What is Montessori Parenting?
What is Montessori Parenting?
Montessori teachers complete specialized training in observing and guiding children’s learning. They know how to identify sensitive periods – moments when kids are particularly open to new experiences and skills.
Parents can apply Montessori principles at home. This includes letting kids guide their own activities, setting limits and using natural and logical consequences rather than punishments.
Freedom Within Limits
Children are granted freedom in Montessori classrooms to move around the room, choose their own work and to interact with others. However, these freedoms come with a set of limits that ensure their safety and that they treat others with respect.
This is an important concept to apply to your home life as well. Kids love to have choices and freedom in their daily activities – especially those that they can easily control, like which snacks or clothing items to wear. Giving them some level of control in these areas can help thwart power struggles and promote independence.
To make it easier for your child to have this level of freedom, create a space for them where they can access their own things like low snack shelves and easy to reach dress up clothes for play. This will build their fine motor skills, step-by-step logic and independence.
Give Your Child Ample Time And Space To Explore
A Montessori philosophy is to provide children with freedom within limits. While it is important to set clear boundaries for safety, Montessori parents also allow their children to explore the world around them and learn through experience. For example, if your child wants to dress themselves – even if it takes longer or they have mismatched clothes – let them! This is a great way to teach fine motor skills, step-by-step logic and decision making.
Another part of freedom within limits involves letting children learn from their mistakes. Rather than stepping in and correcting their errors, Montessori parents encourage them to self-correct and practice over and over again until they get it right.
One of the most important aspects of Montessori parenting is observation. Montessori teachers spend a lot of time watching their students interact with the materials in the classroom and with each other, which gives them an understanding of each child’s unique learning style.
Set Realistic Expectations
Montessori teachings are all about allowing children to learn through exploration and experience. Montessori parenting brings these principles into the home, empowering kids to take the lead in their own learning through a carefully prepared environment.
Instead of relying on external rewards and praise, Montessori parenting emphasizes pride in one's work as an internal motivation to learn. This is especially true during the sensitive period, when toddlers are particularly receptive to different stimuli and can easily acquire new skills.
Children learn not only through toys, but also through real-world tasks like mopping the floor or wiping the table. Montessori parents know that by allowing kids to do these types of tasks, they will develop independence and practical life skills. They will feel included, proud and joyful as a valued member of the family. Moreover, it's a good way to teach them the importance of respecting others' space. This is a fundamental concept that they will carry with them into adulthood.
Give Your Child Grace
A major Montessori principle is to respect children as individuals. That doesn’t mean letting them roam free or play with dangerous toys, but it does mean that parents should take time to observe their child.
Then they can offer them opportunities to develop the skills they need for growth. This is similar to what teachers do in Montessori schools. They watch for “sensitive periods,” which are specific times in a child’s development when they are particularly interested in acquiring certain skills.
For example, if your child is obsessed with their peg doll family, you could give them the freedom to spend as much time as they want working on it. This may make a big mess, but it will teach them fine motor skills and step-by-step logic.
You can also give them grace by imitating good behaviors yourself. For instance, if your child sees you mopping the kitchen floor without interrupting their focus, they’ll be more likely to want to help.
Looking for a way to continue the Montessori way in school? Continuum Montessori in Orlando is a college and life preparatory academy.
Montessori Middle School Orlando Fl
What is Montessori Parenting? Montessori teachers complete specialized training in observing and guiding children’s learning. They know how to identify sensitive periods – moments when kids are particularly open to new experiences and skills. Parents can apply Montessori principles at home. This includes letting kids guide their own activities, setting limits and using natural and…