If you have enrolled your child in a Montessori preschool, reading about the benefits of a Montessori education may be on your mind. Students develop and strengthen skills of independence, problem solving, and keeping an orderly environment in a Montessori program and you may even get a glimpse of these benefits in your child at home.

To get an even bigger dose of positives from your child being in a Montessori preschool program, you can set your home up as a Montessori environment so your child gets twice as much practice of these crucial life skills.

Creating Montessori at home

By making a few, simple changes to your home, you can create a Montessori environment that will increase your child’s independence while practicing crucial skills they may learn only in a classroom setting.

Create an environment for independence

Independence is a big component for the Montessori method. At home, you may be used to doing many things for your growing toddler. Putting items closer to your child’s reach can actually increase their independence. You can:

• Put a short coat rack or hooks on the wall that your child can reach so they can hang up their own coats and school bag each day

• Place a water dispenser low enough for your child to easily and safely get their own cups of water

• Keep a drawer in your kitchen stocked with approved snacks and child-friendly bowls and plates so your child can get their own food during snack time.

• Teach your child how to make their bed each morning

• Place a mirror lower on your bathroom wall so your child can look at themselves while they are brushing their teeth

Organize toys

Keeping a clutter free environment is also crucial when it comes to Montessori. Organize your child’s toys and place them on a low shelf. If your child has a lot of toys you can put half of them away in a closet and periodically replace a toy on the low shelf that your child has lost interest in.

Allow your child to freely choose anything on the shelf to play with. Instruct them to clean up the toy entirely and place it back on the shelf before getting something else out. This will give your child the choice they want while keeping the toy area tidy. This also helps your child not to become overwhelmed with too many options because they are only able to focus on one toy at a time.

Enroll your child in a Montessori program

If you have not already enrolled your child in a Montessori program, finding a Montessori preschool in your area will also help promote the Montessori method at home. If you live in Pleasant Hill, CA, give Fountainhead Montessori School a call today.