Are you a parent who is considering implementing some Montessori principles at home? Here are some of the few changes you can make to your environment to encourage your child’s natural curiosity and ability to learn for years to come.
Developed by the Italian physician, Maria Montessori, the Montessori method of teaching and learning centres around the belief that children are capable of initiating their own learning experiences.
If your child is in a Montessori preschool, you will find that there is a compelling mixture of materials and activities that are geared to challenge your child physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially — shaping them into a well rounded learner.
Opting to send your child to a Calgary Montessori preschool has many benefits, including:
- Each child is valued as an individual
- Their social-emotional skills will be valued and enhanced
- Students will become part of a caring community
- Your little one will enjoy freedom within limits
- Children will develop a lifelong love for learning
Our NW Calgary Montessori Preschool Provides a Nurturing and Respectful Learning Environment For Your Child
At our Calgary Montessori preschool, we are dedicated to supporting your child’s continued learning during COVID-19. While we are unable to offer our summer camps due to the current restrictions, our fall enrollment is now open!
Ask Us For Fall Enrollment Applications
If you have any questions about our fall enrollment application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Registration packages can be sent via email.
Ready to enroll your child into our Calgary Montessori school?
How to Incorporate Montessori Principles at Home
When it comes to implementing Montessori principles at home, many parents are interested in the idea, but have difficulty understanding where to start. However, just a few small changes around your home can set your child up for Montessori success!
1. Organize Your Environment
One of the guiding principles of the Montessori method is that there is ‘a place for everything and everything in its place.’ When you designate a place for everything in your home, your child will quickly learn where things go.
Why is this important? This will teach your child to be responsible for their belongings and encourage them to clean up the messes they make. Remember, to effectively order your environment, the most significant change you should make is to ensure everything is accessible to your child.
In order to do this, consider:
- Storing your child’s clothes in drawers or baskets and move the rod in the closet down to eye level so that your child can reach their belongings
- Placing step stools in the bathroom and kitchen so that your child can wash their hands, and even help with meal prep!
- Placing all art supplies, games, and toys on low shelves and then organize them so that they are easy to find
- Storing healthy snacks in the lower shelves of your refrigerator or pantry so that your child can help him/herself
5 ASPECTS OF A MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT
2. Encourage Them to Develop Life Skills
It’s very important to encourage your child to take care of themselves and the space around them at a young age. In doing so, you will set your child up to be a considerate and capable adult later on. Take the time to show them how to place dishes in cabinets or wipe the table after a meal, and it won’t be long before they are doing it independently!
Keep In Mind
Remember to match your child’s tasks with their age and abilities. Some examples include:
- Young children can water plants, wipe the table after a meal, pick up their toys, and feed pets
- Older children can incorporate more complex tasks into their routine, such as meal preparation, basic home maintenance, or taking out the trash
4 WAYS TO BUILD YOUR CHILD’S INDEPENDENCE AT HOME
3. Teach Your Child Concentration
While it’s true that children cannot focus on something for the same timespan as adults, this is a skill that you can start cultivating in your child when they are young. To start with, identify what your little one is interested in and set them up with the materials and space they need to explore it more thoroughly.
Remember to Focus on Inner Motivation, Not Rewards
The Montessori method doesn’t focus on giving children extrinsic rewards for their behaviour, and while verbal praise is valued, make sure you give it in moderation.
The key here is to teach your child to enjoy and seek feelings of pleasure and pride that come with learning something new, or completing a new task.
Contact us For Fall Enrollment Applications
At our NW Calgary Montessori preschool, we are now accepting applications for fall enrollment! For more information on how to register, please contact us at 587-707-4739 or fill out our online contact form.
