Does anyone do Montessori at home?

[EBDTeacher]

I've been moving this way pretty much by accident.

I'd love to say my home looks like this (scroll down) but it doesn't.

I am seriously drawn to the lack of clutter and allowing DS to be more in control of his environment though because it sounds like less work for me.

Am I turning into a lentil weaver? Is it unreasonable to throw away all plastic tat and put out 3 wooden toys in front of a mirror for DS?

I don't think it's necessarily about limiting the toys TickledOnion, rather about laying out what they have on sheves that are not too visually cluttered. In my case that limits what can be out to some extent because I have a small house. I've just counted what DS has out and it's about 14 toys (depending on whether you count the farm animals as one toy).

Before, I would have said that DS had maybe 40+ toys, but all packed into toy boxes. He would either just play with the toy at the top of the box or spend his time unpacking the boxes without really playing at all. I do think he plays more purposefully with better laid out toys.

Fwiw I read the blog ages ago and she does have another son who is about 2 years younger than finlay. No idea where they hide him

Ooh interesting - I actually just looked at the link and it's a different finlay with Montessori mother. there is an American woman whose blog is completely incredible also, she has photos of what she does (or used to do!) with Finn, like making homemade apple cider, doing specially contained foot painting and sky painting, etc.

Here it is -

Sorry can't do proper link on phone - hers is named Finnian not Finlay sorry - go back to about 2009-2010 and you'll see some of their first Montessori set up rooms etc.

sewliberated.typepad.com/

trying link

I have 18 mo DS toys in or on the floor cupboards and shelves because

A. He opens the cupboards and rummages in the shelves anyway so they might as well be filled with safe stuff he can play with (I have a kitchen cupboard full of old pans and Tupperware that he can play with too).

B. He is 18 mo and if put in a playroom would probably do something to hurt himself if unsupervised such as fling himself off a bed or brain himself opening drawers and climbing them like stairs, so I need him to play where I can see him.

It does make the sitting room look a bit like a nursery but hey, it's only for a few years. When he's in bed I shut the cupboard doors.

I let him flap a duster and push a broom or hoover about, shake wet laundry etc and he sits outside washing his plates and cars in a bucket. Des that make me a Montessori mother? I thought it was standard stuff that most people did...

Hi Mums,

So great to hear about Montessori in the home!

Just thought I'd add that Association Montessori Internationale has an 'Aid To Life' initiative promoting the application of Montessori in the home. They have lots of great tips and resources. aidtolife.org/

A Montessori parent blog I enjoy reading is called The Full Montessori.

I also run a parent-child Montessori group in Kensington and we blog frequently about these themes. www.childrenworking.com

Finally, as a practitioner, I wanted to add my 2-cents worth:that the structures and ceremony of things in a Children's House like using a floor mat are in fact ways of allowing freedom to all the children in the room and are based on terms of respect. The use of mats just helps demarcate an individual working space so that it's obvious to others. All the children share and own the space but like every family, guidelines and rules help keep the peace which allows everyone in the house to do what they like in a considerate manner.:)

Love,
Wen

That blog (the one you linked to, op) needs some editing. It's so ridiculously dark green I was having to tilt and squint just to read it. If you're reading this, Mrs Blog Lady, sort it aaaht.

As for Montessori parenting or whatever it's called, I just don't 'get' it. My son is part of the family, as such he uses the same 'space' as everyone else in the house. His toys are everywhere out because... Well, because it's his house. I like photo frames, so they're everywhere. He likes plastic trains and pull along animals, so they're everywhere. I don't think I need to erect a mini book shelf with a mirror to encourage him to be independent or respect his belongings. The whole thing just baffles me tbh.