Montessori at Home

For families in our Preschool Toddler program or Preschool Casa program, a home environment that reflects classroom values can deeply support your child’s growth, and it doesn’t require anything more than what you already have at home! With gentle guidance, young children build independence, confidence, and responsibility through everyday routines. 

Discover these Montessori-inspired methods for nurturing development at home.

Dressing: Encouraging Self-Sufficiency in Young Children

• Children in the Casa and Toddler stages thrive when given opportunities to care for themselves.
• Choose clothing with simple fastenings (e.g., Velcro, elastic waists) to support independent dressing.
• Allow extra time for your child to put on shoes, button coats, or fasten seatbelts.
• Install child-height hooks and shelves so they can manage their belongings.
• Teach techniques like the “coat flip” or using a shoehorn.
• Offer limited choices (e.g., two outfits) to help your child make decisions successfully.

Food: Building Healthy Habits and Responsibility

Young children love to participate in food preparation and mealtime routines.

• Designate a low shelf or cupboard for your child’s dishes and snacks.
• Keep a small jug in the fridge so they can pour their own drink.
• Offer a variety of healthy options and let your child choose.
• Eat meals together to model table manners and conversation.
• Provide tools like a dustpan, broom, and spill bucket so they can clean up after themselves.

Language: Nurturing Communication in Early Childhood

Language development is rapid during the Toddler and Casa years. You can support this by:

• Surrounding your child with expressive, rich language.
• Asking open-ended questions and allowing time for responses.
• Gently correcting grammar by repeating phrases correctly without pointing out that you are correcting them.
• Reading books, singing songs, reciting poems, and telling stories (real and imagined).
• Focusing on phonetic sounds rather than letter names.
• Modeling cursive writing to complement classroom learning (Casa level).

Toys & Play: Creating a Purposeful Environment

Play is the work of the child, and the environment matters.

• Use shelves instead of toy boxes to keep toys visible and organized.
• Rotate toys regularly to keep choices fresh and manageable.
• Encourage your child to tidy up after play, with clear time expectations.
• Choose sensorially rich toys and encourage active exploration (e.g., stacking blocks, pouring activities, puzzles).

Behavior: Supporting Emotional Growth and Order

Children in the Toddler and Casa stages are developing emotional regulation and a sense of order.

• Be consistent and follow through. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
• Set reasonable expectations and celebrate small successes.
• Respect your child’s sensitive period for order and routine.
• Demonstrate expectations rather than relying solely on verbal instructions.
• Focus on the process, not just the outcome.
• Allow time; young children experience time differently.
• Trust in your child’s capabilities.

School Routines: Supporting Transitions to and from Clanmore

• Give your child time to get in and out of the car independently.
• Help them learn to manage their own seatbelt.
• If entering the school together, let your child remove shoes and outerwear on their own.

Everyday Learning: Making Life the Classroom

Children in Casa and Toddler programs are naturally curious. Everyday life offers endless learning opportunities.

• Turn off screens and encourage building, creating, and exploring.
• Plan outings to parks, markets, libraries, farms, and more.
• Use daily tasks as learning opportunities; count items, read labels, compare prices.
• Cook together: measure ingredients, read recipes, and pour with care.
• Play games that build focus and problem-solving: “I Spy,” puzzles, cards, and storytelling.

By integrating these practices into your home, you’re reinforcing the values and skills your child is developing in the classroom. Small, intentional changes can make a big impact, helping your child grow into a confident, capable, and joyful learner.

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