Education and the Montessori method: how to apply it at home?

Maria Montessori, the first female doctor in Italy, developed a child-centered education method, his “absorbing mind”, his desire to learn and his psychomotor abilities. To develop the self-confidence, the principle is to make the child le plus autonomous possible, from an early age, by adapting the environment and equipment to its possibilities. This “prepared environment” is scalable. It presupposes the presence of an adult who serves as a model and, above all, who observes the child to constantly adapt his proposals to his progression and their needs. This is what a day inspired by the Montessori method looks like.

Getting up, according to Montessori pedagogy

It’s a beautiful day that begins: no more cries and tears of the toddler who demands that we come and get him out of his crib! As soon as he has acquired sufficient motor skills to turn around and roll over, around 6 months, the child sleeps on a mattress on the floor, lined with thick rugs. Thus, when he wakes up, he can stay in bed or later get out of it to access toys stored in baskets on low shelves. His freedom of movement extends to the secure space of his bedroom.

Breakfast, in Montessori mode

The kitchen is also equipped with a low shelf where the child, from 2 years old, or even before, can find what he needs to prepare his breakfast, as well as his snack. He learns very early to pour and transfer, which he particularly loves to do between the ages of 2 and 3. Thus, he can help himself to drink, put sugar in his yogurt or cereals in his bowl. If possible, he eats seated at a small table at his height – the high chair is only used for meals he shares with adults. Within reach, he then finds a sponge and his bowl, a tea towel and a brush: responsible for his space, he cleans behind him, with the help of the adult at first.

> To read also:Awaken your child’s language with the Montessori method

The toilet, Montessori version

A step in front of the sink is not enough for toddlers to reach the faucets and see themselves in the mirror. When possible, install a piece of furniture at its height. There are plastic sinks that can be hung over the edge of the tub. We can also make a small wooden cabinet topped with a mirror, on which we put a small bowl and a pitcher. You have the necessary glove, towel, toothpaste, brush, etc. From 2 years old, children manage on their own, as long as they have been shown how to do it. Once his toilet is finished, he just has to empty his bowl in the bathtub or in the shower, and give a sponge on his cabinet.

Montessori method: dressing

The rule is “no more than one difficulty at a time”. To make it easier to learn, prefer elastic waistlines rather than fitted jeans to button up, tops open in the front, rather than those that slip through the head, shoes with velcro rather than laces. Arrange the clothes in the order in which the child will have to put them his only concern is to put them on correctly. Thus, from 2-3 years old, the young apprentice knows how to prepare himself. As his psychomotor development progresses, he will gradually approach more complicated techniques.

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Activities inspired by Montessori pedagogy

For young children, playing is a very serious matter, and imitating adults, especially between 1 and 3 years old. A real pleasure ! What could be more motivating than learning to wash, cut, spread, lace, button? The Montessori method offers all these activities, and many more, in the form of trays, each tray contains the material necessary for an activity. The adult shows the curious little one how to use it, then lets them do as much as they want.

Meals, according to Montessori pedagogy

Once he has practiced using these famous trays, the apprentice takes part in the preparation of the meal. Depending on his age or level of development, he can wash vegetables, then peel them, cut them, pour them into the saucepan or salad bowl, season them. And that around 24 months. In Montessori, we favor sensory experiences as much as empowerment. Touching and smelling foods before cooking will stimulate their senses and curiosity and help them appreciate various dishes. Once at the table, he helps himself, learning to measure the portion he puts on his plate, he is responsible for what he eats according to his appetite.

> To read also: Furnish a child’s room according to the Montessori method

 

From birth, a Montessori baby is distinguished from others: he spends much more time on the floor, barefoot on a play mat, than strapped in a deckchair. Lying down, it can touch and animate mobiles and gantries provided for this purpose. Along its rug with varied textures and colors, we hang a large mirror on the wall, at ground level: baby can see himself, observe the emotions that cross his face, but also see someone arriving behind him without jumping. On this wall, we also fix a bar which will serve as a support for him to stand up, while observing his movements in the mirror: this environment stimulates awakening, self-awareness and psychomotor development. As soon as he walks, the little Montessori will access the rest of the device.

The nap, Montessori trend

“The Montessori method gives the child a certain freedom, but within a framework,” emphasizes Sylvie d’Esclaibes. It is the adult who gives the signal for the nap, or “quiet time”. We do not force the child to sleep (who could?), But to settle on his mattress for a while. He can take with him a book, a toy, his blanket, his pacifier … If he has a pacifier, it is up to him (and not to the dentist) to decide when he will be ready to do without it. And it’s up to us to trust him.

