Montessori parenting is a parenting method designed with empathy, discipline, and respect for children in mind. I have heard great feedback from educators and fellow parents in our community, and I believe that the Montessori way of raising kids is the best path for us to take as a family so we can fully participate in their holistic learning experience at home.
So, what is Montessori for parents? This learning style encourages parents to have a more intentional and hands-on approach that allows children to use their innate creativity, curiosity, and analytical skills in solving problems and learning independence and discipline in the home environment.
The Montessori approach founded by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian feminist innovator, physician, and educator believe that children are capable of active self-directed learning and are not just passive learners. Learning is a two-way street and children deserve to be respected and should feel respected. Raising a Montessori child means that parents adopt the Montessori method at home or outside the classroom focused on enhancing the child’s love for learning and are allowed freedom within limits.
Giving your child a Montessori home and play space allows the holistic development of the whole child. Guided by intrinsic motivation, children who feel the support, encouragement, and love from their parents during this sensitive period allow children the freedom to play and explore the world without fear of judgment or rejection. Parenting ahome has always been challenging but using the Montessori approach to education lets your child learn at their own pace and enjoy the process.
Benefits of Montessori for Parents
Using the Montessori method, you help your children to develop independence and work at their own pace without being pressured into a timeline or set of expectations. The Montessori philosophy has been widely used in schools and by many parents at home.
The Montessori way of raising a child goes beyond parenting as it promotes positive discipline. Parents adapt their teaching methodologies based on the developmental needs of their children. The Montessori program focuses on developing practical life skills, respecting the potential of a child, and instilling a sense of self.
Individualized Learning
Adults are in a rush, but children do not operate in the same way. As a parenting mom, I believe that parents must support exploration and discovery as a pivotal part of learning. No two children learn at the same pace and level. So, once you incorporate the Montessori style, you have to let go of authoritative parenting and follow your child’s lead, and allow your child to explore uninterrupted. You know your child better than anyone else. So, observe your child and curate learning experiences based on their developmental needs.
Holistic Development
Montessori education has its focus on the development of the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual aspects of a child. It takes a village to raise a child, they say, but with the Montessori principles in place, you also raise a well-rounded child. Parents must give the support and guidance that allow for independence but concerning boundaries at all times.
Family Bonding
Montessori parents believe that when you bring the Montessori classroom to your home, you also curate a personalized learning experience that is centered on family time. This parenting approach helps you raise children who are responsible, independent, and have a love of learning. The Montessori preschool experience at home provides a supportive environment for your child. Dr. Maria Montessori has always emphasized the value of “learning by doing” and when a child is allowed some wiggle room for mistakes, you also give respect for the child to think, analyze, and solve simple problems which becomes a lifestyle.
Fueled Curiosity
As a Montessori parent, I believe that we have to feed the natural curiosity of a child to learn about the world. We always want to keep an eye on them since they are prone to make mistakes but children learn optimally when they are allowed to explore. A child needs to learn about their environment and giving them the freedom to do, fuels their curiosity and growth mindset.
Encourage Life-Long Learning
Montessori for parents is crucial to a well-rounded child’s development. The beauty of the Montessori philosophy is that it goes beyond the traditional education system focusing on lifelong learning, curiosity, and self-motivation.
Preparation for Real Life
In a Montessori classroom where teachers act as guides, Montessori parents help their children in navigating the hurdles by giving them to freedom to choose and not taking control of the situation. Let your kids be creative, decide on their own, and be more responsible when they want to explore. These everyday scenarios help little ones acquire practical skills that prepare them for real life.
Respecting the Natural Pace of a Child
When you enroll your child in the Montessori method, you should respect the unique pace of your child’s development. You should not compare one child to another, allowing your kids to pace themselves at a speed that works for them while providing a stress-free learning environment at home.
Promoting Happiness for Learning
Kids must get to enjoy their learning experiences. Learning should be an enjoyable activity for both Montessori parents and kids. Finding joy in learning is the foundation of the Montessori philosophy because education isn’t black and white and shouldn’t be a bore or a chore. The Montessori method should promote and stimulate the love of learning and instill responsibility in your little ones.
