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Brenda Kipkemoi Mar 11, 2022 12:27 EAT
Whether you’re a parent and family new to Montessori or are conversant with the Montessori system of learning already, it may be challenging to integrate this education style into your everyday family lifestyle.
You see, Montessori education doesn’t just stop once the 3.30 pm end of school bell rings. Montessori education takes place both in school and at home.
So, how can Montessori best fit in with your family’s way of life?
Do keep reading to get valuable and easy hints and tips on integrating Montessori at home.
5 Valuable Tips to Help You Incorporate Montessori into Your Family Lifestyle
Every family is unique; what works for one family may not work for another.
You have to find out what about Montessori works best for your own family and implement it in the way you see fit. For instance, a family in Nairobi will implement Montessori method at home differently compared to family living in Kericho.
So, here are just some of the ways you can get your child involved in this unique but established learning method without it taking too much of your time or money. Feel free to adapt these tips to fit your family’s environment and lifestyle.
1. Organize Your Home to Fit the Child
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” This is one of the essential principles of Montessori at home.
When you give everything a place, your child will quickly learn where everything goes. This teaches them to be responsible for their space and belongings and clean up any mess they make.
To effectively organize your child’s and overall environment, we recommend:
- Keep your child’s snacks and beverages in small containers and pitchers on the lower shelf in the fridge or kitchen cabinets. Include child-friendly cups and plates for easy use and access.
- Place safe step stools in the bathroom and kitchen. This will help them wash their hands, brush their teeth, go to the toilet, and also help you with meal preparation in the kitchen.
- Place games, toys, and art supplies on low shelves for your child to access easily. Separate toys into specific bins and baskets for easy access.
- Store clothing in low baskets or low drawers so your child can reach their clothing and dress themselves.
2. Practice Montessori Principles and Life Skills with Your Child
Equipping your child with life skills early enough is one of the best ways to incorporate Montessori in the home. This will build them into considerate and capable adults in later life.
Simple ways to teach life skills include:
- At the appropriate age, let children wash themselves.
- Let children pick out their own clothes and dress themselves.
- Teach children how to brush their teeth on their own.
- Teach children how to properly wipe the table after a meal.
- Teach children how to wash and dry dishes and place them back in their proper place.
Remember to always match tasks with your child’s age and abilities.
3. Create Montessori-Friendly Spaces At Home
Although many people mistakenly think that setting up Montessori friendly spaces is expensive, n reality it doesn’t involve much.
You can create a Montessori-friendly space at home by:
- Make your child’s bedroom child friendly by using low beds that they can easily get in and out of
- Use child-sized furniture for easy access
- Use wooden and other toys made from natural materials
- Keep books and toys on low shelves for easy access
- Hang interesting artwork at eye-level
- A hallmark of a Montessori program for younger children is the “Treasure Box.” This box develops the child’s senses by containing items made out of leather, wood, leather, fur, metal, feathers, and other natural materials. Do not place choking hazards and sharp objects for safety. Avoid using plastic items.
- Create themed nature trays that contain leaves, plants, flowers, moss, fake eggs, seeds, shells, gourds, dried corn, apples, dried corn, branches, or a snow globe.
4. Teach Concentration At An Early Age
Although children can’t focus on one thing as long as adults can, they still have the ability to learn concentration. With the Montessori method, you can begin to cultivate in your child the skill of concentration while they are still young.
Identify what your child is interested in and set them up with the space and materials they need to practice their chosen activity.
This doesn’t necessarily mean giving them their own room, you can set up a small space in the living room, dining room, or bedroom which, although is within the general family living space, still gives children ample space to explore and play.
5. Focus on Inner Motivation (Intrinsic Rewards) Not Presents (Extrinsic Rewards)
The Montessori method is not keen on rewarding or bribing children for good behaviour. These extrinsic rewards, such as sweets or stickers, develop a temporary sense of character development and an understanding of right and wrong. It can also encourage children to manipulate their way into
Instead, use intrinsic motivation such as verbal praise, but make sure to do so in moderation. The key is to teach your children to enjoy feelings of pride and pleasure that come with completing a task, showing obedience, or learning something new.
Recommended Montessori Resources
We understand that it may not be easy to implement all these Montessori principles at once and that you may need some help. There are plenty of Montessori resources available to help you in this process.
To implement Montessori principles at home you can:
- Purchase the following books – The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori and How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
- Keep up with our blog for more valuable easy-to-do Montessori tips and hints
- Always ask us to help once you join our school
Enroll Your Child in a Montessori School Today
The important thing about implementing Montessori learning at home is to pace yourself and expand the principles as your child grows. This way, you won’t overwhelm yourself or your child, and importantly, enjoy the process.
It’s never too late to start!
If you live in the Kericho area and are looking for a Montessori school for your child aged 3 years and above, get in touch with our friendly admissions team at Kericho Montessori School International today.
We are an established Montessori Learning Centre that incorporates Government of Kenya-approved CBC learning with the Montessori Teaching Method, providing a holistic learning environment for our children.
All our teachers are highly trained to teach both the Montessori and CBC programs. We also have fully equipped classrooms and provide children with all the physical materials they need, to effectively learn with the Montessori method.
Call or email info@kerichomontessori.com / kerichomontessori@gmail.com to schedule an appointment with our Admissions team. You can also follow our Facebook page for regular news and updates.