We had our first Parent Education Workshop of the year last week. We talked about things that can be done at home to support what the children are doing at school. All of our tips and suggestions center around helping the child become more independent. Here are some examples of ways parents can organize their home to foster this independence and help their child be more successful.
Organize Your Home in a Montessori Way
Kitchen photo from The Montessori Child at Home
The Bathroom
- Make sure your child can reach the sink and turn on the water.
- Install a low rod or hook for towels. Hooks are often easier for young children to use. Try this tutorial to attach a ribbon loop to your towels.
- Put uncluttered bathroom supplies in an easily accessibly place.
Photo from The Kavanaugh Report
The Bedroom & Playroom
- Use a blanket or comforter that is easy to spread back out on the bed by the child when he wakes up in the morning. Avoid using multiple layers if possible.
- Install a low rod in the closet so your child can easily reach clothes. Teach your child how to use a hanger.
Photo from Vibrant Wanderings
- Place 8-10 books in a basket and put the remaining books out of reach. Rotate the books on a regular basis. It is difficult for very young children to return books to a bookshelf neatly and they do much better with a large basket.
Photo from Peaceful Parenting
- Don’t use a large toy box to dump toys in. Instead, use low shelves to display a few toys at a time.
Photo from Peaceful Parenting
The Kitchen
- Designate an easily accessible space for plates, cups, napkins etc. A low shelf or low drawer work well. Use few items and keep it uncluttered.
Photo from Racheous
Photo from Our Montessori Chronicles
- Designate a space for food preparation tools for young cooks!
Photo from Peaceful Parenting
- Set aside the bottom shelf in your refrigerator for your child. Store pre-prepared snacks for your youngest children and accessible ingredients for your slightly older children.
Photo from Peaceful Parenting
Helping Around the House
- Provide a child sized broom and dustpan. Show your child how to sweep up spills. At school we have a square taped to the floor to make sweeping easier.
- Provide a washcloth sized towel and spray bottle filled with water and a little dish soap. Show your child how to wipe up the table after a meal.
- Show your child how to sort and fold laundry.
Where to Find Supplies
Many of the things you will need to make your home more Montessori and child friendly can be found easily at places like the Dollar Store, Target, and Walmart. You can also find a great selection of tools at the For Small Hands, a company founded by a Montessori teacher.
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Seemi holds a Master's degree in education, and an AMS Early Childhood credential. She has twenty years of experience in Montessori as a teacher, school administrator, and school owner. She is the founder of TrilliumMontessori.org.