Montessori Tips for Parents
As a Montessori parent, you help model the behavior that you want to see in your children. When you incorporate Montessori methodologies, you allow your children freedom of movement that will help them learn and navigate their way through everyday activities.
Allow Your Child to Participate in Daily Activities
Ask your kids for help in your everyday activities. You’ll be surprised how eager they are to extend help to their parents. This also helps them develop a sense of purpose that helps boost their self-confidence to take on more complex responsibilities. More so, the daily tasks help them learn practical life skills and develop discipline and responsibility.
Give Your Child Time and Attention
A lot of times, parents and children don’t see eye to eye. The truth is children would often seek attention by misbehaving and while parents sometimes find it frustrating, it’s a cry for help. So, when you see your child throwing a fit or tantrum, don’t give them time-outs. You don’t want to send a signal of rejection at this point because your child needs you at their worst meltdowns. Give them the undivided one-on-one attention they need in times when they need reassurance, love, and support from their parents.
Allow Children to Explore
When you adopt the Montessori method into your child’s life at home, you also allow them to embrace freedom and responsibility. With your guidance, let them move around freely so they can also learn the value of self-control. Allow them to choose art materials, toys, and also activities that they can enjoy while also learning practical life skills. It’s beneficial to use analog, sensory, and wooden toys such as wooden blocks, flashcards, puzzles, tracing boards, and the like. It would help if you can set up a mini library or reading and art area for your children with materials on low shelves for easy reach.
Let Your Kids Know What’s Going to Happen
Your children love to participate and become more involved in daily family activities. They are excited to take on more roles and responsibilities which is a good sign. As Montessori parents, your role is to nurture and stimulate that natural hunger for learning and clamor for independence. And one way to encourage them is to tell your children what exactly they are going to do before they do it. In this way, they get to have some mental preparation before getting things done. This helps set expectations and create better outcomes.
Support Independence
Ever notice your child trying to gain more independence and freedom? That isn’t a rebellious kid, your child is just learning to expand and take up more space in this world. The Montessori method is all about allowing and harnessing independence in your kids. And the good news is that your can always practice with your children by doing things with them and not for them. A lot of times, parents would always want to take control, but letting kids do chores or assigning them tasks helps raise more responsible and independent kids.
Modeling Good Manners
Your little ones are your best copycats. Notice how your children mirror your behavior or even your language? Remember that courtesy and good manners always starts at home. Always model the behavior that you would want your kids to follow. Practice courtesy and show grace at all times, even in difficult situations.
Related Questions
How to be a Montessori parent? Bringing the Montessori school into your home allows you to provide a Montessori parenting that is supportive, healthy, and nurturing allowing the child to learn without fear or pressure to keep up with everyone else. Montessori parents practice the Attachment Theory that respects the boundaries of children and allow them the freedom to explore their surroundings and do activities with them and not for them to encourage learning by doing.
What is Montessori parenting vs. gentle parenting? Both Montessori parenting and gentle parenting believe in respecting the child’s unique potential and learning pace but gentle parenting is more involved in directing the child and the focus is on empathy and discipline while Montessori parenting is focused on the holistic development of the child. Both parenting methods are considered gentle parenting and look into developing the self-confidence and independence of a child to think critically rather than be exposed to punishment. Both learning and parenting methods believe that raising well-adjusted and healthy children lies in respecting and encouraging kids to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace with guidance from parents.
What are Montessori parenting toys? Equipping your playroom with a selection of educational and fun toys such as board games, wooden blocks, tracing boards, kitchen sets, flashcards, and loads of books helps create a prepared environment for your kids conducive to a Montessori way of raising and teaching kids to learn thru creative play.
Summary
Montessori for parents supports the unique learning style and pace of every child by providing a “prepared environment” right at home that is conducive to playtime, creativity, and learning or academics. The Montessori method works so well as a parenting and learning modality at home because you get to include your kids in daily activities, give them responsibilities, model behavior, exhibit grace, and courtesy, as well as promote positive and empathetic discipline for holistic child development.