CK Montessori Montessori at Home

Here are a few ideas of ways you can bring Montessori home!

* Get a few child sized pitchers for your fridge and fill them with milk, juice... Place them on a low shelf so you child can pour
his own drinks.

* Have some coat hooks in the hallway that are at your child's level so she can hang up her own coat when coming in. She
can also go and get it when it is time to leave.

* Place a bowl and a sponge on a low easily accesible shelf . Show your child the "clean up bucket". He will know what to
do!

* Instead of having a large toy bin, try low shelves with a few activities in baskets or containers. Do your best to make sure
your child puts one activity away before getting out the next.

* When it is time to clean up, try putting on a music box. This is what the children are accustomed to hearing at school, call
it "clean up music" and see what happens!

* When your child is concentrating on something (a book, toy, art project...) unless you must, try not to interupt her. Never
break a child's concentration to say something like "Good job!" Wait until she is finished and make a comment that reflects
on her process, not the end product. Something such as, "It looks like you really enjoyed using all of those colors!"
Comments that put the focus back on the child rather than the product are also good, such as, "Wow, I can tell that you are
very proud of yourself!"