Montessori: You Might Have Heard the Word
You may have heard the word ‘Montessori’ in parenting circles but not really know what it’s all about. Montessori programs, schools and playgroups founded on Montessori principles have been commonplace in Scandinavian countries for decades (particularly in Norway), and are now gaining popularity in the UK. This post will guide you through the main ideas behind the Montessori practices, parenting style, and teaching methods that arose from the studies of Maria Montessori.
The Montessori Style of Parenting: A Transformative Approach to Raising Independent, Curious Learners
Montessori-style parenting has gained significant popularity in recent years as parents increasingly seek to nurture their children’s independence, curiosity, and love of learning. Rooted in the Montessori philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician from the early 1900s, this parenting method emphasizes the development of the whole child, focusing on their unique needs and their natural development. Here we’ll explore how Montessori parents implement this approach at home and how the Montessori way fosters a relaxed, respectful, and effective parenting style.
The Montessori Philosophy and Principles
Dr. Maria Montessori’s groundbreaking studies on child development led to the creation of a parenting and educational philosophy that respects the child’s individuality. She observed that young children learn best through hands-on learning experiences, at their own pace, and by following their natural curiosity. Montessori education places great importance on fostering a child’s independence, intrinsic motivation, and practical life skills.
A core principle of the Montessori approach is allowing children the freedom of choice. Children are encouraged to make their own choices, which cultivates their decision-making abilities and boosts their sense of independence. The Montessori classroom, which can easily be mirrored in the home environment, offers children a prepared environment filled with natural materials and age-appropriate toys that inspire exploration and the development of new skills.
The Prepared Environment: Key to Montessori Parenting
One of the most important aspects of Montessori-style parenting is creating a safe environment where young children can engage in hands-on learning. This means designing spaces in your home where children can explore at their own pace and practice practical life skills such as pouring water, washing dishes, or dressing themselves. By setting up a Montessori environment at home, Montessori parents help their children complete tasks independently from a young age and gain confidence in their abilities.
The idea of a prepared environment goes beyond just physical space—it also applies to how parents structure their interactions with their children. Montessori parents emphasise mutual respect and follow the child’s lead, encouraging independent thought and self-direction. This relaxed parenting approach fosters a child’s intrinsic motivation to learn and explore the world around them.
Supporting Developmental Stages and Sensitive Periods
Central to the Montessori philosophy is the understanding that children go through various developmental stages and sensitive periods, during which they are especially receptive to learning specific skills. Montessori-inspired parenting encourages parents to be observant of their child’s interests and developmental needs, offering the right materials and opportunities at the right time.
For instance, when a child is in a sensitive period for language development, Montessori parents might provide age-appropriate toys and books that nurture this skill. The Montessori method also emphasises the importance of allowing children uninterrupted time to focus on tasks, enabling them to fully engage in the learning process without feeling rushed or pressured. Of course, in today’s hectic world, allowing children to truly focus and complete tasks in their own time isn’t always easy. It’s about taking the time, whenever possible, to slow down to the child’s pace to allow the child to work things out by themselves without rushed intervention from adults.
Montessori Discipline: Positive Reinforcement and Natural Consequences
Discipline in the Montessori approach focuses on positive discipline and natural consequences. Montessori parents avoid punitive measures and instead use positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviour and decision-making. They believe that children learn best when they experience the natural consequences of their actions in a safe and supportive environment. For example, if a child spills water while pouring, the natural consequence would be cleaning it up—a task the child can manage independently if given the time, encouragement and resources (a cloth) to do so.
This approach contrasts with traditional parenting methods, where children might be punished or corrected in a more authoritative manner. In Montessori-style parenting, children are guided toward making better choices through clear boundaries and the opportunity to correct their mistakes, fostering a deep sense of responsibility and emotional intelligence.
Fostering Practical Skills and Lifelong Learning
A hallmark of the Montessori way is the emphasis on practical skills that children can use in everyday life. Whether it’s setting the table, brushing their teeth, or taking care of plants, Montessori children are encouraged to participate in real-world activities from a very young age. These activities not only build fine motor skills but also strengthen social skills as children learn to contribute to the family and community.
The Montessori parenting style also fosters a love of learning that extends beyond childhood. By providing children with opportunities to explore their interests and develop new skills at their own pace, Montessori parents cultivate a lifelong passion for discovery and growth. This transformative approach to parenting prepares children not just for academic success, but for independent thought and problem-solving throughout life.
