Montessori is becoming more and more popular; although it has been around for many years, the benefits are far-reaching.
Many people have heard of Montessori or preschool programs based on Montessori and know for sure that is where they want their child to learn. And, ahead of that exciting moment, many parents want to see how they can make Montessori work in the home too.
So here are some easy tips for laying the foundations of a great learning experience.
Life Skills
Children love to get involved with gardening, baking, cleaning, and more. So, where possible and safe to do so – let them.
For cleaning, create a small cleaning kit for them with dry cloths, sponges, a small bucket, and let them clean things like the skirting boards or doors. This life skill will serve them well throughout life, and it is free to learn!
Baking and cooking are a little more complicated, but most of the time, baking can be relaxing and easy to clean too. Teaching your child to bake basic bread or cook a few simple meals can help them manage easier as they grow and become more independent and eventually leave home.
Match the tasks with their age group, and try not to force them to do things, making them chores. Instead, let them help you when they show interest.
Motivation, not rewards
Self-motivation is more powerful than a reward at the end of completing a task, but it can be tricky to cultivate. Rather than do things for gold stars or candy, the Montessori method looks at a child’s intrinsic motivations.
Although praise is valuable, it shouldn’t be the reason the child completes tasks; it should be the sense of satisfaction at the end.
The best way to learn this is to watch it in action. Let your child see you completing tasks and being happy about them; talk to them about how great it feels to learn new skills.
Organization
In order for children to be able to do activities as they want to, they need to have access to things with ease. Putting things on low shelves immediately enables the children to make sure of what is there.
It is just as important to make sure that everything goes back to its place once they are finished with them. This will help to teach your child responsibility for their items.
Use baskets and drawers to help with tidying and storage, but make sure they are easy to take out and put back.
Art supplies, toys, and games should be within reach and easy to find.
You can take this even further and keep all of the healthy snacks and fruit on low shelves too. This will help your child to take what they need when they need it.
Just make sure that the clean-up is just as much a part of the action.
You want to keep your child’s curiosity fresh and active, so add new items in, put old ones away, and rotate them every few weeks. This will help prevent boredom and help you keep track of the inventory.
You can super boost your child’s education with these incredible tips: How To Improve Your Child’s Education
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