Montessori At Home: Everything You Need To Know

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Written By Poonam Singh

I am co-founder of toddlerjunction.com and Principal of Cambridge Montessori Preschool Bangalore.

The Italian physician Maria Montessori created the Montessori Method of teaching and learning more than a century ago. It is based on the idea that kids can start their own learning experiences.

When you enter a Montessori classroom or atmosphere, you’ll discover a compelling combination of resources and exercises designed to foster the development of a well-rounded learner, which means that children are given physical, mental, emotional, and social challenges.

Most people are aware of Montessori education programs, but many are unaware that the concepts behind them may also be successfully applied at home. In fact, when working with kids from low-income apartments, Dr. Montessori initially started formulating her theories on how kids learn.

In this article, we will talk about things you should know while setting Montessori at home.

Read Here: 7 Tips to increase concentration levels in kids

Implementation of Montessori Principles

Below are the few crucial Montessori principles you may implement in your kid at home:

Let them learn at their own pace

Allow them to select activities and do tasks at their own pace based on their interests. Even though parents desire to encourage learning and development in their children, it is simple to overstimulate a child. The question, “What must your kid be capable of performing at their age?” is crucial.

You may choose which educational activities to start your child participating in by looking at the skills they can establish or develop depending on their age. You risk reducing the learning material’s impact if you expose them to excessive activities early when they do not understand the activity.

Montessori At Home
Montessori At Home

Read Here: About Early Childhood Literacy

Encourage self-reliance and concentration

Your child needs to build and increase their ability to concentrate. Completing an activity in its entirety is one of the finest strategies to support your child’s development of concentration.

Sadly, technology and excessive screen time are hazardous to kids’ growth in this field. Rapid technological advancements fail to develop self-control and confidence in children. You must Encourage your kid to finish a task completed in order to prepare them for the more difficult tasks they will encounter in key areas like science and math in the future.

Give the tools for future success

There is a palpable sense of respect and politeness throughout a Montessori classroom, which is one of its most notable features. Your kids should learn to welcome guests into their homes with a smile. You should show them sympathy and let them know how to deal with a sneeze or cough and how to answer someone properly when they speak to them. Give them instructions on properly answering the phone, pulling their chair to the table, and stopping talking during conversations.

Promote life skills

It is possible for even young children to help out around the house. Your child will be prepared to grow up to be kind, responsible adults if you start educating them to take better care of themselves and their environment early on. It means as a parent, you might have to take the time to show your child how to clean the table properly after dinner and which cabinet to put their mugs in, but since their brains are so receptive, it won’t take them long to figure it out on their own.

Montessori At Home
Montessori At Home

Remember to assign assignments that are appropriate for their age and skill level. For instance, smaller kids can easily be taught how to feed pets, water plants, wash the table after meals, and collect toys. Children who are older can add more difficult chores like food preparation, garbage removal, and basic housekeeping into their daily schedule.

Read Here: The Ultimate Guide to Montessori For Beginners

Respect your child’s viewpoint

Children naturally have inquisitive personalities, which is the basis of their learning. However, failing to consider your toddler’s logical point of view can interfere with their learning ability.

You must respect your child’s desire to study by creating a suitable setting that directs their education and growth. Follow your child about and pay attention to what they do to determine what requires to be more appropriate for their perspective.

Building a Montessori environment for kids at home

You don’t need to wait till your kids are older to set up a Montessori setting. A Montessori atmosphere at home benefits children even as young as infants. Since you’re just beginning with your child and can gradually absorb and modify ideas as it grows, now is a great moment to start this shift. Below are things you may do to incorporate Montessori thoughts and ideas into your baby’s home environment.

Montessori At Home
Montessori At Home

Read Here: How To Find A Montessori Caregiver For Your Kid

How to make your house suitable for Montessori?

Now, let’s discuss a few tips and tricks to make your house suitable for Montessori.

1. Make your home baby-proof

Cover electrical outlets, install safety locks on doors, and eliminate anything that can damage your kid or yourself. As they start to walk around on their own, the objective is to provide a space that enables them to do so freely.

2. Establish exploration zones with baby gates

Most parents think of fences as a method to restrain their children, but you may use them to define their play zones and restrict them in the locations intended for their exploration and learning.

3. Make the space in their bedroom kid-friendly

.Consider placing a bed on the floor and placing age-appropriate toys nearby. This encourages children to transition from napping to playing independently once they can crawl and walk. To ensure kids stay in this specified place, install a baby gate across the doorway.

4. Make use of children’s furniture

Consider utilizing a tiny chair and table for meals rather than a high chair. Use it for mealtimes, snacks, and activity times by setting it up in the living room or kitchen near the adults’ dining table. Your infant will be able to try this once they can sit up, with an adult nearby to offer support and assistance.

Montessori At Home
Montessori At Home

Read Here: How Montessori Education Is Different From Traditional Education

What is your role as a Montessori parent?

The parent’s job as an educator is to provide an atmosphere that encourages and promotes each child’s natural growth. Montessori parents must follow specific guidelines in order to do this, including respect for the children’s unique needs and abilities, faith in their intrinsic capacity for learning, and patience.

One of the initial steps is observing your child’s behavior and making appropriate adjustments. Once they’re in the right setting, particularly if they are given access to learning resources relevant to their interests, their innate curiosity will come to the surface.

Furthermore, keep in mind that you may extend Montessori principles outside the house and into nature to provide your kid with far more independence and engagement with the outer world. The Montessori Method strongly emphasizes listening carefully to your kid and respecting their decisions and needs to foster a respectful relationship between you and your child.

Read Here: 7 Key Elements of a Montessori School


MONTESSORI AT HOME: What Is Montessori? (& Why Do It?) – video

Montessori At Home – Some frequently asked questions

How to start Montessori at home?

It’s easy to start Montessori at home. You can begin by adopting a Montessori lifestyle, following your interests, and slowing down. You must also include the child in daily tasks and provide them with sensory experiences. Then start incorporating fundamental Montessori activities, such as practical application and sensory activities.

How does the Montessori Method work at home?

A Montessori home is one where the design and inhabitants are sensitive to the kid’s requirements. It is a place where kids can safely handle, investigate, utilize, and master the everyday objects they encounter daily. ​The adults would view the household and parenting through the kids’ viewpoint.

What is the best age to start Montessori?

The best age to start Montessori is around 2-3 years old. This is when children are beginning to develop their independence and are eager to explore their surroundings.
Montessori at home can be a great option for families who want to provide their children with a stimulating and enriching environment. It is important to remember that Montessori is not a method of teaching, but rather a philosophy that guides how children learn. Therefore, it is important to find resources and materials that support this philosophy.

Conclusion

We hope by now you have got the answers to each question regarding Montessori at home. The basic education for each child starts at home, and parents/family members are their first teachers.  So, by providing a Montessori setting at home, you may ensure your kid can learn basic elements and rules of life. It’ll also develop some good qualities in your kid that will help them in the future.

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Montessori At Home

I am co-founder of toddlerjunction.com and Principal of Cambridge Montessori Preschool and DayCare Kaggadasapura Branch. I am also a Montessori certified teacher and have 5+ years of experience working with kids.

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