The idea behind the Montessori method is that you'll expand on what you've already started as your child grows and develops. So, ideally, you would have already begun adapting your home and lifestyle to the Montessori method and approach long before your child enters elementary school. If that's the case, you can build on what you've already begun. If you haven't, don't worry — it's never too late to start.
It's important to note that implementing the Montessori method for your child at any age does take some advanced planning, but perhaps even more so with school-aged children, especially when considering how to apply Montessori in education effectively at home. Families who homeschool may likely want to incorporate the Montessori method, too. There are many books and resources that go deeper into this topic.
You can begin with these three practices.
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment at Home
Set up an environment that incorporates education practices to ensure learning continuity from school to home. You will engage your child in various activities to help them practice writing, math, reading, culture and other topics. Purchase blocks, puzzles and other toys to make home learning fun. As your child grows, you can find Montessori toys for older kids like telescopes, easels, knitting supplies and microscopes to support their interests.
Montessori elementary activities to promote writing include giving your child a journal and encouraging them to write stories. You can also incorporate Montessori writing tasks for older kids, like blogging.
Other activities you may want to incorporate include:
- Fostering vocabulary building: Play word games with your child, explore etymology and use the thesaurus.
- Promoting a reading habit: Get different age-related books and encourage your child to read out loud. Also, discuss the characters and themes to help them analyze the topic.
- Visualizing math concepts: Use blocks or other materials to simplify math concepts.
- Practicing math in the real world: For Montessori at-home elementary learning, practice using money and measuring ingredients.
- Exploring culture: Look at maps and globes with your child and discuss different countries. You can also visit museums and try various cuisines together.
- Performing science experiments: Practice simple science experiments like sink-or-float, color mixing and testing soil pH.
- Cultivating artistic interest: Have various art supplies available, such as colored pencils, markers, oil pastels and paint, and encourage your child to experiment with them.
- Studying nature: Spend time with your child outdoors identifying plants, insects and animals. You can also construct nature trays and incorporate books about the plants and animals in your region.
Tailor the items you place on the shelves, as well as some of the activities you incorporate, around your child's personality and interests. This way, they will want to make use of them. For instance, you can place books on low shelves and create a comfortable reading nook if your child loves reading.
Note: If your child attends a Montessori School, check with their teacher before reinforcing their classroom learning at home. Some Montessori programs prefer that children take a break from academics and spend their time at home working on more practical skills.
Incorporating Practical Life Skills
Help your child learn responsibilities and independence through practical activities like cooking, cleaning and self-care. Demonstrate how to follow recipes, apply spreads on bread, pour juice into a glass and perform other food-related activities, and then let them do it independently. Keep guiding them until they get it right.
Using the same procedure, teach them how to sweep, dust, wash dishes by hand, water plants, groom themselves, wash their hands and perform other practical cleaning tasks. Utilize child-sized tools for cooking and cleaning activities and explain the purpose of each activity.
Encouraging Social and Emotional Development
This practice nurtures your child's ability to recognize and understand their emotions, connect with others and build confidence and empathy. Incorporate these skills at home by:
- Encouraging older kids to help the younger ones by reading books and assisting with chores and other activities.
- Fostering cooperation among siblings and demonstrating how to resolve conflicts.
- Assigning age-related responsibilities to promote independence.
- Motivating your child to make independent choices about food, clothing and other matters within reasonable limits.
- Communicating boundaries and implementing fair and consistent consequences when your child breaks the rules.
- Helping your child recognize, name and share their emotions.
- Allowing free time for children to play, explore and engage in creativity.
- Teaching active listening and emotional regulation, like deep breathing.
- Setting up structured time for your child to participate in music lessons, ballet and other hobbies.
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