Montessori 101: Our Tot Journey
My first exposure to Montessori was when my little boy was in my womb. I remember searching through Pinterest and Googling how to set up an infant baby room. When I came across the Infant Montessori bedrooms with the mattress on the floor, mirror on the wall at the child’s level, and the beauty of simple toys… I knew this was the path I wanted to take.
It made sense to look at the child’s environment from the perspective of the child. I started to dream about what my baby’s bedroom would look like from the perspective of his eyes, instead of the conventional baby room that is set up primarily for the adult’s comfort. It was a completely new approach and a new mindset for me. I was excited, but was also brand new to the Montessori mindset. It took me a long time to actually understand this new approach to parenting and to be honest I am still learning. So I decided to dive in head first and learn along the way.
Check out my Pinterest board for some beautiful photos of Montessori infant/toddler bedrooms.
My Montessori journey actually started one day last year when I decided to start a blog to share our story. With that decision I was led to several other Facebook groups that helped me learn more about how to Montessori in our home. These groups are wonderful resources as well as a great place to start gathering information and support.
– Christian Montessori Network
– Montessori Bloggers Network (for bloggers)
I also learned a lot from looking at photos on Pinterest and visiting Montessori bloggers for ideas on setting up our toddler environment. Here is a list of my favorite Montessori Pinterest boards to join, several of my favorite bloggers, and the best Montessori books to start reading.
Pinterest:
– Montessori Inspired Activities and Ideas
– Montessori Ideas, Activities, Schooling
– Montessori Inspired Activities for Home
– Christian Montessori Network Blog
My Favorite Montessori Bloggers:
Here is 100 plus of the BEST Montessori Bloggers compiled in a beautiful format by our very own Jennifer!
Best Montessori 101 Books:
– Teach Me to do it Myself
– The Montessori Method
– Montessori Today
– The Absorbent Mind
– Parents Handbook by Maria Montessori
– How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way (Here’s a review )
– Child of the World
– Montessori from the Start – Please join our book club here!
Toddler Scope and Sequence:
I know it can feel overwhelming to start the Montessori journey with an infant or toddler for the first time. I found these scope and sequence outlines to be helpful in preparing “works” for my tot.
– Toddler Scope and Sequence Lesson Ideas – Practical
– Montessori Scope and Sequence
Unit Studies for a Toddler:
There are several ways to approach teaching Montessori principles to a toddler and I have found that my favorite lessons are unit studies as well as practical life lessons. Here is a list of several unit studies that Little Bee and I have enjoyed on my blog, Mama’s Happy Hive.
– Unit Study on the Color Yellow
– Unit Study on Transportation Vehicles
Montessori Manuals:
I am excited to start an “official” Montessori homeschool program with Little Bee once he turns three years old. We have decided to use the NAMC 3-6 year old manuals found here, supplemented with extension studies from the R & D Research Manuals found here.
Montessori Materials:
So far I have crafted most of my Montessori materials, however, I have also purchased authentic Montessori materials second-hand. I love the Facebook group called, Montessori Material for Sale. I have found materials such as sandpaper letters, knobbed cylinders, knobless cylinders, movable alphabet, and more in great condition for half the price new. I will also list a couple other sites to buy beautiful authentic Montessori materials at a great price.
– Amazon is an awesome spot to find Montessori materials – Check out Marie’s helpful list here.
If you are brand new to Montessori, I hope this post will give you several resources for how to begin your journey. I believe understanding Montessori principles starts in the mind of the educated parent and the next step is preparing the environment for your child. Jennifer at Study at Home Mama blog, has a tangible 30 Day Montessori Challenge that is very helpful for starting the Montessori journey.
The Montessori lifestyle is a beautiful journey, worth your time and efforts on the behalf of your child. Thanks for joining Little Bee and I!
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