Our Montessori Home Tour

After many questions on the topic, I decided it was finally time for a home tour! Hopefully this will help give you a visual of our home and how we set up Montessori spaces for both our infant and toddler. I have tried to include links to all of the furniture, materials, and decor I often get asked about. I am going to do the home tour in two parts: main floor and upper floor (bedrooms). This is the main floor post. As we don’t have a play room, the main floor living room is where our children work and play. Especially at their ages, I find it easier and more cozy to “coexist” here by making it accessible and welcoming for all of us. With our open floor plan, I can keep on eye on them in the living room from the kitchen. This set-up provides us a nice balance of togetherness and independence.

You’ll notice each of the children’s spaces offer opportunities for independence. Toddlers, and even babies, thrive when they are given choice, freedom of movement, and autonomy to “do it myself”. By setting up a home with accessibility and autonomy in mind, children feel confident, joyful, and respected. I hope this peek into our home gives you a few ideas too!

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Entryway

When we head outside, this is where D puts on her socks, shoes and coat. She also takes off her shoes and hangs up her coat when we come back inside. To give her a bit more autonomy, we always keep two options for socks, shoes, and a coat that she can choose from. To help her remember which shoe goes on which foot, I placed corresponding colored dots on her shoes and on the floor (e.g. pink dot on left side of floor and in left boot). To put on her coat, she does the Montessori “coat flip” trick, where she lays it out in front of her (hood towards her feet), puts her arms in the holes and flips it over her head. The beautiful weather sign is from Etsy and the step stool is IKEA. The hooks came from Target Dollar Spot last spring.

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D’s Space

This is D’s play of “work of the child’ space. Here we keep her Montessori materials which are rotated every 2-3 weeks to keep her materials inviting and exciting. (Note: I never rotate all her materials at once, but rather choose to switch out just the ones that she hasn’t used at all or has completely mastered and is bored with.) This is where we keep most of her traditional Montessori materials, as well as some of my DIYs. My husband made her shelf but you can find a similar low shelf from Sprout. The small bookshelf is IKEA, as well as her reading chair. (We rotate books every month or so.)

To the right of her chair is her small floor table from Sprout. Right now, we use it to hold her light table up. Though most of her toys get rotated in and out, the Grimms Rainbow and Peg Dolls always stay, as she is regularly using these for color matching and creative play. As for her trays, we like these simple, unfinished wood ones as well as this Beech one. You can find several of her other current shelf materials on my Amazon storefront.

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Movement Area

Next to the fireplace, we keep a basket with her movement or gross motor activities. This includes her yoga mat, yoga pretzel cards, roll and play game, silk scarf, stepping stones, and tactile mats. These are always kept here, rather than rotated. We also keep her wavee board and Pikler triangle (which my husband made) out or stored behind our armchairs. All of these activities are especially helpful when we are stuck inside or we need to redirect energy!

Open-ended Toys

In our bookshelf next to the fireplace, we keep open-ended toys in these baskets from Target. We do rotate these materials, but very infrequently. Currently, these baskets house our Way-to-Play roads, wooden vehicles, wooden town set, and Brio train set. I didn’t introduce baskets with this many toys until after her second birthday, when she was no longer interested in dumping, and was willing and able to clean up big messes. It’s best to only put out as many materials as your child can realistically clean up. Other favorite open-ended toys that enter rotation here are Magnatiles, musical instruments, and wooden blocks.

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Toy Storage

We re-purposed our coat closet to make a toy storage closet. Priorities right? ;) Thanks to being a former teacher and current blogger, we have a lot of toys and Montessori materials. This cubbie cabinet has worked out perfectly for us. I can see what’s inside each cubby, while still fitting all that I need to inside. The materials that are much too young or old for either child in a couple of plastic bins in the garage. We keep books that aren’t in rotation in our office/TV room on some built-in shelves up high (not pictured). We keep this door closed so that D doesn’t open it, and I only rotate when she’s asleep.

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S’ Space

For now it works best for us to keep D and S’ play spaces separate. Though of course they spend time in each other’s spaces, it helps to define their work and give them each a sense of ownership over their belongings. As S is working on crawling and needs a lot of space for free movement, this reversible and washable play mat has worked out really well. My husband also built his low shelf, but again, you can find a similar one from Sprout. I rotate his toys less frequently than D’s, as he enjoys many of his teethers and rattles for weeks on end. We love this acrylic mirror (attached to the wall with command tape) that allows him to see himself and his own movements. You can find several of his materials on my Amazon storefront. The others are a Tag Toys glitter drum, an Etsy puzzle ball, and Essential Montessori cylinder.

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Art/Sensory

In our dining room, we keep this IKEA Flisat table and Sundvik chair, used for art and sensory activities. We keep a few art supplies or whatever sensory material we are using in these bins that fit right into the table. Favorite sensory materials include water beads, kinetic sand, rainbow rice, dried beans, and simply water. When the tabletop is on, we use it as an art table for activities like coloring, painting, play dough, stickers, cutting, and gluing. We typically have one or two options available at this table at a time for her to choose from. I store the rest of her art supplies in a kitchen cabinet.

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Kitchen

You can read more about how we set up D’s functional kitchen in this blog post. This converted IKEA play kitchen has served us for over a year (introduced around 16 months, with water dispenser around 18 months). This is where we keep her dishes (such as these plates and cups), utensils, cooking tools, and cleaning supplies (such as this set and these washcloths). She washes her hands here as well as serves herself water. We don’t use this for dish washing as much as the kitchen helper at our sink these days.

My husband made her the kitchen helper and it is used at least twice a day. She loves to help me prepare meals or sometimes just have a snack and watch. If you are looking to purchase one, I recommend this simple one for older toddlers/children or this larger, more stable one for younger toddlers.

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Dining

Though both of our children eat family meals at our dining table in their Stokke Trip Trapp chairs, they also love their small Sprout weaning table. Although not necessary, we find benefits to having both options. Typically, D eats her breakfast and snacks at the weaning table (S joins her for breakfast these days). Lunch and dinner happen at the family table. The Stokke chairs are nice because they pull right up to the family table, the baby set comes off, and the height is adjustable to work for many years. D started climbing into the chair herself around 20 months. The weaning table is wonderful because D can set her own place and clean up after. We love her beautiful Khadine Deco placemat with outlines for setting her place.

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Bathroom

Our downstairs bathroom is pretty tiny, so there isn’t much room for self-care. We do squeeze in this small potty and step stool which she can use to get dressed or store her tissues or hairbrush. She also uses this stool to wash her hands at the sink, but needs my help turning the faucet on. (Upstairs, in our larger bathroom, we use this taller step stool so she can independently turn on sink and brush her teeth.) While we have an insert so she can sit on our toilet, she much prefers the small potty, which she feels more comfortable using all by herself. In the basket of our vanity we keep a couple of pairs of underwear, several books, and wipes. It is very rare for her to have an accident these days, but it’s always good to have a change of clothes available.

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PS. Our couches and coffee table are from Article!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

A Moon and Sun Theme for Toddlers

It’s that time of year again, when the weather is dreary and we long to see the sun, and even the moon. Both the moon and the sun have really piqued D’s interest lately, so that has been our theme this week! If you also have a toddler interested in this topic, maybe one or more of these will spark your interest too. We kept our focus on just the sun and the moon, rather than the entire solar system, but I can see expanding the unit next year!

Phases of the Moon Matching - I was inspired by some beautiful artwork to create my own phases of the moon matching activity for D. I already had a bunch of felt laying around, so I used that! To make the moons, I traced around the bottom of a jar on the felt, and then cut out the different waxing/waning phases from those. I made two of each so that I could glue on one to the felt and have the other in a basket for her to match. I also made one “new moon” with black felt, that you can’t really see in the photo, but it’s there! :)

Nocturnal vs. Diurnal Forest Animals Sorting - A theme of many of the moon books we have are which animals are awake when the moon shines. So along this theme, I made a simple nocturnal/diurnal activity matching. We also learned that a couple of the animals (rabbit and deer) are crepuscular meaning they are most active at sunrise and sunset! This has been a fun activity to do while we read Little Owl’s Day and Night (see below). D loves these small forest animals (set 1 and set 2). The scene came from here.

Moon and Sun Sensory Play - As with many sensory activities, D has been very absorbed in this one. While the “day” and “night” scenes have mixed, she loves singing our moon and sun songs while she plays. She gets totally zoned in pouring, transferring, and creating with these materials.

For the blue sky, I dyed rice with blue food coloring and a little vinegar (instructions from Busy Toddler). I created the clouds with cotton balls. For the night sky, I used dried black beans and glow in the dark mini stars. I printed off images of the sun and the moon and laminated them.

Daytime/Nighttime Giant Stacking/Nesting Blocks - While maybe not teaching about the moon and the sun, these giant stacking and nesting blocks are so much fun, and along our theme. One side of each block is a day to night scene and another is constellations. This is a fun one for us to build together, but her favorite is nesting them inside each other!

Books

Moon - One of my favorite Peek-through picture books that shows the moon changing shape on each page and the animals that play when the sun goes down! Really beautiful illustrations.

Peep Inside Nighttime - This one is so much fun for D. She loves peeking in the tiny windows to see the baby waking up, the tree to see the owl hooting, and the bakery shop and construction sites where people are hard at work all night.

Moon, Gorgeous Moon - I love this sing-songy rhyming story. It allows the child to imagine where the moon might go when it disappears, but ends with “or maybe, just maybe, you disappear, for others to see who aren’t so near” and the reassurance that the moon always comes back.

Little Owl’s Night - This has been one of our favorites since D was a little baby. It’s a simple but very sweet story about all the activity happening in the forest at night. Little Owl wants to show Bear the moon, but he’s fast asleep.

