Sunflower Montessori School

Bring Montessori Into the Home

The unique setup of a Montessori classroom is designed to foster a child’s independence and self-care abilities. Did you know you can do the same in your own home? While you may not be able to recreate all of the elements of the classroom, there are a number of simple - yet very effective – ways you can bring the Montessori method into your home environment. Below are suggestions for activities, rituals and tools you can use to bring the classroom into your home.

Kitchen

A small table and chairs. It is a place where the child can do her own work, eat a snack, etc.
A small sturdy stool that the child can manage by herself to get things she may not be able to reach.
A low drawer or small cabinet to store art materials.
A second drawer containing objects she needs for wiping up a spill, preparing snack (placemat, silverware, cup, napkin, etc.)
A low open shelf to store toys, puzzles, etc.
The possibility of getting water on her own, either a water cooler or a stool to reach the faucet.
Arrange refrigerator so the child can get her snacks from the lower shelves. A small glass pitcher filled with milk or juice so she can get her own drink.
Kitchen “junk” makes the best toys and the children love to play with it. Store it in a place where the child can reach it. Rotate the objects to keep interest level high.
For the older child have tools for the kitchen clearly displayed and accessible.
Cookbooks written for children (there are many wonderful ones).
A picture book of healthy snacks with names written below to help the child decide what to eat when hungry.
A family calendar and/ or a rill calendar from Montessori services
A blackboard hung at the child’s level.
Place mat showing how to set a table. Pictures of various table settings for the older child. Diagrams for napkin folding.