I have always been passionate about learning and feel that is a characteristic that needed to be shared with my child. Not a huge fan of the standard styles of teaching due to some interesting experiences I had growing up. So when I found out I was pregnant I did some research and found out what Montessori was, how it was different and how it can help when it comes to childhood development. If you’re curious about Montessori and how it can benefit your child’s growth, you’ve come to the right place!
Understanding Montessori: At its core, Montessori is a philosophy that emphasizes a child-centered learning environment, where children are encouraged to explore and discover at their own pace. Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over a century ago, this approach focuses on nurturing independence, self-discipline, and a lifelong love for learning.
At one of my first jobs I worked at a doggy daycare center that was right next to a Montessori Preschool, and as a teenager, I judged a book by its cover.. The name sounded strict and regimented, the building didn’t have any crazy bright colors, the employees were nice but kept to themselves (the only interaction I had with them was when a kid found a kitten in their playground and they brought to us to see if we could help- my roommate at the time adopted her ♥) So I immediately wrote whatever Montessori was off as some place I was lucky to never have experienced. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Benefits of Montessori for Your Child’s Development:
Promotes Independence: Montessori empowers children to take control of their learning journey. By providing child-sized furniture, accessible toys, and practical life activities, such as dressing themselves or pouring their own water, we enable our little ones to become independent thinkers and doers.
Encourages Active Learning: In a Montessori environment, children are given the freedom to choose their activities from a carefully prepared selection of materials. This fosters a sense of curiosity, self-motivation, and a genuine passion for learning. They can engage in hands-on exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking, building a strong foundation for their future education.
Supports Holistic Development: Montessori promotes the holistic development of the child, considering their intellectual, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Through mixed-age classrooms, children learn from one another, developing empathy, social skills, and cooperation. This inclusive environment nurtures their emotional intelligence and helps them build meaningful connections with others.
Emphasizes Order and Routine: One of the key aspects of Montessori is creating an environment of order and routine. Through simple organization, consistent daily schedules, and predictable expectations, children feel secure and confident in their surroundings. This structure helps them develop concentration, self-discipline, and a sense of responsibility.
Fosters a Love for Nature and the Outdoors: Montessori learning often incorporates nature-based activities and outdoor exploration. This connection with the natural world not only instills a deep appreciation for the environment but also enhances a child’s sensory experiences, imagination, and overall well-being.
The Upon discovering exactly how beneficial The Montessori approach was I wanted to incorporate as much of that lifestyle as possible. Listening to books like “The Montessori Baby” and “Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius” I was full of ideas and outlooks that I never had before! Social media was listening because I soon after started getting ads for Lovevery, which is a subscription based developmental toy company that is also passionate about the Montessori approach, and bringing that approach to the home.
Lovevery offers an exceptional range of Montessori-inspired play kits designed to support your child’s development through each stage of their early years. These thoughtfully crafted play kits are designed by experts to provide age-appropriate, engaging activities that align with Montessori principles.
Lovevery’s play kits are designed to stimulate your child’s curiosity, encourage independent play, and promote skill development. Each kit is carefully curated with high-quality, sustainable materials that are safe for your little one to explore and engage with. They also are offer discounts when you pre-pay for 3 or more kits. AND they are now bundling books that are made for the current stage of life and help foster a love of reading!
Incorporating Lovevery’s Montessori-inspired play kits and book bundles into your child’s daily routine, is just one way you can create an enriching environment that supports their learning and development.
We also have the Tower and The Montessori Climbing Gym. The Tower is great because it brings our little one up to our level, he engages with us while we are cooking dinner or cleaning up and we give him freedom to help and experience these tasks with us (ours also folds into a table/desk and has a chalkboard on the back). The Climbing Gym, honestly, scared me at first! But, that has less to do with our child’s abilities and more about my fear of him getting hurt. He has been climbing, sliding, exploring and testing his limits with the utmost confidence and control and he’s not even two yet! This gym is great for indoors (carpeted floors or mats recommended) and helps get energy out when the weather won’t let us get outside. It doesn’t stop there either, I splurged and got Lovevery’s toy shelf which helps keep minimal toys out while still having easy access to them.
The Montessori approach, with its emphasis on independence, active learning, and holistic development, has the potential to unlock your child’s full potential. By embracing this child-centered philosophy and incorporating a Montessori-inspired nurturing environment that fosters your child’s love for learning, creativity, and growth.