Little Owls’ Day - A fun complement to the night story. In this story, Little Owl wakes up too early and sees all that’s going on in the daytime, under the sun. Bear shows him the rainbow and he finally gets to show Bear the moon. :)

Reading Little Owl’s Night to help figure out which animals sleep at night vs. in the day

Songs

We’ve also been singing a few Moon and Sun songs! Check out our Spotify playlist here. :) This is another fun one I found online that we’ve been singing together:

From https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/space-song-book-3013197

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori at Home on a Budget

This is one of the most common questions I am asked. It’s hard for me to reply with a short answer because there are actually so many ways to implement Montessori at home on a budget! Montessori is about so much more than fancy materials and beautiful shelfies. See this blog post about a few key principles of Montessori, mostly not having to do with toys. Here are just a few of the ways to implement Montessori at home, that happen to also work on a budget:

Parenting style - This is the most important one. Montessori is an education/parenting philosophy and a way of life. The most “Montessori” thing you can do for your child is to be a gentle guide: following their interests, supporting their learning, setting appropriate limits, and showing them love and respect. This can also mean stepping back and helping only when asked or needed. Toddlers, especially, are much happier when they are allowed ample time and space to work, play, make choices, and figure things out for themselves.

D figuring out how to put on her shoes in her designated coat & shoe spot next to the front door.

Practical Life - Toddlers love to be given opportunities for independence. This is the core of a Montessori toddler and even young primary environment, and so easy, inexpensive, and fun to implement at home. Even young toddlers love to mimic the “chores” we do, so why not slow down and invite them to join in? Remember that toddlers find joy and meaning in the process, so try to let go of the final product for now; they will get there in time. Here are just a few ways your toddler can help around the house.

Outdoors - There is so much to be gained from spending time outside with kids, even babies! Starting when D could walk, I have loved having her take the lead on nature walks. It’s so sweet to see the world from her point of view. Toddlers are interested in every little thing, from the mud on the ground to the tiny weed sprouting up to the sound of the bird you didn’t even hear yourself. It’s a full sensory learning experience when you get outdoors. I am all about the phrase “there’s no such thing as bad weather; just inappropriate clothing”.

Simplify the play space - Rather than buy more toys, we recommend rotating toys in a Montessori environment. “Old” toys can be new again if they’ve been hiding in the toy storage closet for a couple of months. Toys in general are more inviting for children if they are displayed individually rather than in a large box. It is overstimulating for many young children to have too many toys out at once or in one giant toy bin. You also don’t need a fancy shelf to display your toys on. While my husband built our shelf, I’ve seen toys placed below coffee tables, on a couple low shelves of built-ins or a larger bookcase, or even re-purposing crates or shoe racks. Our shelves are in our living room, as we don’t have a play room. You can make any space work!

DIY shelf. Book display and chair from IKEA.

DIY - I find a lot of do-it-yourself ideas on Pinterest. I try to share some favorites there, so feel free to follow me there! It’s amazing the toys you can make with pom-poms, cardboard, or empty jars. Babies adore kitchen tools and toddlers love opening/closing empty containers. You can DIY beyond toys as well. I also like to make my own crochet baskets (tutorial here). My husband makes a lot of our furniture, which has been a nice money-saver for us. You can find tutorials for woodworking most anything online, such as this low shelf or Pikler climber. There are also lots of IKEA hacks, such as this one for a learning tower. Or for a weaning table, simply shorten the legs of an IKEA kids table.

DIY bed frame by my husband and floor cushion made by fellow Montessori mom, Nursling Co

Find lightly used toys and furniture online - I am part of a local moms Facebook page where parents are often posting free or inexpensive toys, furniture, and other supplies that their children are no longer using. There are also sites such as Offer Up. Even Craigslist has a toy section that is worth checking out. I’ve seen plenty of toys listed that are still in their original packaging! I’ve heard that Montessori schools/teachers occasionally post materials there if they are closing/retiring. You could also talk to mom friends about doing a toy swap, to make old toys new again for each others’ kids.

Our coat closet became our toy storage closet. I love lending toys out to mama friends!

Consignment shops, IKEA, and Target - I’ve always been pleasantly surprised when I’ve checked out local consignment stores. I have found quite a few Melissa and Doug wooden toys, small animal figurines, and other great vintage finds. It’s also a great way to find small dishes, baskets, and trays! IKEA is excellent for things like small dishes, bowls, work rugs, and of course, furniture. They even have some cute toys. Additionally, Target is your friend. I always find kids decor, art supplies, and even small cooking or practical life supplies in the Dollar Spot section and beyond.

IKEA kids kitchen turned functional kitchen. Flower arranging is a wonderful and free activity!

Montessori Discount Stores - Lastly, there are online shops such as Montessori Outlet and Alison’s Montessori, that have discounted traditional Montessori materials worth checking out. Keep in mind these materials aren’t cheap, but they are less expensive versions.

A Montessori Approach to (not) Sharing

Sharing is a tricky concept for toddlers. For one, toddlers feel ownership (rightfully so) over anything that is in their hands. Second, until sometime between two and a half and three, toddlers typically prefer to "parallel play", meaning they play next to others but not necessarily with them. Cooperative play comes even later.

Now that D has a little brother, is in a part-time Montessori program, and has plenty of social opportunities, sharing has become a more relevant topic. At two and a half years, D loves to be with her friends, especially singing songs or sharing snack together. She is even starting to enjoy more cooperative coloring, building blocks, or other group games. She understands that she has her toys and S has his, but there are blurry ownership lines. As she navigates these new social interactions, it has me thinking a lot about our approach to sharing.

As much as she enjoys playing with friends, she also finds a lot of “flow” and joy in independent play. Through focused play, D is concentrating, working through problems, and using trial and error. When she is engrossed in her activity, I don’t want to interrupt her flow by making her share. I want her to be able to play with friends, but also to feel comfortable saying no, and to respect when others do too. This often means saying no to sharing.

Rather than forcing toddlers to share, we can help them take turns, or ask to work together. A child who is working with a toy or material should be given the time they wish to have to concentrate and enjoy it. The child who wants the toy can be told "It looks like ____ is using that work right now. You can use it when they are done with it." If the activity is something that can be enjoyed together, the child playing with the desired toy can also be asked, “Would you like to play with ___, or would you like to play by yourself?” Modeling this language helps the toddlers to verbalize this on their own. You often hear in a Montessori classroom, “my work”, as well as asking to work together.

This is obviously easier in a Montessori classroom, where toddlers know if a work is on the shelf, it's available; if it's in use, it's not. On a playdate or at the park, we can follow the same principles but perhaps with a bit more flexibility. If D is playing with a bucket that another child clearly wants, I would say "I see that she wants to play with the bucket too. Do you want to play together?” If she doesn’t I would say, “How about you play with it for a bit longer and then we give her a turn." If she’s upset by this, I would acknowledge her feelings, offer comfort, and remind her that she can have another turn soon. “I know it’s hard to wait for your turn. You could play with this other toy while you wait, or you could ask to watch.”

With friend Marley of Montessori in Motion

If another child tries to take a toy from D in a public setting and the parent doesn't say anything, I might gently stop the action and say to the child that D is using it right now but she can have a turn next. Often D has already said that it is hers. If the child still takes it, I don't force the child to give it back but if D is upset, I say out loud to her, "Oh it looks like she really wanted to play with that toy too. It made you upset that she took that toy from you. Let's find something else to play with" and walk to another area, when possible.

Lastly, if D takes a toy from another child, I would say something like “Oh, he was using that right now. Let’s give it back to him and find something new. You can have a turn when he’s done.” If she doesn’t give it back, I’d give her the option to either give it back or have me give it back. Again, I’d acknowledge her feelings and offer her alternatives.

One could argue that toddlers should work this out amongst themselves. I agree, if they are agreeable to playing together. But in many cases, with young toddlers especially, I like to say something in this scenario because they are still working on communicating effectively. It gives her language to use herself. I also don’t want D to think it’s okay to consistently take other’s toys or have them taken from her. While I don’t think we need to intervene in every scenario, I do want to set expectations of turn-taking and treating others with kindness early on. Thanks to Montessori, I also place a lot of value on focused, uninterrupted play. If we are constantly forcing our kids to share, or making them give up their toys or vice versa, they aren’t allowed to find their rhythm in play.

When it comes to interactions with her little brother, I obviously do the talking for baby S. Now that he’s becoming mobile, the reminders go both ways. If D takes his toy, he doesn’t care at this point, but I would say “S is using that right now. Let’s find something else for you to play with.” Alternatively, if he’s okay with it, she can replace his toy with something new, which she often does on her own. If S starts pulling at D’s work, D will usually say something like “that’s mine, Booboo!”, and I will offer him a toy of his own. As he gets older, I’m sure they will choose to play together, but for now, D prefers to play alone, next to him, or to entertain him with stories and songs.

At two and a half, D is finding the balance between playing with friends, her brother, and focusing on her own. Sharing doesn’t have to be the answer. I want the choice to be hers first and foremost.

Why and How we Believe in Santa

Believing in Santa Claus. This is our first Christmas in which D is old enough to start talking about and understanding the Santa Claus story. It has made me think a lot about how I want to approach it with our children…

There are many parents in the Montessori community who believe in telling the truth (Santa isn't real) from the beginning. This is in line with the reality-based nature of Montessori education in the first plane of development. The reasoning is that children under the age of 6 have trouble distinguishing the difference between fantasy and reality, so better to focus on real-life stories and play. I tend to agree with that, and find toddlers enjoy reality-based play and stories the most, and it by no means inhibits their imagination or engagement in pretend play.

I do also think there can be exceptions. When my husband and I look back on our childhood's, we only have positive memories of the "magic of Santa Claus". There was something so beautiful and innocent about holding onto the belief that once a year, the world would be a magical place and make children all over the world happy. Even after we found out the truth, Christmas and the idea of Santa Claus continued to be a special celebration, and we carried on the letters to Santa, the cookies, and the belief for children younger than us.

My favorite Christmas movie has always been Miracle on 34th Street, because it captures the essence of the Christmas spirit and choosing to believe. “ I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. You know, I'm a symbol. I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives.”

