If you're like me, you might be at the beginning of your Montessori journey. The focus on respect for the child, independence, and a prepared environment have really drawn me in, and I'm excited to try and raise inquisitive learners with what I'm discovering. I've read the Montessori Toddler, I follow the Montessori Instagram accounts, I've collected some pretty shelves and trays--but I still have questions as I'm stumbling through the first stages of actually putting these things into practice in my home with my kids.
I sat down with Megan, a Montessori certified teacher who works here at Sprout as our expert on all things Montessori, to ask her a few of my practical questions. Let's jump right in!
A: (Megan): You can start with what you have! There is no need to go out and start purchasing a ton of new toys or activities when you're starting out.
A: This can be tough. Depending on the ages and mobility of the children, there are a few things you can try.
If safety is a concern:
1. Keep the older child's activities at a higher level
2. Use containers with lids to keep chokeables away from infant siblings
3. Give a lesson to the older child about how to handle the younger child's materials. For example, you can orient your toddler to the baby's movement area. Show them how to touch the mobile and how to walk (slowly and around the mat) when the baby is playing.
Personally, my children are close in age. I do not put anything out that they can't both use.
A: My advice for friends is to put shelf work away and just bring out the familiar and open-ended toys/activities (blocks, outdoor play, puzzles, crayons, play-doh--whatever your comfortable with).
A: Not at all! Exploration is a huge part of Montessori. Our job is to orient the child to how to handle the material. They get to choose what they do with it (as long as it's respectful to the material and those around them).
A: This process can be time-consuming to start, but it makes toy rotations much easier. You'll want to go through your child's things and get rid of anything that no longer serves them or your family, -Ideas of how to store/organize out-of-rotation toys/crafts/books
anything broken, and anything with missing parts. Once that's done, I like to put activities into clear bags. All I have to do is take out a bag, put the contents on the shelf, and replace the previous activity into that bag. This way all the pieces stay together and I can see what I have.
A: Ideally, the adult prepares the environment. This keeps the expectations for the materials very clear. However, many of us do not have much time to do this alone. That's okay! Do what works for your situation.
A: I might say, "Can I show you how to put this tray away? Okay, your turn!" It's okay for your shelves to be a little messy throughout the day. The goal is to make sure that a reset happens so they can access what they need and know where to find it! Maybe you clean up together before a nap/quiet time, or you reset at the end of the day. My point is, don't stress too much--this is your home, it will be lived in. The fewer toys and activities you have out, the easier it will be for you and your child to reset when it's time!
A big thank you to Megan! Hopefully these answers can be helpful for you as well as you navigate implementing the Montessori Method in your home. Have more questions or difficulties that you've run into? Let us know in the comments below so Megan can offer her insights and we can all learn together!