As we have been conducting our workshops on Montessori Education, one of the questions we have heard from several of our parents is, “What things can I do at home that will promote the Montessori Montessori at Homephilosophy?”. Promoting independence is the key when finding things for your child(ren) to do at home, something that they can do on their own or with very little help. The sky is really the limit and each child is going to be different, so here are just a few suggestions of things your child can do to help around the house and to incorporate what they are learning at school:
- When your child arrives home from school have them put away their things. If possible, create a space for their belongings such as several hooks on the wall for their backpack and coat. This will allow them to take ownership of their possessions.
- Have your child put on and take off their own jackets.
- Have your child help you with making dinner by asking them to measure, cut, or stir. This gets them involved in the process and it can be a lot of fun!
- Ask your child to set the table with placemats, forks, spoons, knives, plates, and cups.
- Have your child put their dishes in the sink after finishing a meal.
- Ask your child to help keep the house clean. You can use child size brooms and dust pans for them to use to sweep the floor after each meal and use vinegar solution for them to wipe the table down.
- When doing laundry you can ask your child to help you put the clothes in the washer or dryer. Afterwards, they can help fold some of the laundry, like wash cloths.
- Ask your child to keep their toys organized. You can use bins for smaller toys such as Legos, dolls, and super heroes. Larger toys can be stored in certain areas of the house. Make sure that they put all of their toys away in appropriate places when they are finished playing.
- If your child is learning their sounds you can have fun around the house or while driving by asking them what an object is and what sound it starts with. You can also do this with shapes and colors.
These are just a few ideas you can have your child(ren) do at home, try them out and feel free to be creative. At first they will need some guidance, but it won’t take them long to get the hang of things. Remember, promoting independence is the key, once they start to take the initiative they will begin to take on new roles all by themselves!