So, yes, we are going to continue to carry on the Santa story. But rather than talk about being nice vs. naughty, we can talk about the origin of Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) and the spirit of giving at Christmastime, that can be carried on forever. And when our children are ready for the truth, we will be honest and open about it. I bet, even then, they will appreciate the "magic" of Santa, as a symbol of kindness and generosity, as we, as adults, still do too.

Going to See Santa

As a side note, we didn't plan to go see Santa but D REALLY wanted to go this year. When we got there, she was so excited, but also scared to get too close. We did NOT make her sit in his lap. She watched her baby brother sit and smile at Santa, and then she was ready to get close with me holding her. Afterwards, she held on so tightly to the Santa pictures we received and wanted to tell the story of seeing Santa again and again. :)

A Few Favorite Christmas Traditions

Advent Calendar - My sister made us a beautiful advent calendar, and in December we have begun to fill each pocket with a little surprise. (To simplify for a toddler, we only put the surprise in that day’s pocket rather than filling them all in the beginning.) Examples include fruit snacks, tiny ornaments, stickers, or an activity such as making cookies or singing Jingle Bells.

Picking out an Ornament - Last year we started this with D, and I plan to continue it every year. We go to a store with a large assortment of ornaments and she gets to pick one out for the tree. S will get to do the same. Then, when they have their own families and trees, they will have a wonderful set of ornaments and memories.

Gift of Giving - Each Christmas season, we make something for all our neighbors and walk around the neighborhood, passing them out to each house. I think D is really going to enjoy handing the treats out this year! It’s a great way for her to practice giving as well as receiving. As she gets older, I’d like to extend this to larger ways of giving, such as involving her in picking a place to volunteer together or a charity to give to.

Santa Presents - We plan to have Santa bring one present and the stocking stuffers for the kids. The other few presents are from us. Just as I had growing up, we will put a satsuma/clementine at the bottom of each stocking. Mrs. Claus always brings PJs as well (which is still done by my mom, Nana). Christmas morning, we take turns opening one present at a time, to appreciate what each person receives!

Letters to Santa - This was my favorite tradition growing up. Every Christmas Eve my sisters and I would write a letter to Santa and every Christmas morning we’d wake up to a thoughtful or funny response. We continued this tradition long after we knew Santa wasn’t real. It was a way to reflect, be silly, or just ask questions we never asked out loud. I’m looking forward to starting that with our children when they get a bit older. My mom made a book out of our letters, which is one of my favorite books to read through each Christmas now.

Recommended Children’s Books:

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

The Spirit of Giving by Nancy Tillman

The Story of Saint Nicholas by Laura Wagner

Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Easing the Transition to Big Sister

I’ve talked a bit already about our transition from one to two, and overall it’s been a fairly easy adjustment (we are lucky, I know!). That being said, it hasn’t been completely smooth sailing, and it’s a constantly evolving relationship between D and S. We have had plenty of tough moments, big feelings, and even moments of D acting out towards the baby. As with all things parenting, it has gotten easier in some ways and harder in others. Easier in that D has fully embraced being a big sister and nothing feels “new” anymore. Harder in that S is becoming a bit more mobile, and D more assertive and possessive over what is hers.

Through these ups and downs, these are a few ways we’ve perhaps made the transition to becoming a big sister a bit easier for our toddler:

The Helper Role - This one came easily to D, who like most toddlers, likes to feel that she is a contributing member of our family. Giving D the opportunity to help prepare his environment, change him, offer him a bottle, or comfort him, have been really valuable for her. She shows such pride when she makes him laugh, or when she successfully buckles him into his car seat. Lately she especially likes to “read” to him or show him her work. He is more than happy to be her pupil! ;) This has also been a great tool for me, to keep everyone happy and busy.

Consistency in Routines - Routines are huge for toddlers; they thrive on “sameness”. and predictability. D is especially sensitive to consistency. Obviously a baby is a huge disruption to routine, but the newness wears off quickly. We have kept a lot of D’s daily rhythm the same. She still gets to serve herself snack, she still gets her favorite 3 songs before bed, she still does bathtime with Daddy. Of course, we’ve also added some new routines, such as reading books with her brother before bed, helping put away and pick out S’ outfits, and getting to drink special “tea” (often warm milk with cinnamon) while I nurse S in the afternoon. These routines give her a sense of control and calm.

One-on-One Time - Since having S, we’ve made sure to carve out special one-on-one time for D with each of us. She and I often get a little alone time each afternoon when her brother is napping, which is a fun time to bake or cook dinner together. On the weekends, D and my husband will go to the pool or to the park just the two of them. We trade off doing bedtime, so she gets that special time with each of us too. Last weekend I took her out for a play without the boys and it was really sweet for both of us to have that special outing together. Though family time altogether is valuable, I think we especially appreciate each other when we have that one-on-one time too.

Fair Treatment - This doesn’t mean treating the two of them completely equal. That’s impossible, as they are different children with different needs. Rather, I try to make sure we treat them fairly. For example, I ask S to wait when I’m focused on something with D, just as much as I ask D to wait when I’m nursing S. I don’t want D to always feel like S comes first, or that his needs trump hers. As he gets older, I also have to ask him to let go of her belongings and work just as I ask her to give toys back to him. Neither of them have to “share” but they need to learn to respect each other’s work and take turns when appropriate. Though fairness isn’t always possible, it’s been useful to start this practice, so everyone feels respected.

Difficult Moments

Although it’s rare, there are moments when D is frustrated or overtired and she gets physical towards her brother. If she does, I immediately stop the behavior. I say something like “I can’t let you hit your brother. It’s my job to keep both of you safe.” I then check on her brother first, and point out how he’s feeling (“S looks sad. I’m going to see if he’s okay.”) I talk through this out loud even if he’s clearly fine to model checking on him when he is hurt.

Once I’ve checked on him and made sure he’s okay, I direct my attention to D. I acknowledge her feelings (e.g. “I can see you felt frustrated when your brother grabbed your toy. You wanted it back. I can’t let you hurt his body though. If you feel frustrated, you can use your words or come to me for help.” I try to give her different ways to express her frustration while being clear that hitting or getting physical towards her brother is never okay. I then offer her comfort if she wants it. Lastly, I ask if she wants to check on Baby S too, and she usually does. She usually offers him a hug, and all is right in the world again. And I remind myself what a difference a good sleep can be for her, and for everyone.

Our Favorite Winter Books

Somehow another winter is upon us, which means lots of cozy afternoons reading books, drinking tea, and hoping for snow days! At the very least we can gear up for our trip up to the Methow Valley this winter, where we are guaranteed skiing and sledding galore. Whatever and wherever your winter is, I know you and your baby or toddler will love these stories to get in the winter spirit.

Over and Under - My sister gifted us this one last year, and it is still my favorite this year. Toddlers and children of all ages will enjoy discovering the secret animal world under the snow. As a cross-country skier, I especially love the dual story of the father-daughter on a ski adventure while the animals hibernate and explore below.

Snow Globe Wishes - This is a new hardcover that both D and I were excited to discover. It tells a sweet story of a family snuggling in and enjoying time together inside during a snow stormy night. It celebrates togetherness and peace, and the beauty of a snowy night.

The Snowy Day - Everyone probably knows this classic story, but it will always remain on our list. It is just a wonderful story of Peter’s snow day in the city.

Red Sled - D’s favorite books are often the ones with little to no words at all. They have slowly become mine too. This is a simple story of a bear who discovers a sled outside a cabin, and goes for a ride with his animal friends at night. Rather than words, this story is told through the sound effects: “scrinch scrunch”, “rooooeoeee” and "gadung gadung” are our favorites. Yesterday, I watched as she sat on the couch and read this one aloud to herself, just making the sound effects on each page.

Winter Dance - This is a wonderful one to pair with Over and Under because it tells the story of the animals living above the snow, and their preparation for the winter season. Fox isn’t sure what to do in the wintertime, but after watching all of the animals, he finally meets another fox, and finds his role too.

Winter Babies - Perfect for the littlest ones, this seasonal story features sweet faces and simple phrases, and winter delights. Though a bit young for D, she has it memorized and enjoys reading it to us now!

Winter is Here - Last but not least, this board book is a toddler and adult favorite, with beautiful illustrations and descriptive language. There are lovely details on each page, describing the sights, sounds, and feels of a snowy winter. Short enough for babies but engaging enough for toddlers.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Exposing Toddlers to a Second Language

It may seem crazy to introduce a second language to our 2-year-old when she is still picking up English and we aren’t a bilingual home. However, research suggests otherwise. Young children can effortlessly pick up more than one language, without even knowing they are doing it. In contrast, we as adults, or even older children, have to work really hard at it. A younger child will also have an easier time recognizing and pronouncing different speech sounds and accents of other languages.

Link to flashcards here

There are many advantages to learning more than one language in the early years, from higher executive functioning and problem-solving to developing an awareness and understanding of cultures different than one’s own. Obviously the ease at which toddlers pick up a second language, and the benefits they experience from it, are more pronounced in a bilingual home. However, even young children with a smaller exposure to a second language can reap some of these benefits.

I started learning Spanish in middle school and continued through college, when I studied abroad in Spain. Since then, I’ve hardly used it, which means I’ve lost a lot of it. But it is amazing how much of it comes back now that I’m introducing Spanish language to D. We have found various activities to engage in together to make learning Spanish fun for both of us! While I know I’ll never be fluent, and D might not be either, it still feels worthwhile, for the aforementioned reasons. :)

Books & Music

One of the simplest ways to introduce another language is through music. We have been listening to some Spanish songs on her Jooki, such as those by one of our favorite kid artists, Little Parade. We’ve also been singing “Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, y Deditos” (Head Shoulders Knees and Toes) and “Las Ruedas del Autobus” (Wheels on the Bus) together. It’s so fun to see her start referring to her toes as both toes and deditos these days. I’ve also been finding some great English-Spanish books at the library. Her favorite right now is “Me Gusta Cuando” (see above).

