Home life and school life should ALWAYS be separate for a child (even if school life is at home), and this is especially important when incorporating Montessori into the home. Just as parents do not assume responsibility of being their child's teacher without adequate training (pandemic excluded), they should not attempt to teach Montessori in their home. However, there are countless elements of it that can support a child's development at home.
Montessori Foundations for the Home:
- Don't spend a bunch of money on things! Use what is already around the house; construct it yourself, or get it secondhand (Montessori hack: glass yogurt jars and baby food jars are PERFECT and inexpensive for small hands)!
- Put all activities out orderly and on a tray or in a basket
- Keep accessible activities in the same place so your child can independently find them with ease each time
- More showing, less talking (model activities with few words)
- Give him your undivided attention (phones/devices and distractions away)
- Give him ample time to complete his tasks
- ENJOY your time with him because you'll blink, and he'll be grown
- ALWAYS supervise your child (even if you are not in his line of sight)
- Less is more! Instead of toys that "entertain," light up and make noise, choose ones that are simple, natural and highlight one concept
- Toy labels are not always right: don't go by the age rather the ability of the child
- If your child cannot do it independently after shown, it may not be interesting to or developmentally appropriate for him