The Montessori methodology for outings

At Montessori, we keep the child going out every day, rain or shine. The outing is such a breeding ground for sensations that it would be a shame to do without As soon as he knows how to walk, between 12 and 15 months, we forget the stroller. We can take it for recovery if the young walker gets tired, but we will probably not need it, because if we respect the appearance of the child, we will not go very far. City or countryside, whatever the context, let the child go at his own pace and stop as much as he wants to pick up a stone, observe an insect, listen to the sounds of life …

> To read also: Montessori elementary schools

 

Laurène, 28 years old, mother of Léon, 2 years old:

“Leon doesn’t want help: he learns by trying and trying again. “

Small pieces of furniture and low shelves have been arranged throughout the house so that everything relating to Leon’s practical life is within reach. In the kitchen, he is free to help himself to eat and drink. When I prepare the meal, he cuts the vegetables, he takes a spoon to taste the sauce, then he helps himself. To get dressed, he opens his closet and takes out his clothes himself. As for the games, he spent months decanting, but his thing today is construction: I therefore provide him with all kinds of cubes and bricks.

The most striking thing is that he learns on his own. He doesn’t want help unless he really can’t. But he doesn’t have the notion of failure: he learns by trying and trying again, until he gets there. He has developed great self-confidence. On the other hand, on the sleep side, Leon first slept in a cradle, then in a crib. As it is my first, I was too anxious to agree to install it on a mattress on the floor. But that’s a mistake: he doesn’t like his crib. We’ll put him in a real bed soon. “

The games, according to Montessori

Playing in your room is good. But the child does not always appreciate being apart and quickly invades the space of adults. So that everyone respects the other, plan a small rug that will mark out the “games” area for your child in the family living room. Of course, his mission will be to store his toys and his carpet himself, with your help if necessary, to free up space once the games are over.

The bath, Montessori version

During the bath, the presence of the adult is obviously necessary, but as soon as the child knows how to sit well on his own, the parent does not have to intervene, as long as he has prepared miniature bottles (small format travel bag) containing soap and shampoo. Thus, the child can use them on his own without the risk of causing a “disaster” by completely emptying the family shampoo bottle.

The adult regulates the water temperature, shows him the actions, then lets him do it. From the age of 2-3 years, the child knows how to wash on his own.

 

“It is a benevolent education where the child is an actor in his progress! “ Cécilia, mother of 5 children 

From the moment they were born, I saw my children as individuals in their own right. The Montessori method was consistent with what I was looking for: a benevolent education where the child is an actor in his progress. This method allows you to meet your child and see his personality emerge, very early on, in the way he eats, sleeps or plays. It is a very free education and people who do not know believe that we are raising child kings, but not at all! We set limits, in terms of security and respect for others. We are in benevolence. My children have a taste for others, they are not in fear, they are open, they have confidence in themselves and in adults. For our part, we try to be as exemplary as possible, because we are their models. “

Cécilia, 40, mother of Noé, 11, Samson, 9, Arié, 7, Jacob, 6, and Balthazar, 3.

Bedtime, with the Montessori method

The evening separation is not done without its ritual, which everyone embellishes with their personal touch. Then, in peace on his mattress, the child can leaf through a book or play a little before falling asleep because, there too, he is independent… and responsible for his sleep. “Those who fear separation in the evening are often children who are very dependent on adults,” observes Sylvie d’Esclaibes. Conversely, a child whose autonomy is favored develops self-confidence which helps him to cope well with moments of separation. “

Noémie, 29 years old, mother of Émilie, 13 months:

“Emilie has developed extraordinary autonomy! “

I attended a Montessori school from kindergarten to baccalaureate, but it was while waiting for Émilie that I discovered all that this method could bring to children from 0 to 3 years old. We know the Montessori method at school, but we know very little about what it offers for 0-3 year olds, and it’s great! Since the age of 6 months, Émilie has been sleeping on her mattress on the floor. In the morning, she plays for twenty minutes alone before coming to see us. She was always free to move around the house, except on the stairs where we put a barrier. Baby, when she got too far away, we just put her back on her mat and let her do it. At the age of one month, she could stay a quarter of an hour playing with her mobile, and around 4 months, she remained focused on it for a whole hour! We placed her “Montessori” mobile very close to her eyes, it moved when she tapped on it, she never tired of it. Little by little, she developed an extraordinary autonomy, curiosity and capacity for concentration. She is also very good at fine motor skills. She has played a lot at transferring large pasta or ping-pong balls from bowl to bowl, and at the table, she likes to choose what she puts on her plate. At the moment, she is interested in language: she reads, points to the illustrations in her picture book and tries to imitate the sounds of the words. She takes care of the hours alone. We are there, we observe it, but we do not intervene: it does not need it. Life with her is cool, stress free. “

Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr. 

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