Habbi Habbi

This tool is especially helpful for adults, like me, who aren’t fluent and don’t know how to pronounce every word correctly. The Habbi Habbi books are a super innovative and fun way for toddlers to engage in learning a new language from a native speaker. Each inch of each book is tappable via the wand, and speaks in both English and Spanish (or Chinese in the other version). There are four titles out now, and D’s favorite by far is the Book of Emotions. I’m really excited for the ones coming out soon called “I am Kind” and the “Book of Chores”. The voice of each of the books is fluent, clear, and easy to listen to. I love that the phrases and pictures in the books are all positive, inclusive, and contemporary. It’s been a great way for D and I to engage in learning Spanish together recently.

Puzzles & Toys

Lastly, we have also just been discussing Spanish in the context of play. When we do color sorting, I might mention “Rojo” in addition to “Red” so she hears both languages. Some toys make this even easier with the Spanish word printed on, such as these wooden animal puzzles. D has begun referring to this puzzle solely as the “Girafa”. She is also enjoying the flash cards pictured above, where the English is on one side, and Spanish on the other. She carries it around with her and flips through the cards. Again, all of it is just familiarizing her with the second language - no expectations necessary!

A Montessori-Inspired Holiday Gift Guide

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to start looking forward to the holidays! I always *try* to get my holiday shopping done early to make it easier to enjoy the more festive parts of December. So, I decided to get this list out on the extra early side, for the early bird shoppers like me! If nothing else, you can at least start your lists early. :) I’ve created short gift guides for four age groups, from young babies to older toddlers. Because these gifts will likely be enjoyed for many months, I don’t get too specific with ages.

These gift ideas are more Montessori-inspired toys than classic Montessori materials. I think it’s fun to get a bit more creative when it comes to holiday gifting, especially for family and friends! If you’re looking for classic, specific-by-age Montessori materials for an infant or toddler, check out The Montessori Guide! The Montessori Guide would also make a wonderful gift for a new or expecting parent in your life. Other great non-traditional gifts include: museum or zoo memberships, music classes, photo books, or kid-magazine subscriptions such as Highlights or National Geographic. Without further ado, here is the Montessori-ish holiday gift guide!

Younger Babies

Black and White Activity Pad - This mini play mat is perfect for tummy time. The black and white contrasting pictures appeal to new babies’ eyes, and the sensory features (squeaking, crinkling, teething) appeals to babies of all ages!

Bird Felt Mobile - This is a gorgeous mobile to place above your baby’s movement area or changing station! It is so calming and bright.

Wooden Animal Rattles: These are beautiful, natural rattles/teethers that would make a perfect gift for a new baby in your life.

Rainbow Fabric Ball: A fun textured ball that is easy for a baby to hold and offers a variety of different textures and sounds!

FanFan the Fawn: This is a variation of the classic Sophie Giraffe. Babies just universally love to gnaw on these things and they are the perfect size for their little hands.

Sensory Tumbling Toys - These look really sweet for a baby who is starting to rotate on their tummy or sit up. Each one rolls around a bit, and one has a mirror, one with a soft fabric, and one has beads that rattle. These are definitely on our list for S.

Eggs in Cups - This is more of a traditional Montessori toy, and babies just love putting the egg inside of the cup. I like that this one comes in a set. This is especially fun for a new sitter!

Older Babies

Pull Toy Shape Sorter - As your baby begins to crawl and then walk, they will likely love both pulling and pushing. This fun pull toy doubles as a shape sorter too!

Ball Racing Toy - This is a fun, smaller version of the classic ball tracker, which is always a baby and toddler favorite. Such a fun one to do on repeat! Bonus: it’s double sided. This is definitely on my list for S but I am sure D will enjoy it too.

Elephant Stacking Rings - I love the bold colors of this classic stacking ring. Would be such a cute addition to your shelfie. :)

Jumbo Knob Puzzle - These large knobs and simple 3-piece design make a great beginner puzzle for babies or young toddlers. They will enjoy these friendly, familiar animals as well!

Musical Wobbler - Babies will delight in the cause and effect of this little Penguin. As they wobble and turn him around, he makes a little music. This is a great one for enticing your baby to reach a bit further or scoot towards it!

Montessori Imbucare Boxes - These are a classic Montessori material, but this is the first I’ve seen of an interchangeable lid. Such a fun idea! Imbucare boxes are a hit for babies and toddlers alike.

Wooden Vehicles - These are perfect for your new scooter or crawler. These fit perfectly in small hands and are fun to zoom and chase around the house! I think I’ll add a couple of these as stocking stuffers for S.

Younger Toddlers

Sensory Play Scoopers and Tongs - Sensory play is great for this age group, but it can be tough to find the right tools for scooping and pouring. This beautiful set is made from natural wood and provide tools for transferring all kinds of sensory materials.

Animal Sorter Truck - I like the fun variation on a shape sorter, with the added bonus of being an open-ended toy for older toddlers as well. Busy toddlers will enjoy wheeling their truck full of animals around the house!

Wooden Scooter Bike - This is another favorite among active toddlers, and a great beginner scooter bike (before graduating to a balance bike). Can be used indoors or out!

Musical Instruments Sound Puzzle - I like to include one musical toy in each list, and these puzzles provide a musical reward through each piece! I love that this puzzle provides accurate sounds of each musical instrument, making it educational too.

Hammering Toy - Toddlers love to hammer, and this one is wonderful because it can be done on repeat, over and over. Your toddler simply has to flip the board over and do it all again.

Giant Nesting/Stacking Cubes - These are great for combining fine and gross motor movements, and look so beautiful too. Toddlers love building giant towers, and this one will be as tall as them!

Wooden Balance Rocker - We have had one of these for a year, and it is a source of endless entertainment. It can be a slide, a bridge, a rocker, a balance board, or whatever else your toddler imagines.

Older Toddlers

Beginner Jigsaw Puzzles - Once your toddler moves beyond knob puzzles and can put together simple 2-piece jigsaw puzzles, this is a nice challenge . I like that each puzzle has a slightly different number of pieces and the finished animals are so sweet.

Magnification Blocks - These blocks are a great intro to science for toddlers. Not only does each block magnify (2x) any object your toddler can find, but they can be stacked and used like normal blocks too.

Sort and Stack Cylinders - I’ve been eyeing these for a while, so they are definitely on D’s Christmas list! I love that they can be nested, stacked, and sorted, and provide both closed and open-ended work.

Light Box with Geometric Solids - This is another one on D’s list. Light boxes provide endless fun with various natural and colored materials. I especially like the look of these geometric solids on the light box!

Xylophone - Xylophones are fun for babies and toddlers of all ages, but older toddlers can actually get the hang of making different sounds from different keys. This toy may make noise, but hopefully it’s a pleasant one!

Ceramic Tea Set - A tea set that is both beautiful and functional. Toddlers love to pour and serve snack, and now they can do so in style. Hopefully you’ll be invited to tea too!

Roll n Play - This is a favorite cooperative game for children of all ages. It gets toddlers moving and talking and laughing! This makes a fun first family game.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Our Favorite Bedtime Books

After my post on our favorite Montessori-friendly books for toddlers, I’ve received requests to share our favorite bedtime stories as well. Although we read throughout the day, bedtime is my favorite, snuggliest time to read together. If I’m doing bedtime with both kids, I read to them together; otherwise, I’ll read to each before their kiss goodnight. It’s been a part of our bedtime ritual since birth for both, and I don’t like to think about the day that changes. There is something so sweet about bedtime books and the words or lullabies that begin to drift your little (and maybe you too!) on off to sleep. Each of these nine books are durable board books that have treated us well the past 2.3 years! :)

Sweet Dreams Lullaby - This has always been my favorite and hardly a night goes by it’s not in our rotation. I love the colorful imagery and the words flow poetically. It’s such a sweet bedtime lullaby. Although it’s on the longer side, D has always enjoyed this one all the way through, and now S too.

Time for Bed - This is another sweet rhyming lullaby, with lots of repetition which babies and toddlers love. Each page is a wish goodnight for a different little animal. I also love the tiny size of this board book - perfect for a baby!

Beditme - This is a great book as you establish a bedtime routine. It is a simple step by step story of how one family prepares for sleep. My favorite part is how it talks about the importance and joy of sleep and how it helps your little one grow and learn!

Bedtime

A Celebration of the Seasons - I stumbled upon this one at the bookstore and it’s become one of D’s favorites. It is full of poems which my husband and I have turned into songs as per D’s request. As the title suggests, each one is related to the four seasons, so sometimes we just read the ones for the appropriate time of year.

If Animals Kissed Goodnight - This is on the longer side for a board book but it’s so sweet! I love how it helps you imagine how each animal and their baby would kiss goodnight while teaching a bit about animals too. The best part is the sloth and her baby who just keep kissing soooooo slow. ;)

Sleepy Bee - This is the shortest and simplest of the books, but it was just always D’s favorite as a baby! We got it at the Sleepy Bee Cafe in Cincinnati visiting my husband’s family so it brings us fond memories as well. A short bedtime story of a bumbebee’s day.

Sweet Dreams Lullaby

Counting Kisses - This always bring a smile to both of my kids’ faces when we read it at night. And I love getting to kiss both my babies on repeat as I read this! A simple story of 1 to 10 kisses, from head to toe.

Where do I Sleep? - I already mentioned this one in my other Montessori books list, but I had to include it here, as it’s a longtime favorite bedtime story. I love the realistic, gorgeous illustrations, particularly because it features wild animals of the Pacific Northwest!

On the Night you were Born - We were gifted this book when D was born, and now I gift it to other new babies. It’s a beautiful story of the uniqueness of each child, and just how special they are to us, and to the world. The words are soothing and comforting for babies and toddlers alike.

