Believe it or not, but you can start the Montessori education before your child starts talking. You don’t even need special teachers or trainers for this. You can do it all yourself, because parents can incorporate the Montessori method into the home. You can apply these principles at home, even if your child won’t go to a Montessori kindergarten or school. You can do it with the right toys and daily interactions with baby.
These simple three steps will help you get started:
1. Turn your child into a home life. Let him help keep the house as tidy as possible. Even a toddler can pick up his bricks in a box! When he is younger, let him clean up after eating or water the flowers. Teach your child that everything in his room has its place. It will help him not only to maintain order but also to concentrate.
2. Moderation is important in the Montessori method. A child shouldn’t have too many toys in range. Put on the low shelves toys and books that you will exchange once in a while to keep them curious. Start with the subject he likes. Is he an animal fan? Place the box with the animal figures and some theme books within its reach.
3. If possible, replace plastic toys with those made of wooden materials. Many toys finished with natural wood improve motor skills and strengthen the muscles of the hands. They are often non-toxic toys where wood is not covered with anything. This minimizes the possibility of poisoning even if the small child licked the toy or took it in his mouth.
These toys are specially designed to improve motor skills and practice hand-eye coordination and inspire your baby to explore.
The Montessori method also emphasizes learning through all of the senses, not just by listening and observing—so touching, tasting, smelling are very important. Therefore, let’s pay attention not only to the quantity but also to the quality of the toys that our kids play with.