Thoughts on Montessori parenting?

[MumOfTwoBeans]

Unpopular opinion, I think it’s a bit ridiculous

what are your thoughts?

Why do you think it’s ridiculous? That’s very much a sweeping statement

I think some aspects are really good like one of the main principles being mutual respect, focus on teaching life skills. There are always some that take things to an extreme such as only having beige toys and I understand for some people Montessori parenting isn’t attainable because of lifestyle, cost, space etc. But overall I think it’s a good parenting style for those that make it work

Finns Montessori Nursery 😆

It might help to clarify what you mean by this? I see it as learning through play, and I can’t see anything wrong with that? Struggling to think what’s bad about it? Letting your child use the main hoover rather than a toy one - win win!!

It’s not really a form of parenting it’s a type of formal education. Montessori nurseries aren’t that different to most early years settings. It’s only in the older years when it becomes more different to traditional UK schools.

As with lots of things there are parts about it I really like, parts I think are alright and parts that I think are a bit much.

As an overall ethos I like it, but some people take it to the extreme as with many philosophies. There are also lots of things online labelled Montessori which are not.

Never heard of it. Well, DD has a toy where you use magnets on a little fishing rod to pick up wooden fish. It's called "Montessori fishing game". I thought it was a brand!!

I'll have to Google out of curiosity but it can't be a huge thing worth getting upset about? Or do I live under a rock?

OP what are you on about? Why is it ridiculous? I'm wondering what you understand by the term.

Montessori isn't a parenting style, it's an approach to nursery education

And it doesn't demand beige toys! It's all about letting DC discover things for themselves (in an age appropriate way) and through play. Without the adults showing them what they're meant to do all the time.

What made you think it's a parenting style? It's a form of education usually used in pre school settings.

It’s a type of education, lots of the principles are quite typical stuff these days but it has it’s origins in the children should be seen and not heard era so was probably quite revolutionary then. DD went to a Montessori preschool. They had wooden toys, could choose their own activities and served their own lunch. Nothing weirdly controversial!

This was my immediate thought as well 😂I remember that thread and the blog. Little Finn is probably a teenager now!

Maria Montessori, 1870-1952, was a revolutionary educator whose ideas while radical at the time are now so pervasive it'd be hard to disentangle their widespread influence from all the other strands of educational theory. She has been honoured all over the world for her work and still continues to be 70 years after her death.
What the fuck are you on about OP?

The theory of it definitely goes beyond preschool. From my experience the philosophies around it are expected to extend beyond the classroom, but that may not be everywhere just our local one. My child doesn’t go but a couple of friend’s kids do.

I've seen YouTube videos by people saying they do Montessori parenting from birth. They do things like have the baby sleeping on a mattress on the floor not a cot, having toys on the floor for the baby to grab and some other stuff that I was too bored to pay attention to.

I think like anything it's all fairly irrelevant when your kid becomes a teenager but some parents find it makes them happy.

To clarify, I’m not talking about the educational aspect e.g. nurseries and wooden toys.

I’m talking about people that use floor beds and encourage their children to cut food with sharp knives at a young age and consider it ‘learning to cook’

The idea behind it is that your child becomes independent at a very young age because you’re teaching them how to ‘live’ like an adult

Yup - I've seen this on those videos that pop up on facebook (like tiktok or you tube?)

Its parents who are determined to label themselves doing things as "montessori" - usually low beds - look at the tiny wardrobe so they can "choose" from the 2 outfits I've put there - and a kallax on the side with "activities" to choose from....
Also an emphasis on doing every day life with your toddler - have them "help" sort washing/ mix ingredients for a cake etc.

Its always struck me as kind of doing everyday life with a toddler anyway (apart from the floor bed/special wardrobe) and is a way for sahm to jump on a bandwaggon.

Where it falls down is think ing you have to have special montessori toys or have everything wooden ( think that very crunchy mummy!)

I don't even know what it is

I think you’ve missed the point of Montessori if you believe that’s all it is. They’re not handing a 3 year old a brush and demanding they sweep the house like Cinderella. It’s about fostering the child’s interest and helping them with skills they can apply to the real world.

Mine went to a Montessori nursery and it suited them.

You going to have to explain what’s wrong with those things. We used a floor bed because we coslept and bedguards aren’t safe for children under 18 months old. I also allow my kids to cut things under supervision - it’s much more dangerous to use a blunt knife.

I just think let kids be kids, they will show a natural interest in doing chores anyway

It is very crunchy mummy and I couldn’t agree more with @UnicorseTime

I know the concept and I agree with some of it but to give children sharp knives and a glass cup rather than a plastic one so that they learn that if it drops it breaks and encourages them to learn in that way, to me, seems very unsafe

I think each to their own but honestly there’s a reason why this tiny furniture is custom made and why the Montessori education is not in all schools, or nurseries

@Sucessinthenewyear nobody’s ever died from a blunt knife

co sleeping is one thing but a floor bed seems unhygienic. What’s wrong with just giving them a toddler bed when they’re old enough to know how to use it? What adult sleeps on the floor

i don’t see what’s wrong with controlling a routine and an appropriate bedtime

I don’t have time to get up several times an hour to put my toddler back on his ‘floor bed’

Mine went to a Montessori nursery and I genuinely think it had an impact on them - they are young adults now.

It is a much less hectic way with children than a standard nursery. I remember my youngest being taught to hang his coat up - and that was a thing they concentrated on for a week. Gently. It was lovely.

I don’t have floor beds but they are used in cultures all over the world. They aren’t unhygienic unless the floor is dirty but most people don’t wear outdoor shoes in their bedrooms.

I think you need to stop believing everything you see labelled as Montessori is actually Montessori. Montessori schools tend to have quite a structured routine.

Youve just said it yourself. YOU don’t have time to put your toddler back to bed which is fine, that’s your choice and what works best for you. But don’t judge others for doing things differently. How is sleeping on a just a mattress unhygienic?! Are you floor filthy

You’re definitely just trying to be controversial and have a debate… yawn🙄