And with that, goodnight and sleep tight!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

The Montessori Approach to Introducing New Vocabulary

A trademark of Montessori education is the three-period lesson. It is a method all Montessori primary teachers use to introduce new vocabulary and concepts to a child that involves three key steps: naming, recognition, and recall (more on this below). It is often introduced in the toddler classroom as well, albeit less formally. Keep in mind that we organically introduce language with our toddlers at home or as we explore new places/things with them; this is just a more specific way to introduce new words and concepts as part of a language lesson, either at home or at school.

With toddlers, it can help to focus on concepts or topics your child is already interested in. Most recently, D (27 months) has been talking a lot about baby and mama animals. So I’ve been teaching her the names of all the baby animals, as well as the names of the female adult, if different than the male counterpart. Six months ago, I would have just introduced one of each animal in a generic form, e.g. cow and sheep, but her comprehension and language has grown so much since then.

Whichever the category or concept you choose, It’s best to start with the the concrete version (e.g. real fruits) rather than the abstract (e.g. pictures of fruits). For many objects, such as animals, toy figurines are the closest we can get to the real thing. Start with just a few objects (up to four for young toddlers and up to eight for older) in one category. You can place these objects in a basket or on a tray on your toddler’s shelf for them to explore and either give a lesson before or after they explore. With toddlers, giving a lesson has to include some flexibility as they don’t sit still for as long as a child in a primary classroom would. You may not get through a whole lesson, and that’s okay! Use some of the tips below to make it more fun, and you may be surprised by your toddler enjoying these language “games”. If your child isn’t interested at all, just move on, and try again later or another day. And keep in mind that some categories/concepts just might not be interesting to your child - I tried, but I could never get D to sit through a lesson on tools!

The Three Period Lesson (adapted for toddlers)

1. Naming

As you introduce a new object or concept, simply label what it is you are showing the child. Hold it and use one simple word to label it, e.g. “Lamb” if you’re introducing farm animals, or “Red” if you’re introducing colors. Set it back down and let the child explore and touch it too. *Note: While we of course want to use lots of descriptive language in our everyday interactions with our toddler, here we are isolating a single concept. The fewer words we use in the naming or labeling, the easier it will be for the toddler to make the connection between the word and the object or concept.

2. Recognition

Once you have provided a label for each object or concept, you can ask the child to find each one, one at a time. With toddlers, it can help to make this into a game. Examples of recognition questions include “Where is the calf?” “Can you put the cube in the basket?” “I spy…green.” “Can you hide the motorcycle behind your back?” There are endless ways to play recognition games, which help to get your child more familiar with each object or concept. There is no rush to the next step as you want the child to really grasp what each object is. If your child isn’t talking yet, this is the last step.

3. Recall

This step is only used for a verbal child and when you are confident the toddler knows each word already. The last thing we want to do is set a child up for failure if they don’t yet know the answer. In this final step of the three-period lesson, we ask “What is this?” as we point to each object. You can also make this more fun by asking the toddler a more creative questions such as “Which baby animal is yellow?” or hiding one under a cloth and asking “Which one is missing?”

In general, when teaching something new, we try to avoid pointing out when the child gets something wrong. If your child makes a mistake in the recognition or recall step, you could just acknowledge what they did show you "That's the ____" and remember to show them the correct label/object pairing again next time. We want our toddler to be confident in their abilities, and motivated to keep trying. Often if we are constantly correcting, we see children lose self esteem as well as interest in trying.

You can read more about early toddler language activities such as matching object to object and object to card in this blog post. You can also read about how I introduce other types of materials to D in this blog post.

Our Daily Rhythm with a Toddler and a Baby

Last winter, I posted D’s daily routine in this blog post. Obviously our lives have changed quite a bit, and we have some new routines, while others remained the same. Montessori influences all aspects of our day: from self-serve breakfast to independent playtime to walks in the forest together. I try to set up a “rhythm” without any rigid schedules or agendas. Though D goes to school a few mornings a week, we don’t go to other formal classes (except swim class on the weekend). I like to leave space and time for the kids to just play, for D to not feel rushed, and for time with family and friends. No day looks exactly the same, and weekends are more spontaneous, but as I write this blog post, there are clear patterns to our “typical” day.

Throughout our daily rhythm, you’ll see a lot of free play time. In Montessori, we often call this a work cycle. For D, this means a variety of things. Sometimes it’s independently working at her shelf with her materials. Other times it’s playing pretend with her dolls and stuffed animals. Free play time also includes art, sensory, and practical life. Not all of her time is spent playing independently; sometimes we’re at her shelf together doing lessons or she just wants me to sit with her. She and I also like to play games like hide & seek and do yoga together. And of course, she always loves to bring her little brother toys and “play” with him! We try to incorporate all types of play into the day, which honestly just happens naturally. During her work cycle, she gets to take the lead and choose what interests her. You can read more about how we encourage independent play in this blog post.

A note about Baby S: Now that he is four months old, he’s fallen into a fairly consistent rhythm. Rather than exact times, I use wake windows (he’s usually awake for 90-120 minutes before he’s ready for sleep again), so take these times with a grain of salt. Some days he takes three naps; other days, four. He also typically nurses both before and after sleeps, which works out to about every 1.5 to 2 hours (As he’s had some reflux, he nurses at just one side at a time; otherwise, I’d probably lengthen that to 2-3 hours.) He has been putting himself to sleep since he found his thumb and fingers around 3 months. Over the next few months, his wake windows will lengthen, his sleep will consolidate more, and he will hopefully start sleeping through the night, but this is our rhythm for now. You can read more about how and where he sleeps in this blog post!

D’s Schedule (27 Months)

7:00 to 7:30am - Rise and Shine - My husband typically gets D up and helps her get ready for the day before he leaves for work.

7:30 to 8:30am - Breakfast - I let D serve her own breakfast (e.g. oatmeal with toppings or avocado toast) and we read or play a little together. Then she goes potty and gets on her coat and shoes before we leave the house.

8:30 to 11:30am - School/Out and About - We are usually out of the house. A few days a week D has school (where she is given a 2-hr work cycle), and other days we go to the park, run errands, or have a playdate with friends.

11:30 to 1pm - Lunch - Back at home, we eat lunch together. Then she has a little independent play time while I get S down, or she “helps” me. We often read quite a few books together before her naptime, while she sits on the potty.

1 to 2:30pm - Rest - D goes down for a nap or has quiet time in her room if she doesn’t sleep. She plays with her dolls, books, animals, and a few quiet toys.

2:30 to 5pm - Work Cycle - This is typically a time when she works freely with her materials at her shelf, both with and without me. We also try to get out for a short toddler-led walk.

5 to 6pm - Dinner - She helps prep dinner in her kitchen helper. Then she eats her dinner at the family table (I sit with her and eat a little pre-dinner snack too.)

6 to 7pm - Wind Down - We read books or play together until bedtime begins. She also helps me clean up her toys around the house. We start bedtime around 6pm if she hasn’t napped.

7pm - Goodnight - If she’s napped, it’s bedtime with her Daddy when he gets home. Bedtime consists of using the toilet, bath, brushing teeth (we do it first, then give her a turn), changing, books, songs, and a kiss goodnight.

S’ Schedule (4 Months)

6:30 to 7am - Rise and Shine - S wakes up and nurses.

7 to 8:30am - Free Movement - We get ready for the day, he has movement and play time on his play mat, and we head out of the house most days.

8:30 to 10am - Nap 1 - He takes a nap in the carrier since we are usually out.

10 to 12pm - Together Time - We cuddle and have some playtime together or he’s alert and looking around if we’re outside. He usually also has some story/song time with me and his sister before his second nap..

12 to 2pm - Nap 2 - He takes a nap at home on his floor bed in his nursery.

2 to 4pm - Free Movement - S has movement time on his play mat. We also spend some time playing with his toys together, and his sister likes to sing to him or bring him toys as well.

4 - 5pm - Nap 3 - He takes his last nap of the day, usually on his floor bed.

5 to 7pm - Together Time - At this time, S often accompanies me and his sister through dinner prep and her dinner. He plays on his mat, but if he’s fussy, I wear him in the carrier for a bit. The three of us also read quite a few books together.

7pm - Goodnight - We start his bedtime routine and he goes to sleep in his bassinet in our room. His bedtime routine consists of: bath, change, nursing, books, sleep sack, songs, and a kiss goodnight.

9:30 to 10pm - Dreamfeed - I nurse him while he’s mostly asleep (to get a longer stretch when I’m sleeping) and he goes right back to sleep in his bassinet.

He typically nurses once around 3 or 4am, and then goes back to sleep in his bassinet until morning.

As for my routine, I try to wake up before the kids, around 6am so I can get myself ready first, and make breakfast before D comes downstairs. I am often able to catch up on emails and messages in the early morning too. Most of my work/blogging/material making/shelf rotation happens during nap or in the later evening though. Since D likes to help me with some of the house chores, and enjoys her independent play, I’m able to get things like dishes and laundry done while she’s awake. As my husband doesn’t usually get home in time for dinner with D, we typically enjoy our own relaxing dinner (I meal prep with D in afternoon) after we put the kids to bed. It’s a nice time for us to catch up on the day. On weekends we eat as a family. A couple evenings a week, I go to a workout class, which is hard to make myself do but I’m always glad I went!

Well, that’s the rhythm of my typical day with two babes! And don’t worry, we have our hard days with no rhythm whatsoever too. Sometimes I just have to let it all go, and try for a better day tomorrow. :) What do your daily rhythms look like?

Our Montessori Mountain-Themed Nursery

Well, it took a few months, but Baby S’ nursery is finally complete! In the past few months, we’ve installed new carpet, painted the walls and trim, and painted the mountain mural. This past weekend, we cleared out what was our guest room and added all the baby furniture and decor. It reflects our family’s love for the mountains, forest, and adventure. It feels and looks so much fresher and lighter now! I think S is going to love his room as much as we do. And once he is a bit older, we hope to have both kids share this room.

Setting up a Montessori baby bedroom is a bit different than setting up a traditional nursery.

