How to create a Montessori play space in your home

How to create a Montessori play space in your home

Montessori play spaces are specifically created to promote the independence and focus of your child. Changing small things in your play room setup can make a big difference because they could encourage a different type of play. Whether your kid attends a Montessori school or not, creating a Montessori-inspired play area in your house is quite easy. Take a look. 

 

FOCUS ON SIMPLICITY

In contrast to the vibrant colors frequently associated with young children, Montessori environments feature more muted tones. Making the environment peaceful is intended to encourage focus. They also have a lot less stuff, both to play with and hang on the walls. For example, you may discover a small shelving unit with only a few toys with lots of room between them. 

You don't need to get rid of a lot of toys if you want to create a Montessori playroom in your house, but you probably should put most of them away. Your kid will be able to concentrate entirely on what is available if you only put out a few toys at once and switch them often. Rotating toys also has the added benefit of keeping your kid interested because you can always have something "fresh" out without spending a fortune.

When you give your child fewer alternatives, it also becomes obvious which ones excite her or him. A once-loved toy will sometimes sit on the shelf for a whole week. Then you realize it's time to take it down and replace it with something else.

 

A SPOT FOR EVERYTHING

Many young toddlers like pattern and repetition, which you can see in their occasionally dramatic reactions when anything is done incorrectly or out of sequence. Young children want order in their daily routines and in their physical surroundings, but they undoubtedly require assistance in creating that order.

In the Montessori environment everything has its place. You won't find large toy bins filled with a wide variety of unconnected toys. Each toy has a place on a shelf where it belongs. Blocks and other toys with several pieces are frequently arranged on the shelf in little baskets or trays.

Contrary to what you may anticipate, this really makes it easier for the kids to put their belongings away. It turns out that placing things exactly where they go, as opposed to throwing everything into a large container, is considerably more fulfilling. And finding items in the same place every time is also reassuring since it is predictable.

 

OPEN SPACES

Montessori play rooms include plenty of open space, both on the floor and at small tables. THis way kids can move around freely and explore.

 

THINK KID SIZE

In Montessori play rooms, the furniture is kid-sized, and the supplies are stored on low shelves so that the child can get to them on her own. To provide a toddler or older child the choice of playing on the floor or at a table for activities like puzzles, you should also add a kid-sized table and chair. Geuther has some great options such as the Koda play set.

 

DESIGN FOR KIDS

There are so many lovely pieces of art or photos hanging in kids' rooms, but they are usually too high for the kids to view. Artwork is hung in Montessori environments at the child's eye level. This way your kid will benefit much more from the lovely pictures you choose.

Include some plain black and white pictures for young babies. Images from nature, family snapshots, your child's artwork or intriguing maps could work well for older kids.

 

THE RIGHT TOYS

There is no need to put much "academic" work into designing a play room unless you are homeschooling. But it's fantastic to select a range of toys that foster your child's brain development in various ways. Consider integrating toys that promote the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, art and music, literature, and open-ended playthings (like blocks). It's good to have toys with varied levels of complexity. You want to give your kid a balance of challenging toys, such as a puzzle with many pieces, and toys that are simple and comfortable for her to play with when she needs a brain break.

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