The Top Ten Montessori Parenting Tips

Don’t overlook the fundamentals. Is your child sleeping enough? Is she eating a balanced diet? Maintain a consistent and calm bedtime routine. Before going to bed, read or tell stories. Maintain a consistent bedtime routine throughout the week. Also, by providing nutritious options, you can help your child learn to like nutritious foods, but don’t force the child to eat. Other than water, keep alternatives and beverages to a minimum. Discuss food with your children. Inquire about the appearance, smell, and taste. Involve your children in the cooking and food preparation process.

Allow them to assist you. Involve children in many of life’s daily tasks, particularly those in which they express an interest, in addition to assisting in the kitchen. Setting the table, sorting silverware or laundry, dusting, assisting with car washing, and so on are some examples. Take the time to demonstrate to them, step by step, how to successfully complete such tasks. Remember Maria Montessori’s wise words: “Never help a child with a task at which he believes he can succeed.”

Make sure you have the right tools. You’d be surprised at how much children can do for themselves, especially if they have child-sized tools, furniture, or utensils. Provide low shelves where they can store their own toys, books, and so on. Even very young children can return items to their proper places, hang their own coats, put laundry in the hamper, and do a variety of other things. Begin with items such as a step stool, a small table and chairs, a scaled-down dustpan and broom, or cups, bowls, and spoons that are the perfect size for small hands.

Maintain consistency at all times. Regular, unhurried routines provide comfort and security. Make every effort to allow enough time, stick to schedules, and arrive on time whenever possible (to school, etc.). Also, schedule some unstructured time to play, explore, or simply “be.” When something is out of the ordinary, prepare your child for what is to come. As much as possible, let them know where you’re going and when you’ll be there.

Grace and Courtesy. Teach and, more importantly, model the behaviors you want your children to exhibit. This is NOT the time to follow the adage “do as I say, not as I do.” Use proper etiquette and speak respectfully. Make eye contact with them, get down on their level, but don’t talk “down” to them. Discuss patience, kindness, honesty, sharing, and helpfulness, as well as any other values you hold dear. Don’t interrupt, and teach your children not to either.

Read, read, and read some more! Every day, read aloud to your children. Visit the library or the bookstore. Make reading a pleasurable experience.. Play games, sing songs, and tell jokes. Discuss words with them and assist them in being aware of the sounds that make up the words. For instance, “what rhymes with cat?” or “what begins with mmm?”

Give the gift of gab to someone. Listening to us teaches our children words and language. Talk to your children whenever and wherever possible. Discuss what you are seeing out the window while driving. While shopping, name the various foods as you walk down the aisles. You may feel silly doing this at first, but keep in mind that you are giving your child the priceless gift of language and a diverse vocabulary.

Take a moment to smell the roses. Every day, if possible, spend time outside with your children. Take walks with each other. Allow the child to set the pace. Take a moment to observe your surroundings. Discuss it, “what do you see/hear/smell/etc.” Allow the child to have a place to grow things (it could be as simple as a flowerpot). Hang a bird feeder and enjoy observing the birds together. Even if it’s cold or raining, bundle up and go outside. Alternatively, assist your child in starting a nature journal or collection.

First and foremost, safety! Teach your child about safety. Most of us parents have “child-proofed” our homes, trying to think of everything. The only disadvantage is that our children are not always present at home. Explain the hazards of electrical outlets, matches, heavy doors and lids, water, stairs, and so on. Teach your child his or her address, phone number, and how to contact emergency services. Finally, make certain that your children learn to swim.

Maintain your own education. Improve your existing knowledge and gain a better understanding of your child’s developmental stages.

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