1. Floor bed instead of crib. This allows freedom of movement and independence from an early age. You can read more about the why’s of a floor bed in my previous blog post. Right now he is on a mini-crib mattress but he’s a big guy so we will probably switch D to a twin and switch over to a normal crib-size mattress and frame soon.

2. Toys, books, and artwork are minimal and at the infant’s level. This allows him to enjoy and access their environment without our assistance. As he gets older, we will keep fewer toys in here as this is meant to be a place of rest first, play second.

3. Baby-proofed. The trickiest part of setting up a Montessori nursery is making sure it’s safe once he is on the move. We use outlet covers, tuck cords behind shelves, and keep the floor clean. Once S is crawling and/or pulling up to stand, we will remove the rocking chair, table, and changing table.

At four months old, S is only sleeping in his room for nap times. At night he still sleeps in the bassinet in our bedroom, but we will probably transition him around 6 months. To get him more used to this room as his place of rest, we typically do our bedtime routine in this room, and then I carry him over to the bassinet in our room. Our bedtime routine consists of: bath, change, nurse, books, partial swaddle, songs, set him down with a kiss and an “I love you”. :)

Since about 4 months old, S has been mostly sleeping independently. By creating routines (NOT rigid schedules), paying attention to wake windows, helping him gradually shift from falling asleep nursing to falling asleep with his thumb, and setting up a cozy place for sleep, he’s able to put himself to sleep and sleep longer stretches, both for naps and nighttime sleep. Though I still wear him and hold him plenty during the day, I know he sleeps more soundly in bed and I enjoy a few moments of “me-time” or something like that. ;)

If you are interested in any of the furniture or decor, keep scrolling! Below is a list of all the nursery products with links. A lot of good finds on Etsy! Note that my husband made the floor bed frame and the pull-up bar. However, Sprout Kids makes a beautiful floor bed and Heirloom Kids makes a pull-up bar!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Nursery Links:

Mountain Mobile

Mini Crib Mattress

Woodland Quilt

Mini-crib fitted sheet

Cube shelf

Woodland artwork

Wooden play gym

Sheepskin rug

Hanging wooden teethers

Triangles Shelf

Recliner

Hatch Night Light

Cordless Blackout Blinds

Video Monitor

Navigating the Not-So-Terrible Twos

Last week, D started a part-time Montessori program, and loves it already! She is excited to go see her teachers and friends (and class fish!), and is happy when I pick her up later in the morning. As all transitions do though, this new start has stirred up some big emotions at home. She is clearly working through a lot, and it has resulted in less sleep and a few more tantrums at home. I know this will pass, but in the meantime I’ve been reading back over my favorite books and remind myself how to deal with some of these big feelings and reactions. I figured some of you might be going through similar transitions as school starts back up, or just have a toddler who acts like a toddler! ;)

I don’t like to call the twos “terrible” because they really aren’t. Yes, toddlers can be very difficult but it’s only because they are figuring out how to be their own little people. I think our attitude about our children plays a huge role in how we react to their behaviors. I know that it helps me to remember just how much growth and development is happening in their brains and body, and how much they need our love, respect, and understanding right now. I can better deal the toddler ‘tude when I remember it isn’t coming from a malicious intent, but rather figuring out limits, exerting their autonomy, and figuring out their place. At the same time, none of us are perfect, and we will all occasionally react in ways we don’t feel proud of when we are tired and frustrated ourselves. Cut yourself some slack and remember there’s always next time.

Below are ten ideas and strategies I try to implement in almost all cases of toddler behavior, from tantrums to refusing to cooperate to throwing or hitting. Maybe one or two will resonate with you too!

Provide safe space to explore - The more freedom a toddler has to explore and play, the happier they are. If we constantly have to tell them “no”, they will say it right back to us. Child-proof your house as much as possible and choose your battles. Save the “no’s” for when they are about to touch the hot stove, rather than dumping tupperware out of the drawer. Sometimes we all just need to get outside, which is full of safe exploration!

Embrace the big emotions - Toddlers experience emotions in extremes, and there isn’t much we can do to change that. Rather than try to fix it, give in, or tell them “it’s okay”, let them feel their feels. It can help to wait until they are calm to try to have a conversation. Simply offering a hug or a safe space is best when they are in the middle of a tantrum, while you let it ride out. Then when they are a bit calmer, you can address the issue if needed.

Acknowledge and empathize - Toddlers can get frustrated or scared about the strangest and most trivial of things. It is tempting to laugh or get annoyed, but I find it’s helpful to think about how it feels for them. The more we get down to their level and acknowledge how they’re feeling, the better they will feel. Acknowledging and labeling feelings also helps them work through their own emotions.

Redirect - Often toddlers need to get energy and frustration out and the only way they know how is to throw, hit, or bite. If they are throwing dishes or hitting a friend, we have to let them know that’s not okay while still giving them opportunities to release that energy and feeling. I might say something like “I am not going to let you throw that toy towards your brother. I need to keep both of you safe. If you’d like to throw, let’s throw these balls into the big basket instead.” It’s helpful to be matter of fact, while stopping the unsafe behavior.

Be a Confident Leader - This is one of the most important tools. Janet Lansbury talks about this a lot, - how toddlers are constantly testing us to make sure we are in control. They don’t actually want to be in charge; they want a calm and loving, but authoritative (NOT authoritarian) leader. When we feel out of control, they feel scared and more out of control. Being a gentle leader means setting clear limits ahead of time, such as how we behave at the dinner table. It also means setting consequences that we can actually follow-up on rather than empty threats. An example is, “when you throw your food, that tells me you’re all done with lunch” (and then end the meal). We can always offer another chance later.

Give them Autonomy - Finding opportunities for a toddler to do things themselves, e.g. pick out clothes, serve their own snack, wash their own face, gives them that sense of independence that they so deeply crave. Offering limited choices is a great way to give toddlers some autonomy, e..g choosing between using the potty or brushing teeth first before bed. (Just be careful that your choices aren’t “yes/no” or you will almost always get a “no” in response.)

“Do” rather than “Don’t” - This is a trick I learned from working at a Montessori school. We would always ask the children to “use walking feet” rather than “don’t run”. Phrasing requests or questions in a positive rather than negative way makes children much more agreeable and sounds less nagging. Another example is “let’s use quiet voices” rather than “don’t yell”.

Make Time Tangible - Time is a very tricky concept for toddlers to grasp. Telling a toddler “5 more minutes” doesn’t really mean anything to them. Instead, try saying something like “two more runs down the slide until we get in the car” or “one more book until bedtime”. The important part is to follow through on whatever limit you set! It’s even more helpful to have consistent routines throughout the day so that your toddler knows what to expect (this comes before that) without you always having to remind them.

Be Real - Sometimes when we are really frustrated, the best thing to do is to say so to our toddler. It’s okay to say to a toddler, “Mommy is feeling very frustrated and needs to take a break." Walking away from an intense meltdown (when possible) and taking some deep breaths is great modeling for your toddler. We want to show them that we all have feelings and there are strategies, such as breathing and movement, to deal with them. Additionally, you will be able to come back and react in a more calm way if you’ve caught a breath first.

Be Playful - The book “How to Talk so Little Kids will Listen” is good at highlighting this. I don’t find it always works to actually get a toddler to do something, but it never hurts to lighten the mood and get us both out of a negative space. An example of this can be in offering two choices - “Do you want to walk or gallop like a horse to the car?” Another way to get a toddler out of a grump is to play music, sing and dance around, or do yoga together!

My favorite books on the topic are:

Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen

No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Our Favorite Montessori-Friendly Books

One of the aspects of parenting I was most excited about was sharing the magic and power of books with my children. Not only do I enjoy getting lost in a really good book (when I find/make the time), but I especially love reading to my babes. There are countless benefits to reading to babies and young children, including strengthening language, attention span, memory, creativity, and emotional understanding. Not to mention it is wonderful bonding time! I’ve been reading to D since day 1 (if nothing else, there’s always bedtime!) and it makes my heart happy to see her love of books already.

Although I am not strict about it, there are a couple of qualities I look for in books for my children, following a few Montessori principles.

Realistic Nature:

Most of our books are based in reality, meaning you don’t find a lot of talking animals and princesses. The Montessori belief is that young children, especially toddlers, learn best through reality (concrete) rather than fantasy (abstract). This does NOT mean we discourage pretend play. It just means we let toddlers and young children take the lead in their own pretend play, which is typically acting out real-life scenarios such as playing house or doctor. When children begin to fully understand the difference between reality and fantasy, fairy tales and fantasy books become more appropriate. So for now, most of our books involve real-life content and ideally realistic or at least beautifully-illustrated pictures!

Age-appropriateness

This includes both the durability, length, and content. When D was younger, we only had board books, but now she understands how to be careful with some of our larger hardcover books. I try to choose books that aren’t too text-heavy, and if they are, involve catchy rhymes or exciting illustrations that keep her attention. Sometimes her attention span for books just depends on the time of day! Lastly, I try to find books on topics that I think she will enjoy (such as babies), as well as new ideas (such as our solar system).

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

10 of D’s Favorite Books

The Big Book of First Words - This is D’s favorite book right now, and honestly, mine too! It’s a little like “Where’s Waldo” but more toddler-friendly and less dizzying. ;) Each page features a different scene such a kitchen or zoo, and on the right side of the page has images of objects or animals to find within the scene. It’s a bit trickier than her other favorite, Let’s Find Momo. I think she especially loves how it’s a giant board book!

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth - This book offers hope for all of us who love and want to help take care of our planet. It celebrates all of the beauty of Earth and the people on it. “You’re never alone on Earth.” :) There are so many fun pictures and topics within this book to talk about with a toddler.

All the World - This is such a beautifully illustrated book. It is a simple but poetic story about a family’s day from morning to night, and all the beautiful things we see and do. It also emphasizes the importance of togetherness. Everywhere Babies is done by the same illustrator and is another of our longtime favorites.

Press Here - This is D’s favorite interactive book. Although it is simply a book of dots, each page has instructions on how to make the dots create different patterns, e.g. tipping the book on its side to make them “fall down”. D loves feeling like she has had an effect on the dots’ pattern page after page.

