How to incorporate the Montessori method at home

Montessori is not just for the classroom. With the right guidance and knowledge, you can bring the Montessori philosophy into your home and reinforce what your child learns in the classroom.

While the idea of incorporating Montessori principles at home sounds intriguing, many parents are unsure of how or where to start. The first step is to understand your child and how capable they are of performing practical life activities.

The Montessori method at home sets up the right Montessori environment for your children. It is a home created to meet the needs of your child and designed to allow your child to touch, observe, explore, and use common materials found in everyday life.

When you create a Montessori home for your child, you must step back and see through the eyes of your child. Observe how your child interacts in your home and create a Montessori environment that involves your child.

Benefits of Montessori method at home

Children are always eager to fulfill their desire for exploring, experimenting, and learning. Montessori at home is part of that learning environment. The home is the best place for your child to do new tasks and learn new skills.

Montessori at home gives your child autonomy and the respect they deserve. By setting up the right Montessori environment, your child is more inclined to make their own choices while you still have control of their daily tasks.

When you allow your child to help at home, whether it is sweeping or feeding your pets, they learn to take responsibility in the home. They also learn how to collaborate with you and their siblings, creating a greater connection and trust.

Your child will feel more empowered to complete certain tasks, which will help him master his skills and build concentration. Many of these tasks will refine his fine and gross motor skills which will lead to the overall development of your child.

Does Montessori at home really make a difference?

Montessori learning at home does make a difference in your child’s life. The right Montessori environment you create at home will allow your child to work and naturally learn at their own pace.

At school, the classroom is carefully designed to allow children to develop the ability to care for themselves and their environment. You can prepare the same environment at home to encourage self-motivation, order, and independence.

Organization will be the key to implementing Montessori at home. A well-organized home environment where there is a place for everything will have fewer distractions and will allow your child to focus on the tasks at hand.

Montessori at home activities

First, let’s understand practical life activities for children, which are activities children do in their daily lives. These activities will develop motor control, coordination, concentration, and independence:

• Handwashing

• Sweeping

• Mopping

• Cleaning windows

• Cleaning and wiping furniture

• Watering plants

• Self-care like hair brushing, nose blowing, nail clipping, etc.

These are easy activities that you can incorporate in your home and it all requires very little preparation.

How to implement Montessori at home

To allow your child to understand what is expected of them, simplify your home environment. “A place for everything and everything in its place” is an example of the critical principles of Montessori at home. 

Here are some great ideas to implement the Montessori method at home:

• Help with breakfast. Let your children serve their own cereal, set the table and, put a small jug of milk on the table. If they make a small mess, let them clean it up.
• Help with laundry. Allow your children to add clothes to the washer, add detergent, and turn the washer on. Let them transfer the clean clothes to the dryer or show them how to hang clothes on a clothesline. 
• Get dressed. Give your child the independence to pick their outfits. To prevent your child from getting overwhelmed, have two outfits set on their bed and have them choose one outfit.
• Help with chores. Allow your child to sweep and mop. This will promote independence and self-satisfaction. Dusting and cleaning are easy tasks that when done, children will feel joy knowing they helped in the house.
• Help with lunch and dinner. Allow your child to add ingredients to the pot, and have them cut soft vegetables and fruits with a crinkle cutter. Always supervise your children when they are cutting.
• Brushing pets. Children love pets. If you have dogs or cats, let your child brush them. This allows children to care for their pets. If you have other pets like hamsters, turtles, or fishes, let your child feed them and clean them.

These are simple activities that you can start doing at home today. Montessori can be extended from the classroom to your home by following these simple tips.

Tips to incorporate Montessori at home

Remember that Montessori at home should be simple, encourage independence, and increase your child’s confidence. Follow these tips to successfully apply the Montessori philosophy at home.

• Focus on progress, and not on results. Everything your child does is a work in progress. Your child may take a long time to sweep and mop the floors and may miss a few spots, but your child is mastering new skills and boosting his or her confidence.
• Look for ways your child can help. Find age-appropriate tasks for your child to help with. Atwo-year-old may help you pick up toys and put them in a basket. A four-year-old can help you set up the dinner table. 
• Have things ready for your child. If your child is helping you with chores, have cleaning supplies like cleaning rags ready for him.
• Offer words of encouragement. Always thank your child for helping. Let her know that you appreciate her help and how teamwork was beneficial to both you and her.