Are you interested in how Montessori principles can be used in your everyday parenting?

Are you a parent interested in learning more about the Montessori Method?

Teachers…looking to share ideas with parents on how to use Montessori classroom practices at home?

Parent with Montessori…did I spark your interest?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you are in luck! Montessori and parenting have shown to go well together, bridging the gap between home and school. Even if your child does not attend a Montessori school, my hope is that this post will give you some helpful and useful ideas on how to parent with Montessori.  The good thing is, when it comes to Montessori practices and principles, many are universal and can assist you in your current parenting style. They can also be used in determining your parenting style, if you’re not sure exactly what direction you’d like to go in.

First, a little Montessori background

Basic Montessori Principles

There are many Montessori principles and practices that form the Montessori Method. Some of the components of Montessori are unique to Montessori; and you will only find these in a Montessori environment. These are characteristics, traits and principles that Children are commonly taught and exposed to in Montessori.

• Mixed-age classrooms

Children are placed in multi-aged mixed classrooms ranging in three year spans.

• Respect of things around them

• Caring of self, others and their environment

Care of all things is a BIG deal in Montessori. It is very important and is a key trait that is taught early on with even younger children

• Uninterrupted Work period

The Montessori work period is a time for children to choose work and receive lessons for an extended period of time

• Hands on learning

Children are active participants in their learning journey and activities & work is based on the interest of the children

• Responsibility

• Experimental learning

Children use all of their senses to learn about the world around them. Hence the curriculum areas in a Montessori classroom.

• Freedom within limits

• Education of the whole child

Montessori prides itself on educating the whole child; physically, developmentally, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually through the materials, environment, and interactions

• Individualized curriculum

Each child learns at his or her own individual pace, so lessons and objectives for each child are specialized

• Natural consequences

• The Prepared Environment

The Prepared Environment is carefully designed for children so that their natural ability to learn can be fostered.

• Peace Education

Children learn peaceful ways to interact with the adults and their peers as a way of fulfilling their role as contributing members of a larger society

• Free choices within reason

Montessori principles that can compliment your parenting style

1. Provide them with choices

Children should be allowed choices…within reason. Choices can be provided only if it is okay that the child say no or their choice is safe and reasonable. Depending on the situation, provide them with no more than three choices. Too many choices can be overwhelming and may lead to a power struggle. Letting children have a say and a choice in certain matters builds their self-confidence and provides them with a sense of independence.

While that independence is important for their growth, it is important to teach them that their independence provides them freedom within limits.

2. Freedom within limits

This is a concept where children are encouraged to freely choose what they would like to engage with or do; within reasonable limits. These limits should be set by a parent and adjusted and reevaluated as your child grows in age and maturity. As your child continues to make good choices, you will start to see how your child is learning from the principles and practices.

By allowing them freedom of choice within limits, children will start to develop important traits such as self-discipline and that their choices and actions have natural consequences.

3. Natural consequences

Providing children with the ability to make some of their own choices will result in Natural Consequences. Natural consequences are outcomes that are not pre-planned and that happen as a result of a behavior or action. Natural consequences are important for children to experience, so that can learn from their choices; whether the choices made are good or bad. Making good and (reasonable) bad choices are a part of learning, developing, and growing.

From their choices, freedom within limits and natural consequences children will learn the importance of being responsible and making responsible choices.

4. The importance of being responsible

Natural consequences shows children that they are responsible for their own actions and choices. Providing them the opportunity to make their own choices and decisions while providing clear limits will help them become more responsible. Not just responsible for their behaviors, but for the things around them in their daily life. It starts with learning responsibility of oneself, and carries over into other areas of their little lives.

Although they are young, teaching them the importance of responsibility early on will be beneficial for them as they get older. It also teaches them to take care of things and to show respect to all things.

5. Show respect to all things

Funny that I left this principle for last, as I feel that it is a very important trait in the Montessori teachings. When people think respect, they automatically relate it to a negative thought. Showing respect should not be thought of in a negative or authoritarian way; it is positive and caring in your feelings and actions towards others and things in the world.

Children should be taught and shown the proper way to care for things and people. They should take pride in caring for themselves, others and everything around them. By doing so, it gives them a sense of compassion, kindness, and appreciation. These are all great traits that I’m sure we all want our children to learn!

Children are such capable beings

Children can accomplish may tasks if they are given the opportunity to do so. They are so much more capable than what adults give them credit for, they just need an opportunity to blossom.  Yes, in Montessori children are free to make choices and have freedom within limits. They are expected to be responsible and show respect towards themselves, others and all things in their environment. Montessori principles are what I like to call healthy freedom, where it has a healthy balance of freedom and limits for children to grow.

What to take from this

In the end, there are many important things to take from this. One, Montessori practices and principles are adaptable and are flexible to use in a number of situations. The Montessori Method is not overly stringent, strict or firm, it instead can not only be used in educational environments, but also in determining your parenting style. Two, take the ideas and suggestions that work best for you and your children, this is not a cookie cutter end all of the “best” way to parent. It is however a way to parent that works well for most children and families.

I must say, that one of the big things I miss from working with children and families is seeing how Montessori not only becomes the educational journey they choose for their child, but a way of life; their way of life!

Montessori is not just an educational philosophy, it’s a way of life!

So do you think using Montessori principles to compliment your parenting style is right for you? I’d love to hear from you, tell me about your ideas in the comments!

Happy Parenting!