Where Do I Sleep? - This has been a longtime bedtime favorite. For those not wanting a Pacific Northwest specific book, I Would Tuck You In is also similar and sweet. A simple but really beautifully illustrated story of where animals and their babies sleep. I love how realistic the illustrations are too!

The Wonderful Things You Will Be - I love the message this book sends; that a child can grow up to be anything they choose and there is value in it all. D loves the beautiful illustrations of children, and the pop-out page at the end! This is a wonderful gift for new parents/babies.

You Were the First - We gave this to D before S came along and it’s still one of her favorites. It tells the story of all baby’s firsts, and how the parents get to experience it all with them. It ends with “there may be a second or a third, to sleep in the basket with the yellow ribbon wound round…but you will always be our first”. It makes me tear up each time!

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You - Speaking of tearing up, this book always gets me! It is such a beautiful story of how a parent’s love is with their child wherever they go and whatever they feel. It’s a wonderful, comforting story for bedtime. This one’s story is a bit abstract, but as I said, I’m not super strict about every book being completely based in reality.

Eating the Alphabet - This is a colorful and classic book for teaching letters. I enjoy that it emphasizes the sound letters make rather than just the letter itself. Plus, D loves her food, so this one is extra fun for her! ;) I especially like that it introduces unusual fruits and veggies.

Seek and Count - As D becomes more interested in numbers, she’s really enjoyed this lift-a-flap number book. Each page features a surprise under the flap and counts up from one to ten. It’s simple but great for toddlers who are counting to 10. She loves to recall what is hidden on each page - great for memory!

You can find more of our other favorites listed in my interview with Kelsey Paff of Where The Board Books Are!

Montessori for Grandparents and Caregivers

One of the most frequent questions I get is how to help grandparents/nannies/caregivers better understand or follow Montessori with their children. It is tough to answer, because it really depends on the person, and the situation. I have also been lucky to have both parents and in-laws who have read my blog since day 1 and take what I write and say to heart. I know many of you reading this haven’t had the same experience, so this is for you!

In defense of grandparents and experienced nannies, it can be tough for them to parent differently. They probably did a wonderful job raising their own kids (including you) and don’t see the need to grandparent differently. They also love your babies almost as much as you. That being said, grandparents need to also respect your own parenting style and wishes for your own children. How you raise your children, and with what values, is ultimately you and your spouse’s decision only.

It’s also worth deciding what Montessori principles really matter to you, and how much time grandparents or caregivers spend with your child. As we only have occasional sitters, I don’t really worry about whether or not those babysitters know anything about Montessori. A few hours of “good jobs” and doing everything for my children isn’t going to hurt anyone. The important thing is that they are responsible, fun, and loving. Even a weekend with grandparents who don’t “do Montessori” won’t mess up what you have going on at home. However, if someone else were watching my child a few days a week, their caregiving style would matter a lot more to me, and I’d want them to understand a bit more about Montessori philosophy.

I created these “cheat sheets” as one place to introduce Montessori to grandparents, nannies, or caregivers who aren’t quite on the same page as you yet. While these cheat sheets are far from a complete guide, I hope they can open up a conversation about how you are trying to parent differently. If they are open to it, I recommend having them read some blog articles or even The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. I also highly recommend this short video about infant/toddler Montessori programs and this other video about the Montessori philosophy in general.

There are likely certain principles or issues you care more about, so focus on those with your parents or nannies. Maybe that’s screen time, maybe it’s letting your infant learn to walk on their own, or maybe it’s the kind of words they use. Whatever it is, let some of the other things go, because we all need a little time and patience to learn, and teach, something new.

Lastly, the other common question I get is in regard to gifts from family and friends. I recommend making lists ahead of holidays. They don’t need to be super specific, but you could give some examples of the types of toys you are looking for. Other options are books and clothes. Another way to dodge noisy, light-up toys is to ask for money towards their college fund or a membership to your local children’s museum or zoo. If you do receive a gift that you don’t love, you can always pass it on, or do what I do, and keep it in the car or for “emergencies”. ;)

Transitioning from One to Two with the Help of Monti Kids

When people ask me, “How is it going with two now?” or “Do you like the 2-year age gap?”, I find it hard to know what to say. How do I explain that I’m completely drained but simultaneously happier than ever before? And that while I feel like my head might explode at times, my heart is exploding more. So I just smile and nod and let them wait and hopefully see for themselves. :)

Activity Gym and Grasping Toys from Monti Kids Level 1

One of the most rewarding things about having two is watching them together. It’s incredible to see their bond develop already. How lucky for each of them to have a sibling aka built-in-best friend for life? D has been so sweet in helping with diaper changes, giving him a bottle, singing when he’s fussy, and giving him toys. On the flip side, he seems to think she is just about the best entertainment in existence.

Bead Stringing from Monti Kids Level 6 and Activity Gym from Monti Kids Level 1

There have been some challenges, of course. The mom guilt sets in and I feel like I’m not able to give them each my full attention. There are times they each have to wait, while I’m helping the other, and my toddler especially isn’t happy about it. On the flip side, D is learning a bit more about patience! Additionally, getting both out of the house is no small feat. I’ve just accepted that I will always be late unless I seriously plan ahead. Even when we spend the entire day at home, I’ve had to let go of my expectations that I’ll get all my “to-dos” checked off. Lastly, finding time to shop for or create new materials for the kids has been much more challenging than with one.

That’s where Monti Kids has been a game changer.

Time and Energy Saver

For me, this is the best part of Monti Kids. While I enjoy browsing, shopping for, and putting together Montessori materials, these days I often just don’t have the time. With Monti Kids, a beautiful set of Montessori toys are delivered in one big box, with each beautiful material ready to place on our shelf. I get as excited as D when a new box arrives. Even the trays are included when needed! For the newborn, I love that there’s no need to put hooks in our ceiling or DIY the mobiles - the activity gym is tall enough for visual mobiles and all the mobiles arrive completely ready to hang. SO convenient.

Gobbi Mobile and Grasping Toy from Monti Kids Level 1

No Guesswork

In addition to its convenience, Monti Kids takes away the guesswork of finding the “right” toys. While studying developmental psychology in graduate school, I learned just how critical the first three years of life are. The brain goes through more change and growth in these years than any other time. Providing babies and toddlers with toys and materials that challenge and excite them leads to more confident, curious, and capable people and instills a love of learning. It gives me such peace of mind knowing that Monti Kids makes sure each material is of the highest quality and caters to my children’s developmental needs and abilities.

Cutting Board, Hat, and Apron from Monti Kids Level 7

Individual Play Spaces

While I hope that one day my children will be best friends and play together, neither of them fully grasps the concept of sharing yet. So while they do enjoy being together (or at least D loves showering S with kisses), it’s also beneficial for them each to have their own spaces. We have a small play area for each of them in our living room. On one side of the room, we have D’s shelf with her Montessori materials, books, and work mat/table. On the other side, We have S’ toys, activity gym, and movement mat.. At different developmental stages, Monti Kids has helped us to create a prepared environment that meets each of their needs.

Grasping Toys from Monti Kids Level 1

Allows me some “me time”

With a toddler and a newborn, there’s not a lot of time for self-care. Even my showers feel rushed these days. And though I love my time with both of my littles, sometimes I want a break from someone physically on me. ;) In large part thanks to the Monti Kids activity gym and toys, there are moments in the day where both of the babes are busy (or one is asleep!) and I can have a seat and drink my cup of coffee while I observe them play. It’s a beautiful thing! Additionally, they are both benefiting by building their concentration though independent play.

Ring Slider from Monti Kids Level 7

From today through August 31st, you can get $45 off your first Monti Kids box with the code reallife45. Enjoy!

This post is sponsored by Monti Kids and materials have been provided by Monti Kids. All opinions and thoughts on the materials are my own.

Octahedron Mobile from Monti Kids Level 1

Encouraging Independent Play

Promoting independence is a key component of Montessori, in large part, because it allows the child to feel respected, capable, and content. One of the best ways to encourage independence is through play. If toddlers can feel comfortable and confident playing on their own, they will also feel capable of other tasks on their own. Play is such valuable time for children to learn, imagine, take chances, and make mistakes and then do-overs. For my husband and I, it’s important to raise kids who are able to play by themselves and create fun with what is available, rather than need entertainment to find joy. It’s about finding the right balance for your family. While I love engaging in activities with my children, I also really appreciate being able to complete a task myself without a clinging child. Even better is the feeling that we don’t need to rush into my toddler’s bedroom in the morning, because she is happy to play with her dolls or flip through books in her room, just as she is before she falls asleep.

It’s never too early or too late to encourage meaningful, independent play. Here are some tips for promoting independent play in babies, toddlers, and beyond.

A “Yes Space”

This term was coined by Janet Lansbury. We want to create a space that is safe for your child to play freely. It’s nearly impossible to expect a child to play independently if we have to keep hovering and telling them “no”. Whether it’s your living room or a play room, babies and toddlers need to play in a space where they can safely explore. Ideally, children have acccess to most of the house, safely. When D has gone through phases of not being interested in her toys, she does explore the drawers in the kitchen accessible to her, uses our child-size swiffer to dry mop the floor, or “reorganizes” our pantry. Anything that is unsafe to her is kept locked or up high. As long as she isn’t causing harm or a major mess, she is okay playing in our main living area, with her toys, or not.

Appropriate Toys

Children (including babies) are more likely to engage with a toy if it is just the right level of challenge for them. Too easy, and they are bored. Too difficult, and they get frustrated. Different children have different thresholds for challenges as well. If we want our children to engage in play on their own, we have to set up an inviting and challenging environment for them. If you aren’t sure where to start, The Montessori Guide offers month by month activities, up to 21 months (soon to be 24 months!). Additionally, rotating the shelves (a few toys at a time, as needed) helps to keep their environment interesting. If your child is really struggling to play on their own, consider starting with open-ended toys (such as magnets or blocks) or toys with movement (such as a car tracker), that engage almost all ages and types of children.