The Role of Montessori Parents and Teachers
Both Montessori teachers and parents play crucial roles in nurturing the child’s development. Montessori parents are like guides, showing respect for their child’s individuality while offering gentle guidance to help them navigate challenges. This approach is characterised by a deep awareness of the child’s emotional and developmental needs, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration.
In contrast to the more prescriptive nature of traditional education, the Montessori method allows children to explore and learn in ways that feel natural to them. Montessori parents, often referred to as Montessori Mums (though of course, dads can be equally involved), follow the principles of Montessori at home, ensuring that their child’s home environment aligns with the nurturing and self-directed nature of the Montessori classroom.
Montessori Parenting: A Way of Life
Ultimately, Montessori-style parenting is more than just a set of practices—it’s a way of life. By adopting the Montessori philosophy, parents can create a harmonious home environment that supports their child’s growth, fosters their independence, and promotes a love of learning.
The Montessori approach is a great way to honour your child’s individuality, help them develop practical skills, and encourage their natural curiosity about the world. It can sometimes take quite a bit of thought, but there’s a great deal of help and guidance out there for parents who want to embrace more of a Montessori-style of parenting at home, even if they don’t end up sending their child to a Montessori nursery or school.
With the right support and a bit of thinking outside the box, even very busy parents can start to build Montessori practices into their family’s daily routines both at home and outside of the home.
Montessori in Education Settings
The Montessori method of education is child-centred and involves child-led activities, mixed-age classrooms, and teachers who promote independence among their students. Dr. Montessori believed that children learn better when they have the freedom to choose what they want to learn, and this belief is still present in Montessori classrooms today. A Montessori classroom often looks a bit different to a traditional classroom. Some of the unique aspects unique to Montessori include:
– Various activity stations for children to choose from throughout the day.
– Teachers moving from group to group instead of standing at the front of the classroom.
– A nontraditional grading system.
– A focus on the holistic development of the student—social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development are all taken into consideration.
This video shows an average morning for a four-year-old boy at a Montessori school. I think it demonstrates so well the boy’s independence, and just how little teacher/adult intervention takes place in his classroom. He manages to organise and complete virtually all the activities himself, whilst interacting and collaborating successfully with his peers. It really is quite something to watch, I hope you’ll agree!
How to Foster the Montessori Approach at Home
While there is a wealth of resources and videos online suggesting ways to do this (and suggesting what toys, equipment and resources to buy of course), I would say that the first thing to do is to make sure your home is set up to easily foster independence in your child/children.
For example, if children are going to learn how to put their own clothes away in their drawers/cupboards in their room, they need to be able to reach everything and have drawers that are light enough to manage themselves. If they are going to learn to do the washing up after dinner, they need to be able to reach the sink with the help of a step ladder or stool. If they are going to learn to choose art materials to draw and paint with and then tidy it up themselves at the end, they need to have easy access to everything that is laid out in a way they can easily manage.
Setting up the home to foster the creative, nurturing, independent environment that is key to the Montessori principals will require quite a bit of thought and creative thinking on the part of the parent. It’s often best to start small – providing a stool in the kitchen for your child, for example – and then gradually make the changes needed in your home. These will become more obvious to you as your child’s independence grows!
Conclusion
The most important thing Montessori parents strive for is to raise children who are confident, compassionate, and capable of thinking for themselves. By providing a carefully thought-out environment, offering opportunities for hands-on learning, and respecting the child’s natural developmental process, Montessori parents empower their children to flourish in daily life—both at home and beyond.
In the end, Montessori-style parenting isn’t about following a prescribed way of doing things; it’s about being child-led, responding to children’s needs, honouring their uniqueness, and helping them navigate their world with confidence, curiosity, and care.
Further Links and Resources
A handy search engine to find Montessori educational providers in the UK:
https://montessori-globaleducation.org/looking-for-a-school/
More tips on how to foster a Montessori environment in the home:
https://www.berkshiremontessori.org/msb-blog/7ways-montessori-home-environment
More Posts from Enjoy Every Minute You Might Find Useful
https://enjoyeveryminute.co.uk/2024/06/26/why-cooking-with-young-children-is-really-important/