Setting Up A Montessori-Style Play Space At Home

 

Preparing a Montessori environment at home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. However, it requires planning ahead and being thoughtful about how your children use their play space and contribute to family life. Keep in mind that parents can offer the tools and resources for children to explore their interests, but children also need freedom to play independently. The following are some starting tips for organizing your home. Your child’s guide might have other suggestions.

 

 

When setting up or improving your current play space, it’s good to begin by thinking about how your children like to play. Do they typically play quietly, alone, take up lots of space, etc.? To facilitate their play, would it be helpful to designate a specific space for artwork? Or reading? Or a hiding space and time to play alone?

 

Whatever you decide, most of us could start by doing some serious culling through toys, books, games and other supplies, particularly if clean-up tends to be a hassle. Young children (and parents, too!) tend to be overwhelmed when there are too many options and materials available, so culling and sorting on a regular basis is a great way to keep the environment more manageable for everyone.

 

 

Begin by sorting all toys and identifying which ones are going to be kept out, donated or trashed. Limiting the options available for daily play helps make clean-up more manageable. When there are fewer options, children also tend to spend more time with items, exercising more concentration and creativity.

 

Trash all broken or incomplete toys.

 

Choose toys to donate—toys that have been outgrown or those that haven’t been played with for some time.

 

Organize clear plastic (or otherwise see-through) containers, and sort toys that won’t be in rotation. Whatever you choose to put away should probably go far out of reach—in the attic, for example—so that they aren’t retrieved before you’re ready to bring them back into rotation.

 

Set a date for the next rotation. This will help you remember to actually do it. Rotation every 4-6 weeks works well for some families, but it’s best to let your child’s play and readiness be your guide.

 

Continue observing your child’s play in between rotations.

 

 

Once you’ve gone through the culling process, it becomes much easier to organize a play space. When planning, keep these questions in mind.

 

Is the play space:

 

• Attractive and inviting?
• Tailored to children?
• Accessible?
• As simple as possible?
• Set up with what the child needs for each activity? (Ex: An art easel needs a spill bucket.)

 

Is there a clear place to store items once your child is finished using them? Small baskets and trays are great for storage and display.

 

Can children mostly put toys away on their own, or would they need significant help?

 

Do your children prefer to sit on the floor or in small child-sized furniture? Rugs, which the children are accustomed to using in the classroom, are also great at home. There are also a variety of weaning tables, nesting tables and other child-sized furniture available through Montessori companies, New Living Hardware, Ikea and other retailers.

 

Would an outdoor space be appropriate? For example, an outdoor easel and art station might work well for your family.