One of the only reasons we survived 16 months without childcare at the start of the pandemic is that we had already set up a dedicated play space for our son following the Montessori method at home. As a graduate of a Montessori school myself, I knew that I wanted our son to have the learning experience that an authentic program offers. However, the reality of our long-term financial goals meant that I had to get creative about implementing the Montessori method at home in a tight space and on a budget. Happily, this strategy paid off in the long-run, and I am so grateful that we live in a time where it’s straightforward for parents to learn how to design a Montessori-aligned home.
Top tips for implementing the Montessori method at home
Deploy the at-home starter set for Montessori Toddlers
Until our son was 3, we lived in a 700 square foot apartment that also became a home office for two adults in the depths of the pandemic. This meant that setting up Montessori-style spaces (plural) was out of the question for us. But, this didn’t preclude us from Macgyvering a joyous learning space that followed Montessori principles. Here’s what we did room by room:
- In the bedroom, we invested in Sprout Kids’ Montessori Floor Bed at 18 months. Yes, there was a period where our kiddo would climb out of bed and we had to train him not to do that. But, the experiment with independence was something that was going to happen at some point, and it was precisely the point of the investment.
- We also invested in the Stokke Mutable but bought more ergonomic chairs from a traditional school supply company. The utility of the table with its different base plates has been phenomenal, and the learning toys/accessories have been a hit.
- We wanted our son to be able to play independently, so finding surfaces at his height was important to us. Happily, the Ikea Besta unit in our living room was the perfect low shelf for us.
- We also gave him the lower two rungs of our leaning bookshelf in the living room so that he could easily access his books.
- Sprout Kids’ learning tower was another investment that paid dividends. While we wish it could have folded up to save space, it nevertheless fit into our small kitchen footprint and enabled hours of play and learning.
- Low stool in the bathroom (ours is from Ikea) to reach the toilet, sink, etc.
Two other things that are frequently recommended for the Montessori method at home are 1) low hooks for your child’s coat and bag at the entrance, and 2) low hooks with cleaning equipment (dustpan, brush, etc.). While we could have done so, our set up precluded the need for such things because we already stored these items on shelves at his height. Still, they are very cute and functional ways to welcome your child into your home, so if you have the space, do it!
Set up activities with a bid for their interest
Montessori activities are so satisfying because they have a distinct beginning, middle, and end. They also require that a guide model the activity: set it up, break the activity into little steps, and demonstrate (without too much talking) how to do the steps. For me, one of the things that required a mindset shift in the Montessori method at home is this attention to set up. This means purposefully creating a visual set-up that encourages play. Some ways to do so:
- Ditch the boxes! Set the actual toy or resource out on a shelf and put it in a tray or basket. Think about breakfast in bed – sure you could put your plate and coffee mug next to you on your side table, but how much more inviting is the breakfast when it’s on an actual tray? The same inviting principle applies to toys. And more importantly – your child will know what belongs together and can use their full energy to experiment with what’s in the tray.
- Prepare everything so your child can help herself. For example, if you’re engaged in potion play, lay out the potion materials in containers that allow for easy scooping. Include the tools the child will need in arm’s reach, and also provide cloth or paper towels nearby to wipe up spills. Set all the materials (except the clean-up tools) in a mat or on a safe surface where your child can freely explore.
Cultivate a learning mindset
This year, I’m investing in a number of trainings for myself that run the gamut from business development to executive presence. To be a good professional in any field, it’s important to keep learning. It’s no different for teachers – think of all the random personal development days in the school year! It’s a disruption, but one that I’m glad exists because stagnating isn’t good for us and it’s not good for our kids.
There are things that we do which won’t make sense to young children, but the act of sharing that we are learning something new is the key. It’s important to model that learning doesn’t end just because we’re out of school, and having those conversations about “hey, today I learned something new!” or “wow, I didn’t know I could do something but today I did it!” sends the signal that understanding, perseverance, and the act of trying new things are important.
Pair what you share in acknowledgement of the effort your child has put in to do something new or learn something they didn’t know before. Observing that they built train tracks in a different way or recognizing that they did something hard goes a long way towards encouraging them to keep striving even in the face of adversity.
Embrace the journey
It’s impossible to recreate a Montessori classroom at home – some of those items like the bead cabinet for example take up so much space. Very few NYC apartments could comfortably take that on in addition to the myriad other items that constitute a well-rounded learning experience. So don’t set that goal as your standard. Instead, set the mindset and principles as your standard. It’s all about independence, hands-on learning, respect, and observation.
There are times when your child is going to drive you bananas. Our son does it when he’s feeling sick, when he’s hangry/tired/over stimulated, or because he’s had a long good streak and he just needs to be a kid. The beauty of the Montessori method at home is that the discipline of offering this type of environment shapes you as a parent as well. It forces you to really see your child, the progress he or she has made, and the learning/challenges that he or she is facing. Kids are blank slates – they truly are innocent, and they aren’t born good or bad. The Montessori method is perfect for raising curious, independent, responsible self-starters. Don’t let budget or space deter you from offering a Montessori education at home – you’ll be surprised at how inventive you become in the process!
