Montessori Methods at Home

Even if your child attends a more traditional school, you can still inspire independence with these at-home Montessori principles. The American Montessori Society recommends these strategies:

Create an Ordered Environment

Kids can find what they need with fewer distractions, so they can focus on a project. Provide low shelves or drawers for clothing; keep a step stool in the bathroom and kitchen so kids can reach the sink; put healthy snacks on a low shelf so kids can serve themselves.

Teach Real-Life Skills

Let kids wash tables, organize shelves, prepare their snacks and assist younger children. Tweens can prepare dinner, read to siblings or manage their own bank account. Promote Concentration Figure out what interests your child, then set him or her up with the tools to explore that interest.

Nurture Inner Motivation

Help your child develop pride and pleasure from within by expressing appreciation; kids will work harder.

Tasks by Age Group:

Ages 1-3: Kids can carry a cup to the sink; they can choose their bedtime book or put toys away. They can select clothes and dress themselves if clothing has elastic waists and shoes are slip-ons.

Ages 3-6: Kids can clear the table and clean up spills, or sort laundry by colors. They can bathe and shampoo their hair. They can start to cook, with tasks such as snapping beans.

Ages 6-12: Older kids can make grocery lists or measure ingredients, set the table or load the dishwasher. They can help plan a family vacation. They should clean their own rooms and keep track of their schedules. They can read to siblings or take care of family pets.

By the Book

Set up an at-home learning environment easily with the help of these books.

The Montessori Book for Babies and Toddlers Ages 0-3 by Sofia De Marco Turn every day into a learning adventure with 350+ Montessori activities. The handson and full-color illustrated activities will help develop fine motor skills, language and cognitive abilities. Scan the QR code at the back of the book for extra downloads, including ready-to-print templates, fruit and vegetable flash cards and more.

Montessori Book for Parents by Beatrice Bell
Use this guide to adopt Montessori educational principles at home to help you raise a responsible and happy child. Explore how the dynamics of your family can help play into Montessori principles, reenact Montessori activities with your infant and more.

The Montessori Home: Create a Space for Your Child to Thrive by Ashley Yeh
Transform your home into a space that fosters curiosity, creativity and independence with this book. The guide tackles each room of the home to explain how to provide young children with the accessibility they need to complete practical life skills on their own, along with offering more than 75 learning activities for ages 0-5.