The Montessori Things We Do

I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone but Maebs is in a Montessori school, and I have fallen down a rabbit hole of learning about and implementing Montessori at home as well. I think the approach fits her personality and temperament very well, and we rest like the parenting strategies that come along with it! In younger kids, you’ll see more at-home activities geared toward skill acquisition (object permanence box, ring stackers, posting small items into a hole, etc) but I am learning that toddlers are far more interested in the world around them than a toy or tool. 

For example: Maebs has started doing some creative free play with her scarves. With a little help from mom and dad, we wear them, wrap toys in them, throw them in the air - it’s endless really. 

Maebs has a particular love of being in the kitchen with me (yay!!!) so I have some Montessori inspired tasks that we do, and some that are just fun adaptations I’ve made to things she can help with:

Egg-peeling is a classic Montessori activity. Maebs doesn’t like hard boiled eggs and usually ends up smashing them mid-way through the task so really I’m just slowly throwing away hard boiled eggs. But she’s having fun!

This was a fun new activity: color-sorting her hair ties! She did pretty well (until she didn’t). That’s life though 🤷🏽‍♀️

Baking muffins is a GREAT activity to do with toddlers! She can scoop, pour, mix, and line muffin tins! I use a blender muffin recipe (I can post that on here sometime) so the mixing is minimal. 

The girl loves tea. What can I say. If she asks, we will make a mug together!

Yes, Maebs has access to the pantry. Part of Montessori is freedom of access and freedom of choice. We try to keep things within reach that we are fine with her having (and yah, sometimes she grabs a can of greenbeans. If she wants to eat them who am I to say no!?). On this day however, she came prepared with her snack cup and the Costco bag of chocolate chips. Child of mine.....🤦🏽‍♀️

So these are some of our at-home activities! Maebs does have a play kitchen, but it mostly houses her plates and utensils since she gets her own for mealtime, and she can wash her hands there or do some water play. If she wants to cook, she can do it with me in the kitchen! She’s got lots of experience there, and why pretend when you can just make the real thing age appropriate!?