Everyone with young kids has probably heard of the Montessori method but may not know exactly what it is. Let me try to explain it using my own words. Montessori is a method in which you are raising kids in a way that lets them guide their learning through hands-on approaches that engage all their senses and helps them gain independence.
Our household doesn’t do *everything* Montessori but here are some things we do do:
- Have things at my son’s level. I like to have the kids’ coats hanging at my son’s level so he can grab it on his own. His shoes, hats, and mittens are also at his height. I also keep his bowls, plates, & cups at his level so he can grab them for meal times.
- Mostly use open-ended, wooden toys. I’m not against battery operated, plastic toys, but you probably won’t see me ever buying one for my kids and here’s why. Wooden toys will last so much longer and are typically more open-ended, meaning they’ll keep kids’ attentions longer. These toys actually have a purpose rather than just banging it while it screeches an annoying sound lol.
- Give our kids choices. As my son is getting older, I want to give him more times where he gets to choose. For example, taking a bath is not an option but we can help him feel more independent by asking, “Would you rather daddy give you a bath or mommy? Another way to let them make a choice is by picking out two outfits and letting him choose which he’d rather wear. Those are two examples.
Those are three ways we practice Montessori methods in our home. I could go into much more detail & depth on each of those. Let me know in the comments if you’d like that. 🙂
Tia Marie
tia marie 