Benefits of creating Montessori inspired spaces in your home

Have you considered bringing Montessori inspiration into your home in areas other than the playroom?

The benefits of the Montessori method are not only related to the specific materials used in the classroom, but to the approach we take in supporting a child’s independence in the process of learning. When a child engages in self-led exploration in environment with them in mind, autonomy develops not as a convenience for us adults, but as a tool to unlock capable and confident children that find joy in actively participating in learning.

Here’s how bringing Montessori inspiration into other areas of your home can support your child’s overall development:

Internal motivation to learn, and a growth mindset

The goal of preparing Montessori inspired spaces in your home is to provide opportunities to meet your child’s developmental needs, while also supporting their independence and self-directed growth. When we adapt a closet, entryway, or a kitchen drawer with items that match their skill level, at their reach, and without overwhelming options, we allow them to practice and refine daily life skills independently, without our need to intervene too much.

When the achievements within each of these areas belong to them, without our intervention, we nurture intrinsic motivation. In other words, “I was able to put my shoes on all by myself, this felt so good, I feel such joy from my effort… I’m definitely trying this again tomorrow.”

Persevering through challenges independently and achieving goals, such as putting shoes on their own, will gradually build a growth mindset, and motivate them to engage in that transition independently again, and again. And yes: a stool and shoes at their reach, and how you respect their process, can achieve all of this.

Build cooperation for daily routine and transitions

Consistency is key if we want to promote collaboration within our home—from anyone. When children know what to expect, and what is expected of them, they feel safe. When they feel safe, they connect, and when they connect, they feel belonging and want to take part of what is happening around them.

When we think of creating a visual routine, we think of routine charts. While these are helpful in providing an overview of the day’s rhythm and to set expectations ahead of time, prepared spaces within our home provide powerful visual cues during the actual moment in the routine. If I arrive home and the first thing I see is a place to put my shoes away, and a hook for my hat or coat, then it’s clear what needs to happen and I have all the tools I need to participate. If it’s time to get dressed for the day and all the clothes are in my room, at my reach and I can make a powerful choice between limited options of what to wear, then I’m more likely to participate in getting dressed.

Remember that children live in the present, and what we provide them in the moment to support their concrete and independent contribution, is what will lead to cooperation more than having a visual schedule. Most importantly, when spaces in our home offer them the tools to have more control within the different steps in the routine, and that space and the necessary tools live in our home as part of the environment, then there are clear visual cues for the child to gradually learn to engage with transitions independently, collaboratively, and with more joy. For example, if there are rags and a dusting pan at reach next to their place in the table, the process to clean up following meals becomes more logical and intuitive… with your guidance, of course ☺️

Life-long skills

We aim to do this in our lives daily, setting clear expectations with our partner about chores, home needs, bills, and more! If our responsibilities include the laundry, we need detergent or the means to get more when we need it. If we are in charge of bills we need account passwords and full understanding of our billing schedule. We need these responsibilities clearly communicated and we need the right tools to execute them. Slowly, as time goes by, they become second nature.

For children this process is the same, although it’s focused at this time on care for themselves and the environment. When we prepare spaces in our home with their learning in mind, we provide not only the elements needed but tools they can actually use functionally to carry out the activity. For example, a sink area with soap they can use independently, a stool so they can reach the faucet and a comb or brush that fits in their hand for self-care. Or an entry way area with a place they can sit, with a basket and hooks where their shoes and jacket can be found when needed and also be put away upon arrival.

When we help them understand what they need to walk out the door, what is needed to leave a space cleaned up for easy use the next day, or what our body’s need to be well cared for at the end of the day (bath and teeth brushed!), we are not “training” our child for a specific routine. We are teaching life-long skills.

Tap image for affiliate link to the Sprout Kids Alba Montessori wardrobe

Some areas in your home to consider adapting for your child’s participation and growth:

Entryway
With shoes and coat at their reach, access to a mirror to see themselves work and a place to sit to get ready to go, or take shoes upon arrival.
Dressing area
A low clothing rack, baskets on the floor, or a low drawer in their room to access a choice of pajama or clothing for the day from two or three choices, evolving as they grow.
Kitchen
A low drawer with just what they need to set their place at the table. A placemat, a cup, a plate, and a fork--a space that evolves as they grow with more utensils, or a stool for them to reach the actual pantry when it’s time.
Bathroom sink
A stool to reach the sink and faucet, soap they can use independently, access to their brushes and toothpaste, and a towel at their reach to dry off at the end.
Making tools for clean up available for them
Don’t think of clean up tools as tiny mops or toy vacuums for pretend play. Find ways to provide functional tools for real clean up accessible near the places where they are needed. You can see my highlight on instagram walking you through REAL clean up tools and how to adapt them and present them in the toddler home environment .

The goal is not to fully modify your home in the process, but to make spaces within our home accessible for them to be part of, so they can participate.