MONTESSORI AT HOME
As a parent, you can easily incorporate Montessori at home for your child of any age. You don’t have to be inherently creative or spend much money on your child to benefit from what a Montessori-inspired education offers.
If you feel overwhelmed or underqualified to teach Montessori at home, or afraid to get started, please don’t worry because these suggestions are very straightforward and manageable.
Whether you planned on using your dining room table or a decked-out, designated Montessori-inspired room for your child, we have some helpful suggestions for you to continue your child’s Montessori experience at home:
Respect the Child
Speak and listen to your child as you would an adult.
Limit Screen Time: television, computers, tablets, and phone usage.
Children are very concrete, hands-on learners and benefit more from tactile activities such as puzzles, non-competitive games, and gross motor movement.
Engage in the Everyday Life
Encourage your child to actively engage in the everyday life of your home with age-appropriate activities. Your child can help set the table for meals or clean up after themselves when they are finished playing. Meaningful work creates a sense of accomplishment.
Talk to them!
Children learn words and language through listening to us. Talk to your children at every opportunity.
When you are in the car, talk about what you are seeing out the window. When you are in the grocery store, name the various food as you cruise the aisles. Remember that you are giving your child the precious gift of language and a rich vocabulary.
Read, Read, Read!
Read together with your children every day. Make trips to the library or bookstore. Make reading a pleasant, enjoyable experience. Also, play games, sing and tell jokes.
Slow Down
Plan less, explore life with your child at a slow pace and allow time for movement, conversations and gaining cooperation.
Offer Safe Choices with Appropriate Boundaries
Encourage your child to decide what to pack in their lunch box, or what to wear to an outing. This helps your child to choose for themselves, resulting in self-confidence and increased independence.
The Use of Scaled Furniture and Materials
Creating spaces and using objects that are easily accessible to your child is key. Some pieces to think about acquiring are low shelves, small tables and chairs, and small bowls, spoons, tongs, etc. These items should be child-friendly and child-appropriate.
Grace and Courtesy
Teach and (more importantly) model the way you want your children to act. Use polite manners and speak respectfully. Make eye contact, get down on their level, but don’t talk “down” to them. Talk about patience, kindness, honesty, sharing, helpfulness, and any other principles you value. When having a conversation, make no interruptions, teach your child to do the same because you are the role model and an example for them.
