Montessori at Home Setup

“What is most characteristic of our system of education is the emphasis that is placed upon the environment.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

In the Montessori method, the prepared environment is key. A thoughtfully prepared environment can empower a child with independence, foster a feeling of peace, and open countless opportunities for hands-on learning. This principle, which guides Montessori classrooms, also applies beautifully at home. Creating a Montessori at home setup is a simple, effective way for any family to reap the benefits of Montessori education from home!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about creating a Montessori at home setup. We’ll talk about the main guiding principles to keep in mind, walk with you through each area of your home, and offer practical tips for any budget and house size. If you want more information on anything we cover, we’ll also tell you exactly where to look for further reading.

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be an expert in creating a Montessori at home setup and ready to implement the things you’ve learned in your own home! What are we waiting for? Let’s begin!

Principles to Create a Child-Accessible Montessori at Home Setup

Before we get into the details of creating a Montessori at home setup in each area of your home, let’s discuss some basic Montessori principles that guide how we can prepare a rich environment for our children. These universal principles apply to any home, regardless of our budget, square footage, or other circumstances.

A principal goal of a Montessori environment is accessibility for children. Simply put, Montessori spaces are designed with children in mind. In any Montessori environment, children should be able to easily access all they need to complete their tasks.

An accessible environment empowers children, supports their age-appropriate independence, encourages the development of practical life skills, and lets the child lead the way.

Another key principle to keep in mind is that beauty matters in a Montessori environment. In addition to being accessible, any Montessori at home setup should take care to be organized, clutter-free, and beautiful.

A final principle to remember while preparing your Montessori at home setup is that children have absorbent minds. Montessori environments aren’t beautiful, inviting, or accessible just for aesthetics. We prepare environments with care in Montessori because we know our children’s brains are constantly absorbing everything in their environment, and we want to give them something great to absorb!

For more reading, here is a detailed article all about creating a child-accessible Montessori at home setup.

How to Create a Montessori at Home Kitchen Setup

Kitchens bring families together. The kitchen is so much more than the place of endless snack preparation and dishes, although it may feel like that sometimes for busy parents!

Near-endless opportunities for practical life activities abound in the kitchen and dining room. Children can learn how to prepare food safely, clean up after themselves, and set the table. By making the kitchen accessible and safe, children can participate in these bond-building family activities.

To create a Montessori at home kitchen setup, the kitchen should first be accessible for children. Some families have a separate, low surface for children to prepare food in the kitchen. Others use a stool or learning tower to bring children to the adult-level kitchen counter.

A child’s utensils, plates, and cups should also be accessible in a Montessori kitchen. If you have room to spare, a separate surface or shelf is a great option. Just as effective, however, is designating a low cabinet or drawer for your child’s kitchen materials.

In a Montessori eating area or dining room, children join their families for shared meal times. Child-sized chairs, ideally ones that children can get into independently, can help children feel comfortable enough to eat well. Some families also like having a child-sized table and chairs.

To stay safe in the kitchen, parents should also prepare the environment for safety. Keep dangers like sharp knives, cleaning chemicals, and cables out of a child’s access. Teach stove safety, and until your child is ready to cook with heat, cook with the back burners with pan handles facing out of a child’s reach.

Want even more information? This article guide gives more details on creating a safe, inviting Montessori at home kitchen setup.

How to Create a Montessori at Home Bedroom Setup

A Montessori at home bedroom is a place of peace, learning, and growth. Like in all areas of a Montessori home, the bedroom is accessible for children. A floor bed or other low bed can help children get into and out of bed independently.

Clothing is also accessible in a Montessori children’s bedroom, encouraging self-dressing. Some families invest in Montessori-specific wardrobes. However, a typical dresser can also be accessible by using the lowest drawers, perhaps even with labels to indicate what type of clothing is found in each drawer.

Parents can also use bins, cubbies, or even thrifted baskets to store clothes in a Montessori bedroom. The most important thing is that a child can easily find and access their own clothes!

Other self-care items like tissues, mirrors, and hairbrushes in the bedroom can empower a child to care for themselves independently or with assistance. As space permits, Montessori bedrooms may also have books and toys, though we recommend keeping toys relatively simple and calm so children don’t get too worked up before bed.

Keeping a Montessori bedroom minimal keeps it from overwhelming kids. For younger children especially, avoid bookshelves full of hundreds of books, bins brimming with toys, and dressers with every piece of clothing they own. Instead, consider thoughtfully preparing a handful of each item so your child has enough choices without it being overwhelming or difficult to clean up independently.

For more details, visit our article on creating a Montessori at home bedroom setup.

How to Create a Montessori at Home Bathroom Setup

The bathroom is a great place to begin teaching kids the self-care skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Simple adjustments to the bathroom can make it an accessible environment rich with learning opportunities.

Sturdy stools can help children reach the sink to wash their hands, brush their teeth, and look in the mirror. A toilet seat attachment or standalone potty seat can ease the toilet learning process for young children.

While parents should always supervise young children in the bathtub, children’s soap can be kept in low bottles with an easy-to-use pump to help them begin to wash themselves in the bath. Children can reach their towels if kept on low hooks.

In the bathroom, children learn self-care little by little, often with the help of routines and a prepared, patient adult.

At this link, you can learn more about creating a Montessori at home bathroom setup.

How to Create a Montessori At Home Play Space and Workspace

In Montessori, play is the work of the child. Just as we thoughtfully prepare adult workspaces, Montessori homes prepare play spaces as an inviting place for children to complete their important work.

Regardless of whether you have a dedicated playroom, you can prepare a Montessori at home play space for your child. For any size space, we recommend keeping the play space simple. A few toys out at a time is plenty, and parents can rotate toys when their children get bored of the ones out.

Accessibility is key in the play space like in every area of the Montessori home! Store Montessori toys on a low shelf at the child’s eye level. If you don’t have room for shelving, windowsills, ottomans, and hearths can all be at the perfect height for children.

Small tables and chairs for work and art, reading corners with a cozy pillow and books, and gross motor toys can all be great additions to a play space if the area allows.

For more inspiration, check out this article on creating a Montessori at home play space in any size home!

In Montessori schools, children bring their work to workspaces. To create a workspace in your Montessori play or work area, consider reading this article on Montessori at home workspaces.

How to Create a Montessori At Home Outdoor Setup

“When children come in contact with nature,” Dr. Montessori wrote, “they reveal their strength.” While thinking about Montessori at home often brings to mind children quietly working on puzzles and activities indoors, spending time outside is also a key element of the Montessori method.

A few simple steps can help prepare your outdoor space, however big or small it may be, for your children’s enjoyment and learning.

By providing child-sized tools and opportunities, children can get involved in gardening and yard work. Opportunities for gross motor play and sensory activities can help meet our children’s need to move their bodies and experience the world around them.

As many children love to imitate the work they see their parents do, a cleaning station with a sponge and bucket of water can be a great way to bring practical life activities outdoors.

If you’re ready to create your own Montessori at home outdoor setup, this article can give you some ideas!

Now It’s Time to Get Started!

Now that you’ve read everything you need to know about creating a Montessori at home setup, you’re ready to apply these principles in your own home!

Keep in mind that you don’t need to make every change listed here overnight to have a Montessori home. Any baby step you take toward making your home more accessible and inviting for your children is a positive step in the right direction. Montessori is a journey that looks different for every family. Nobody does it perfectly, and there are no Montessori police who patrol families to make sure you’re doing it right!

We hope this guide has helped you on your own journey. Do you have any tips to share on creating a Montessori at home setup? Share them with us in the comments!