Hey Alex!
I thought I'd write a little about what I've learned about Montessori! I like many ideas in Montessori and incorporated a little into our home to promote learning and accessiblity! Here we go!
Sorry for the dark pics! I took them after putting You down so it'd be clean. It try my best to keep it clean but it's a struggle! Lol. I thought I'd show you how it should look clean so u can get the Montessori idea!:-) but just know that I'm not perfect 😊 lol. Anyway, I have different stations through the house for you.
Here's the first place I started - the toys in the living room. (Some Montessori moms have a dedicated playroom but I don't have that. So the living room will have to do. I'd encourage you to do what works in your house) It was probably the most challenging for me! I'm bad at organizing tho. Lol. It's is our entertainment center. It has two book shelves that I noticed Alex was drawn to continually. So I put some of her toys here. Mostly the kind of toys that I need to help her with or /and supervise- puzzles , blocks, and shape matching toy. It also has a mat rolled up to use with the puzzles and shape matching toys. I found this spot easy to watch her here. But you can move supervised toys wherever works for you to watch them. I'm working with her to put her puzzle on the the mat and keep the puzzles on the mat to teach her to organize and not to scatter them around the house! In Montessori mats are used when a table isn't close by. (In a Montessori school most activities are on a tray on the shelf and a table close by for them to put it on.) so instead the child puts the mat down and then the activity. I hope that makes sense. With the shape toy, the pieces are together and zip into it. She can't get to them on her own so when I notice her playing with it and sit down with her, use the mat, get the pieces out for her to use, and show her how it's done.
Also in the living room. These low shelves are for free play meaning I don't need to watch her with and she can play when ever. The toys should be spread out probably a little more than I have here. There is a basket with music toys and bin with trains. I plan to rotate the basket with other similar toys when I have a minute and other ideas. In Montessori baskets are used to keep similar small items. I have to confess in true Montessori I don't think the top shelf is used. But it's ok with me.😊 also the bin should be in the shelf ideally. But it's to big. So like I said this works for now:-) I hope I not going into too much detail! Or overwhelming you! Hopefully this will give you some ideas on what would work in your home:-))
anyway on to the kitchen, I have a picnic table and hutch here for here. This is an area I'm still perfecting. In Montessori a weaning table or toddler table is a must. Ideally the child should take a tray of an activity and place it on the table to work on. I really wished I would've gotten a weaning table. But it's a long story and I'm stuck with this stupid picnic table until we can get funds for one.😊 also the hutch is probably not the best but I got it for free so it'll do for now. 😊 in the hutch, there's two shelves one for coloring and other for puzzles with a lot of pieces. This is also a good place for me to supervised her with these little pieces type things. I need to get a tray to put the coloring item on. I plan to do more tray activities here as well. ( the books here are to weight the hutch down since it's top heavy. Ideally in Montessori you could put more trays, their cups and plates here for them to reach.)
This is a learning tower or kitchen aid which aim really excited about! My hubby made to so she can reach the counter and do kitchen activities. This isn't an essential. I've read a lot of moms do fine with a stool under supervision. I like his because she can climb in and out of it to wash her hands, get a drink, and do kitchen activities. I have a blender and toaster here so she can use with my supervision. We made smoothies together, toast, crack eggs, and cut bananas.
This is our pantry lol. Nothing here really except the dog food in the orange bucket. She like to feed the dog and it's a great scooping activity.
This is Alex's room. I have her on a low twin bed on the floor. There's her close in the closet on a low hanging rack to encourage self dressing. I also have a dresser with her clothes in the lower drawers. The changing table is used for displaying toys instead of changing diapers. I recently moved that to the bathroom. ( that's not true montessori I don't think. I moved the diaper changing there to start with potty training. Tho i did get the idea from a Montessori site.) I've seen some kids bedrooms with heir own potty. I might move it here someday we'll see.
Here's the bathroom. With the changing pad on the counter, to encourage her to associate the bathroom with going. Also her own little potty to sit on. I don't except her to go yet just getting used to sitting on it regularly. I hope it helps with potty training! We'll see!
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