Creating a Home Environment

I would like to give you a few tips on how you can prepare a Montessori environment at home.

                Maria Montessori (1870-1952) noticed that young children are naturally drawn to the types of things that allow them to put their sense of order to use. They also have an inner developmental need to gain independence. This certainly seems to be true for most toddlers that I know.

                A primary goal of Montessori philosophy is: "Help me to do it by myself". We want to encourage children to learn by doing and to incorporate a sense of learning and accomplishment into their everyday tasks and activities. These little children are so much more capable than we realize!

                Many Montessori activities promote self-sufficiency, have a built-in control of error, appeal to the senses, and/or prepare the finger and hand muscles for holding a pencil for writing. Most importantly, they are geared towards a young child's developmental interests.

                In order for us to successfully prepare the environment for learning, it is important that we regularly observe the child for changes in their particular interests and their developmental readiness.  You can introduce the Montessori-inspired work. When displaying these activities try to have them displayed in an organized and uncluttered way on low shelves that your child can easily reach. Everything should have a place in which it belongs and the child is expected to return his work to the appropriate space. He then will choose what he wants to do, and for how long.

      Here are some of the activities that your child can work on at home. They are divided into the categories of creating a sense of order, fine motor development, and pre-literacy, sensorial, and practical life activities.

Creating a Sense of Order

Sorting:

·         Pour 3 different kinds of cereal in a tray and help your child sort them by their shape and size.

·         Your child can help you empty the silverware out of the dishwasher and place them in the drawer by their shapes and sizes.

·         Play a game and have them name and sort different shaped blocks.

·         Help your child divide their toys by colors, like cars, trains, animals, colored pencils, and help them to place by colors on a rug.  Also, have a basket and allow your child to pick out their socks by color and pair them up.

·         Jumbo Beads (also used for learning simple patterns) in a small basket put different kinds of Jumbo beads and a shoelace, tie one end. Allow the child to string the beads onto the lace.

Sensorial:

·         Mixing Colors (to create new colors) pour one color of tempera paint at a time in a plastic tray (wear an apron), and add colors as your child freely plays by mixing the colors. You can also use unscented shaving cream (in a tray), add a few drops of food coloring, and have your child mix the shaving cream, and have a fun time. (My kid's favorite).

·         Sensory Tub place random materials you would find at your desk or house and place them in a small plastic bin. Some examples are paper, stickers, feathers, cotton balls, number shapes, small pieces of cut-up construction paper, etc. Have your child get creative and glue the crafts on a piece of construction paper.

Practical Life

Self-Care:

·         Dressing Basket: in a basket, put one pair of underwear, a top, pants, and a pair of socks. This offers easy anytime changing for the child.

·         Brushing Hair: offer a basket with a hairbrush, a small mirror, and a small water bottle to spray hair.

·         Brushing Teeth: offer a basket with a child-size toothbrush, and toothpaste, and a small cup

·         Putting on Shoes: sit down on the floor and model taking off your shoes and putting them back on.

·         Zipping, Snapping, and Buttoning: allow your child with help to zip, snap, and or button their tops or pants.

 I hope that these tips will help you to continue the Montessori concept at home. It truly is a great way to have your child build their sense of order.

– Cricket Teacher