How to Introduce Montessori Learning at Home

If you find your child has increasingly interested in their natural environment through wanting to take part in general activities and tasks, you’re not alone.  Most parents will find their children taking a keen interest in wanting to help mom and dad at even the most mundane of tasks.  Wanting to learn through hands on experience is a great way for children to foster their sense of curiosity, but how do we go about introducing Montessori methods and offering them some entry into our adult world?  

Montessori teaching may be all or nothing for some, but for a majority of families, it’s a way of encouraging confidence and independence while practicing fine motor skills and experiential learning through tactile activities and play.  If you are looking at how you can incorporate Montessori method an into your own home, great!  With time, age and general development, children can be ready to take on a variety of everyday tasks, but if you’re just starting the process with your family, giving your kids open access and independence can be daunting and downright scary as a parent.   Here are my three rules for sustaining a positive, Montessori learning environment where kids can thrive and parents can relax (even for just a moment).

Safe

Safety-first should be a non negotiable in every household.  Regardless of how well developed you think your child is, there are skills they need to practice and an understanding they need to adopt before they should be allowed to explore at their own will.  This is especially important if they have siblings in the household, both younger and older.  Children may want to mimic or replicate something they saw the older sibling do, such as using a knife or the ‘big’ scissors. Regardless of the situation, they can still learn effectively and participate without the sharps.  Be aware of what they have access to and don’t be afraid to limit what they are allowed to handle.  In the circumstance where there are younger siblings around, be cautious of smaller objects that can be carried around and become a choking hazard.  Allowing them to explore a new room may result in furniture being moved or climbed on – is it secure?  Is it hazardous?  There are many things to consider before letting their curiosity take over.  Montessori play, although independent, doesn’t necessarily mean alone. Which brings us to our next point:

Supervised

In Montessori play, we as parents must expand to become the role of not only safety conductor, but as a teacher or instructor and also as a source of positive reinforcement.  The level of supervision for an activity should be based on the child’s understanding and comprehension of their surroundings and their ability to comply with any rules or boundaries you have set out for them to adhere to.  What limits do you need to set in place and how well will they abide by those limits?  That can only be confirmed with experience and developmental growth.  My key message for leading in sensory play is always to ‘observe, demonstrate, participate’, and that saying holds true in Montessori activities.  Giving instructions can be as detailed as you feel necessary, but should at the least include any boundaries that you’ve set forth.  For example, ‘In the kitchen you can open the drawers but not underneath the sink.  You can open the oven, but only a parent can turn on the stove.’  Observing doesn’t necessarily require looking over your child’s shoulder every step of the way.  Sit back (with a coffee in hand, preferably) and give your child their learning space.  They should feel a sense of independence and control, but be sure to stay present and be aware.   The participation aspect of this type of learning does not necessarily mean hands on.  Yes, your child may want you to get involved which can be mutually beneficial.  Working on tasks together can increase bonds, establish pillars of support and build strong memories and ties for children and parents alike.  If your child insists on solo play, your participation level could come in the form of positive reinforcement, praise, words of affirmation or encouragement and love.  If you decide to redirect your child or interfere for safety reasons, remind them of their boundaries and your rules.   You can later recap and reiterate their achievements to truly root them in their confidence and share in their success

Sensory-Enriched 

In Montessori play, we want to encourage Children to navigate their physical surroundings on their own. There is a chance they are not ready nor interested in this type of experiential play.  If you notice your little ones reverting back to their own toys or only exploring things they are already familiar with, they may not see the value in Montessori play just yet.  If you want to guide them and feel that this is the type of teaching method you want to uphold in your home, giving your children sensory-rich tasks can be helpful and fulfilling to their mind and learning.  A great example of this would be to have them help you to put away the groceries.  Not only will they experience a wide variety of textures, weights and even temperatures (excellent for our tactile and kinesthetic learners), you can continue the learning journey by having them sort the groceries by color or food group, meal category, or by which items belong in the fridge vs. the pantry (visual learning).  Giving clear direction and allowing your children the space to complete the task can build trust with audible learners.  For our literary learners, can they match up the groceries to your grocery list or practice reading the packaging.

The smallest most robotic tasks can become a significant learning activity for children of all learning styles.  Montessori play is highly beneficial, so long as little ones have the ability to understand their surroundings – and if they are not quite there yet, that’s absolutely fine!  As parents we are the leaders and the teachers in this circumstance.  We get to choose how much or how little we allow our children to be involved and how much freedom to give them.  If you are in early stages of Montessori learning, it may still feel like a hand-held activity with a high level of supervision and strict boundaries, but with time, comprehension and developmental growth, your children will adapt and understand.  As parents, we will become more comfortable with giving them a little more independence as time goes on.  We are still the ones in charge, and there is no place for shame or guilt because we saw or read about other moms and dads giving full freedom and embracing independent play to the max.  Do what you feel is right, create safe spaces, be present and make it fun. Your children will appreciate it.