A Montessori mindset doesn't cost a dime

Montessori principles that any parent can use, for free:

Jun 13, 2024

When Maria Montessori opened her first school in Rome, Italy, in 1907, it wasn’t in an affluent, charming area of the city. And she wasn’t working with the children of well-educated, or even literate, parents.

Instead, Montessori looked with optimism upon the slums of Rome, at children who lived in a kind of desperate poverty, violence, and neglect that is unimaginable today.

But in those slums, in a classroom with nearly 50 children and one teacher, three- and four-year-olds learned to read and write—a remarkable feat thought to be impossible even for the elite. It immediately launched Montessori into worldwide fame.

It was in this destitute place that Montessori made her most important discoveries. She came to understand the needs of children and developed her pedagogy, which she replicated with children across all walks of life and from countries all over the world.

She observed the child’s immense capability and desire to work. She discovered that, when given development-aligned materials and the gentle support of an adult who knew when to offer support and when to step aside, children could achieve incredible things.

The Montessori approach was never intended for one kind of child, one culture, or one socioeconomic class. It was designed for children, and its principles can be applied by parents everywhere.

And nowadays, it’s easier than ever for Montessori principles to be practiced at home, for free. No matter where your child goes to school, you can implement this philosophy in your family’s life.

You don’t need expensive materials or fancy furniture. All you need is a willingness to be patient and let your kids get involved.

Here’s how:

Observe the child

What it means

Observing the child is the first step and the centerpiece in any Montessori practice — and it costs nothing but your time and attention.

In Montessori schools, guides observe kids to understand a child’s behavior, to check for signs of readiness for a new challenge, and to measure progress toward achieving goals.

You can do the same at home by observing your child’s natural inclinations and interests. Guides follow a four-step process:

Take note of facts about your child’s behavior and look for patterns. These should be things you can observe, not opinions or interpretations.
Form a hypothesis about why your child acts a certain way. Is there an unmet need, lagging skill, or common trigger?
Create an action plan to test your hypothesis. For instance, if your child regularly spills milk and you think they’re interested in learning to pour, provide them with an activity that allows them to practice.
Observe, reflect, and confirm/reject your hypothesis. To stick with our pouring example, perhaps environmental changes would help, e.g., a smaller pitcher or a more accessible food prep station to prevent spills.

Remember, kids love participating in practical life, so helping them explore their interests doesn’t need to be expensive. Rather, it can be liberating for both of you.

Go Deeper

Make time for focus

What it means

In Montessori classrooms, there are dedicated periods when children are free to work independently and without interruption. Infants have dedicated time in a “movement area” during part of their waking hours. Toddler classes have two-hour work periods in the morning, while children between the ages of three and six are given a full three hours to explore independently and, after their afternoon nap, an additional two-hour work period in the afternoon.

Are kids required to spend two to three hours on one activity? Absolutely not. Rather, they get to choose how to spend this time (as long as it’s not distracting others or using the materials inappropriately), knowing they won’t be interrupted. This allows them to move into a state of deep focus and learning.

Ultimately, it’s important to:

Make space in your child’s day for uninterrupted work
Never interrupt them when they’re focused on learning (even with a comment of praise or a question)
Prepare their environment with limited options, arranged clearly and beautifully, to promote focus

Making time for focus can also mean making simple switches, like letting your child watch a two-hour movie instead of 30-second clips on TikTok. And by refraining from overscheduling their day, deep focus will begin to feel more natural to them.

Go Deeper

Let your child get involved in your day-to-day

What it means

While many things can be learned by watching and listening, others must be learned through real-world experience — and children are innately aware of this.

One of the observations that Montessori made in the slums of Rome is that kids prefer work to play. While the toys in her classroom gathered dust, children took an interest in cooking and cleaning. And though their parents were illiterate, her students consistently learned to read between the ages of three and four. To them, effort was more enjoyable than playing pretend.

You can recreate this type of environment at home by letting your children get involved in your day-to-day routine. Let them run the vacuum cleaner, prepare a meal, or help you create a grocery budget. Turn your kitchen into a classroom.

You don’t need a fancy setup. It just needs to be child-sized and accessible in the space you have available.

If you ask your child to help you with a daily task, they will slow you down at first. But maybe that’s the point.

Letting your kids get involved can result in some truly meaningful moments — and it’s only as expensive as your lifestyle.

Go Deeper

Prepare the environment for autonomy

What it means

A properly prepared environment is of utmost importance when implementing Montessori principles at home. But before you start making a list of all the furniture and toys you “should” replace, consider how your child could safely and independently navigate their current space.

For instance, if you have adjustable shelving units at home, try lowering the shelves so your toddler can reach their favorite books and toys. You can also supply stools to reach higher shelves and counters as needed. And if you have a Swiffer to sweep with, you can simply remove the middle pole to make it perfectly toddler-sized.

Once the environment is on your child’s level, you can introduce real materials with real consequences, such as breakable dishes. Not only does this promote autonomy and participation in day-to-day activities, but it also means you can use materials that you already have at home.

Go Deeper

☀️ This week’s bright spots:

If you have 1 minute…

Watch this video on why kids use real, breakable dishes at meal times in a Montessori classroom.

If you have 10 minutes…

Read this piece by

Dr. Aliza Pressman

on how to talk to your kids when they’ve made a mistake.

If you have one hour…

Download our Montessori-inspired Summer Activity Guide and do one of the weekly activities (there are enough to last you all summer!) — here’s a recap of week one and week two.