“Together Time”

I find D is much more open to playing on her own when she’s already had some quality time with me. This was especially true during her more clingy phases. Each day I try to set up some time for her and I to engage in play together (when I’m showing her a new work or we are prepping food together) and some time for her to play alone when I’m trying to get something done (or just nursing s!). Even with S, I apply this kind of balance: I spend a lot of time holding and snuggling him, but other times I let him lie down and gaze at his mobile or look around on his tummy. Even diaper changes and potty breaks can count as quality one-on-one time if we are focusing our attention on our child.

Make Play a Habit

This may seem obvious, but sometimes we forget or get too busy to make play a part of the daily routine. Play doesn’t have to be with Montessori toys in a Montessori environment; it can also be exploring nature or playing with cardboard boxes. The important thing is that we allow children to have time to just be themselves and explore their own environment each day. Toddlers, especially, thrive on figuring things out for themselves, so we don’t need to “play for them”. Even if you’re sitting with your child playing, avoid fixing or correcting their play. We want them to feel like their play or work matters, which will in turn make them more excited to play on their own. If your child is only in the habit of playing with you, start small by just moving a few feet, or only leave for a minute, and gradually increase as they get more comfortable playing on their own.

Limit Over-Stimulation

It may seem counter-intuitive, but often the more a child interacts with a screen or electronic toys, the more “bored” they are. When children, even toddlers, get used to the sensory overload that TV shows and loud, blinking toys provide, they can develop a shorter attention span in general. This then translates to less interest and ability to concentrate on more active and independent types of play. This isn’t always the case, but it can be. In our family, we do not make screen time a part of our day. But you have to do what works for your family, and sometimes that includes screens. :)

With all this being said, it’s helpful to remember that babies, toddlers, and children of all ages go through periods of wanting to be more or less independent. When D was around 18 months old, she went through a major separation anxiety phase, and was not interested in playing alone. I continued to encourage her to play on her own but didn’t force it. I still let her know when I needed to separate myself to finish a chore and I let her choose to follow and watch me or play by herself. For a while, she just followed me. Over the course of a month or so, she gradually began to enjoy her independent play time again. Like all aspects of raising children, phases come and go.

Montessori-Inspired Materials at 24 Months

How are we 2 days away from D turning 2 years old?! It seems like just yesterday she was the same size as baby S. Though it makes me sad to see her grow up, I am also so in awe of the little person she is becoming. She is stubborn but sweet, confident but cautious, and focused but oh-so-silly. She has really shone this past month in her new role as big sister. Though she has her moments of feeling jealous or impatient, she clearly adores her baby brother and helping care for him.

Now that we are starting to settle back into a (new) routine with two children, D has been showing a renewed interest in her shelf work. While some of these works are traditional Montessori materials, others I would classify more as Montessori-inspired. :) As per usual, these materials are catering to the types of things D has shown an interest in lately, such as counting, sorting, and (always) open/close. I also try to balance materaisl that I know she can master (color sorting) with challenging ones (geoboard). Here are links and a short description for each material on her shelf right now:

Peg Number Boards - D has taken an interest in counting, mostly “one two three” but has also started differentiating between one and two objects. She can more easily work through the abstract concept of numbers with these concrete pegs and boards. As Maria Montessori said, “What the hand does the mind remembers”. Though this set comes with 10 boards, we are starting with just the first three.

Animal Pattern Blocks - Melissa and Doug always has fun wooden Montessori-ish toys, and this is no exception. I love that these boards come in a pack of ten to keep busy toddlers entertained. As these are fairly simple, I have been putting two boards out at a time, with the matching shapes in a basket for D to match and create patterns with.

Shell Sorting - I love this little sorting tray and have found lots of uses to help D sort by color, shape, and category. As we have been spending a lot of time at the beach, she’s enjoying matching and sorting the types of shells this week.

Bird Color Sorting - Another sorting work, because D, like many toddlers, loves the transferring aspect. As she sorts the birds by color and moves them to their corresponding bowls, she tells me they are “taking naps”. ;) There are so many uses for these little birds, and the set comes with both small and large birds in five different colors. We started with two colors and now sort three or four at a time.

Brown Bear Felt Animals and Felt Board - This felt board has been a big hit at our house, and even more so now with felt animals that go with one of her favorite books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear. She likes to have me read the book aloud as she finds the animals and puts them on the board one at at time, to match the story.

Magna-Tiles - These are a great open-ended activity, and what toddler doesn’t like magnets? This one is still pretty tricky for D to actually construct with, but it’s a fun one for us to work on together to build towers or just stack magnet shapes together. This has been a good activity for teaching cause and effect as well.

Wooden Geoboard - Geoboards are one of those great materials that grows with children and can be fun for years. For D, just stretching the rubber bands to fit on the board is a challenge, but she is very persistent in wanting to do this work. She does ask for my help, and I try to start each one and let her finish. For older toddlers, there are pattern cards to create pictures on the geoboard!

Hide and Seek Activity Board - This has been one of D’s favorites for many months, and though she’s a pro at matching the object to the corresponding door, she still enjoys doing this one on repeat. That opening/closing action just never gets old. :) It has also been fun to see how she engages more with it as her language grows.

Knitted Ball in Drawer - This is from a former Monti Kids subscription box, but she’s rediscovered this one and shown an interest in it again. Getting the knit ball in the hole is still a challenge for her, but once I get it started for her, she loves to push the ball through, open the drawer, close the drawer, and repeat. It fulfills a toddler’s need for repetition and maximum effort, while helping them work through sequences. PS. Use code REALLIFE for $30 off your first box!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori from Birth

A frequent question I hear is “When can I start Montessori at home?” The answer is that Montessori can be implemented anytime, as early as birth! It is never too early or too late to incorporate Montessori principles at home. Though the environment and materials are an important component of Montessori, there is much more to the philosophy than beautiful toys. Now that we are lucky enough to be back in the newborn phase with our 2-week-old baby boy, I thought I’d write a bit about what “Montessori from Birth” looks like for us.

A beautiful book I read during my Montessori training was called Understanding the Human Being, and it describes the first 6-8 weeks as the “Symbiotic Life”, or “life together”. It is a time when the newborn and mother are co-dependent, each requiring something the other gives. The newborn requires the mother’s nourishment and by breastfeeding, helps the mother’s uterus contract and body heal. Additionally, the bond formed between mother (or primary caregiver) and baby in the time spent together in the first weeks ensures a securely attached child and mutual love for each other. From this secure attachment, the baby learns to fully trust their environment and mother/primary caregiver, knowing they will be taken care of, loved, and are safe to explore independently when ready. It helps me to think about this Symbiotic Life period as it gives meaning to the wonderful, but exhausting, time with our newborn. The attachment we form sets him on the right path forward towards becoming his own capable little being, and for now I can just soak up the sweet and valuable time we have together.

Equally important to the love we show our baby is the respect we hold for them. A key component to Montessori philosophy is respect for the child, and this includes the way in which we interact and talk to children, as early as birth. Rather than try to quiet or distract a baby, we acknowledge their needs and feelings.. For me, respect means slowing down and taking the time (when possible with two littles) to nurse in a quiet spot, and giving Baby S affection and attention while he gets his nourishment. It also means talking to him about what I’m going to do before/as I do it. For example I might say “It looks like you have a wet diaper. Let’s go get a fresh one on.” and then when he gets upset during a diaper change, “I know it feels cold when I take this diaper off. I’m just wiping your bottom and now we are putting a clean diaper and clothes back on. Now you are dry and warm - that feels better, doesn’t it?” I don’t narrate every part of our day, but I try to talk to him when we are doing something together, like starting to nurse, change, or when he’s alert and looking at me. Janet Lansbury’s book Elevating Childcare elaborates on ways to speak respectfully to babies, and is a great book about respecting babies and toddlers in general.

While in these first few months Baby S spends a lot of his time on or with me nursing and sleeping, I also make sure he has plenty of time for natural movement throughout the day. I set up his primary “movement area” in our living room, where he can rest or wiggle around on his topponcino and gaze around the room. From there he can see his family, our movements, and the environment that he will call home. When he lies on his back here, he is completely unrestricted in his movements. He is free to stretch his arms and legs, suck on his fingers, and turn his head side to side. Other times I will carry him on his topponcino outside or into another room where we are spending time, so he can join us while still having that freedom of movement and ability to see what’s going on around him if he’s awake.

Though he is unswaddled and free to move in the day, we do swaddle him at night to help him sleep for slightly longer stretches. The swaddle is so useful for the first few months when babies’ startle reflexes are strong, often waking them up unintentionally. My favorite swaddle with Baby S is the Ollie swaddle, which is easy to put on/take off and keeps him safely tucked inside. He also spends time in the day in the K’tan baby carrier, when we take walks or I need two hands and he wants to be held close. For us, it’s just about finding that balance of cozy mama time, restful time, and uninhibited movement time.

As Baby S’ awake time increases, we have and will introduce a few traditional Montessori materials to encourage his concentration and capture his interest. For the first couple of months this includes mobiles, high contrast (black and white) images, mirrors, familiar faces, and the sights and sound in nature. Already he has begun to spend a few minutes each day gazing at his Munari mobile as it slowly spins with the air circulating. As babies can only see up to 12 inches in front of them, and only in black and white, this is the first mobile to encourage eye tracking, concentration, and visual development. It is beautiful to watch him watch the mobile. :)

Wooden gym and mobile from Monti Kids**

* If you are interested in Montessori materials for babies, my friend Bridget of Montessori in Motion and I launched The Montessori Guide this year, which includes month-by-month activities and links to materials to help you set up a Montessori environment for your child. You can read more about that here!

** If you are looking for a full Montessori subscription box for your baby, with materials delivered straight to your door, you can also check out Monti Kids! Use code REALLIFE for $30 off your first box.

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