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By Vanessa Fontana-Berul, M.Ed.
Clinician at Strategies for Learning
Over the years as a Montessori teacher and Director of a Montessori program, many parents have shared their wonder with me about how peaceful and calm their child’s Montessori classroom was. Even more amazing was to observe a large group of children working in a quiet focused manner. Indeed, one of the hallmarks of a Montessori classroom is its calm and peaceful nature. Is there a way to create that calm and peaceful quality in the home for your child? Yes, of course! Let’s explore five ways to create that peaceful Montessori feeling in your home.
1. Invite your child to help create respect for the environment standards and a code of conduct for the home (about how to use the materials, how to put them back, how to respect each other etc.), inviting input from your child; write these together and post them at your child’s eye level and refer to them when needed. Respect for each other and the environment are key components of a Montessori-inspired environment.
2. Consider offering a rich variety of hands-on materials on designated shelves. Materials can range from subjects of botany, zoology, geography, language, math to practical life activities, such as silver polishing with a soft cloth, water pouring or water transfers with an eye dropper. For language create an I-Spy object basket with matching word labels. You can use the basket for a game of memory with a felt cloth to cover items after naming them to see if you can recall the items, a great exercise for all ages.
3. Try labeling the environment with written labels and or picture labels identifying what they are. This encourages language acquisition and a sense of order to the environment. Suggest using contact paper or laminate for the longevity of the labels.
4. Create child accessibility for materials. Child accessibility is a key component for a prepared environment. This encourages self-help and independence. Shelves that have materials on reachable shelves help children be able to make their own work choices.
5. Offer choices of workspaces. A good way to create a variety of workspace choice is having floor and table work options. Carpet squares and/or soft rollable rugs that are accessible to children serve this purpose well. For working at the table, use regular place mats and vinyl placemats for water projects or artwork.
A Montessori-inspired work environment can have long term benefits for the entire family, who are finding working from home a more familiar concept during this time. The whole family can work together in tandem, peacefully and calmly.
“There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.”
-Maria Montessori
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