspire their learning. The artwork does not have to be expensive either, you can use pages from magazines or purchase prints from local artists to create a warm, motivating space for your child’s dedicated space.

The Montessori Bedroom 

As with your bedroom, your child’s bedroom is a sanctuary from the day-to-day activities with which they engage. Many of the same Prepared Environment concepts can be applied when designing the Montessori at-home bedroom.

Even though many of us dreamed of a race car or four-post princess bed as children, a simple floor bed works best for a Montessori child’s bedroom. (Read more about our recommendations here). Whether your child is rolling around, crawling around, or getting comfortable on two feet, a floor bed empowers them to start their days independently.

Being able to get out of bed easily, your child can then pick out their clothes and dress themselves. This builds their inner discipline and helps them develop their sense of independence. We all know children can have some interesting fashion choices and don’t always dress for the weather. Give them options in their dresser or closets that are right for the day ahead to help avoid tantrums.

In addition to dressing themselves, your child can also pick toys and books from their shelves to explore. For toddlers, use a play mat to help create a space where they can play safely after they wake. 

Becoming independent means taking ownership of their space and belongings. Involve your child in folding and putting away clothes, show them how to make their bed, and as with all the spaces in your home, show your children that everything has a place – and cleaning up is part of learning and play.

The Montessori Kitchen

The kitchen is where family happens. It’s the hub where everything is shared – from meals to the events of the day. Setting up your kitchen for your Montessori child involves making it a space where they can observe, engage, and contribute. 

“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”

Maria Montessori

Instead of play or toy-themed items, have your child use real plates and tableware. Using the same items as everyone in the family teaches them the value of the items and encourages them to take care while using, cleaning, and putting away plates, tableware, cups, and glasses.

The kitchen is a room where having furniture and seating for the child’s height sometimes isn’t possible. Use age-appropriate stools to bring them to counter and sink height. Being at the right height allows toddlers to observe dishes being cleaned and water being poured so they can do those activities themselves when they’re able.

Booster seats and high chairs don’t allow children to move freely. A child-sized chair and table lets them enjoy their meal in the same way older children and adults do at their table. The freedom to move then gives them the chance to clear their plate and tableware. 

Use the kitchen as a place for your child to explore Practical Life activities. Have a hand broom and cleaning clothes accessible for them to clean up after themselves. For snacking, provide easy access to healthy snacks and child-sized pitchers and cups so that your child can serve themselves when needed. 

The Montessori Bathroom 

Every room in your home is an opportunity for your child to learn to take care of the space and themselves. Nowhere is this more true than in the bathroom. Learning to take care of their hygiene is critical to developing a strong, independent child. 

Like your kitchen, the bathroom is a space in your home that can be adapted for your Montessori child as they grow. The bathroom is also the space where you can lead by example by brushing your teeth and washing your hands to demonstrate proper hygiene. 

Use an age-appropriate step stool so your child can easily reach the vanity on their own. There are also adapters for taps and faucets that allow your child to turn on and reach the water without potentially tipping themselves over.

The bathroom is a place for many things, but minimize the number of toys in the bathroom to reduce clutter and help your child focus on the task at hand. 

Have face clothes and cleaning clothes available so your child can tidy themselves and the bathroom.

Montessori at Home for Babies

You can bring Montessori into your home with children as young as a few months old. The first step is to create a safe environment in your home for your child. Each home is different, but these tips will help you get started. 

Put chemicals, cleaners, and other potentially toxic items on high shelves or in locked cabinets.

Check your light fixtures, electronics, and appliances for loose cords that a baby could pull down and harm themselves. Use baby-proof electric receptacle covers.

“Education must begin at birth.”

Maria Montessori

Moving from cribs to floor beds

Many Montessori guides encourage parents to move children as young as two months from a Moses basket or bassinette to a floor bed. One of the first lessons of independence for your child is being able to wake and explore their space independently. 

Teething and solid foods

Montessori education – from the child’s house to your home – is based on a child-led approach. That same child-led approach is used for teething and when introducing solid foods to your baby.

For teething, give your baby two or three teething toy options in a basket that they’re able to reach. Giving them choices and access allows them to soothe themselves when needed. 

When it comes to introducing solid foods, the same child-led approach can be employed. While having a meal, offer solids to your baby as your family eats together. Allow your baby to choose how much solid food they want to try and finish their meal with milk or formula as you normally would.

Remember to use real plates, tableware, and cups with your baby, so they see that they experience meal times the same way as everyone else. 

Montessori at Home for Toddlers

As your baby becomes a toddler, your Montessori at-home Prepared Environment grows with them. For example, picture books get put away and replaced with early readers.

Here are a few Montessori at Home for Toddlers ideas to try:

• Use trays of seasonal-themed toys and books to encourage your child to explore their environment as it changes.
• It’s vital to observe your child and rotate out the trays and baskets of toys as they discover new interests.
• Involve your toddler in meal planning to help them explore their tastes. This is another way that the child-led approach can be used to avoid picky or fussy eaters. 

Potty Learning 

Instead of toilet training in the traditional sense, Montessori parents use potty learning to build confidence in their children. Your Montessori bathroom already has the core items – a stool to reach the vanity and possibly a faucet extender. For potty learning, introduce a small potty or child toilet seat that your toddler can use independently.

You can start potty learning while your child is a baby by talking about bodily functions in real terms, such as, “Do you have to go to the bathroom?” and “Your diaper is wet.” Giving them the words to express themselves before they are verbal sets a solid foundation for potty learning later on.

Montessori Children Have Tantrums Too 

We all brace ourselves when we see the telltale signs of an impending tantrum. Arms crossed, a growing frown, feet getting ready to stomp the ground. 

Here are a few ways you can help your child manage their tantrums:

• Instead of ignoring or appeasing the child when a tantrum is thrown, parents are encouraged to use the Montessori way of parenting by observing the child and actively listening to your child as they express their feelings. Active listening can help you find opportunities to help your child resolve their feelings.
• Our first intuitions can range from giving the child a treat or threatening some form of punishment. Dr. Montessori taught that instead of trying to control their actions, control their choices. If your child is having a tantrum because they want an unhealthy snack, give them choices of two or three healthy options. Doing so gives them the responsibility and independence a child craves – all while keeping sugary snacks at bay.
• With young children, expressing their feelings through words can be difficult. Use a tantrum as an opportunity for them to show their feelings in creative ways. Ask them to draw or paint what they’re feeling or what they need (once they’ve calmed down). Expression through art can help you connect with your child in ways you never expected.

Creating your Prepared Environment at home doesn’t involve expensive purchases. Many of the materials you’ll need can be found at consignment stores or repurposed from materials you have at home today. For furniture, Ikea and other retailers have inexpensive options for child-sized desks, chairs, and tables that are made of natural materials.

“The goal of childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”

Maria Montessori

We know that at first glance, bringing the Montessori philosophy into your home can seem daunting and expensive. We hope you now see that Montessori at home is quite the opposite. Montessori uses less structure, fewer materials, and a reduced amount of adult direction in order to help the child build more willpower, greater responsibility, and resilience.

This post The Ultimate Guide to Montessori at Home first appeared on Guidepost Montessori and is written by Lu