Kids Gear

The Best Gear to Montessori Your Home and Create Independence for Your Child

"

The Montessori method of education has been around for almost 100 years without much change, and there’s a good reason why—it focuses on nurturing the inherent gifts of children and sees them as capable, sufficient, and curious beings.

Lately, though, the method has caught fire as educational researchers confirm more and more that children learn best through exploration and discovery, rather than traditional, adult-directed education. There are many more resources now on how to utilize the Montessori method in your home – from setting up a child-centered space to implementing the philosophy in your parenting to setting up and selecting toys that promote open-ended play.

If you are interested in implementing the Montessori philosophy in your home, there are a few things you might need to best promote independence with your tiniest tot. Here are a few tips to get you started. 

The Kitchen

The kitchen is a great place to create opportunities for independence and self-suffiency. The Montessori method encourages learning towers and stools to get kids on level where all the excitement is happening–when they feel involved and can see what’s going on, they’re better able to learn things like how food is prepped and made, and how work goes into making meals. They’re also able to help out, which little kids just love to do.

The Montessori method also encourages using “real” silverware, plates, bowls, and cups–typically glass. The idea behind this is that children learn to respect and care for the items in the manner in which they deserve; if they’re given unbreakables all the time, they won’t learn the natural consequence of throwing a real plate or cup. Using “real” vehicles for their food also respects them as a part of the family.

Keeping snack containers on lower shelves and reachable for small hands allows children to help themselves when it comes to food. And having tiny pitchers available with small glasses can let kids pour themselves a drink when thirst hits (keep a stack of cloth napkins closeby for easy cleanup–and teach them how to use them!).

Etsy
Convertible Learning Tower
Shop now
Target
Guidecraft Kitchen Helper
Shop now
Amazon
Kids Kitchen Step Stool With Safety Rail
Shop now
Amazon
Mini Milk Creamer Pitcher
Shop now
Amazon
Small Ceramic Pitcher
Shop now
Lakeshore
Help-Yourself Pitchers
Shop now
Amazon
Stainless Steel Cups
Shop now
Amazon
Stackable Juice Glasses
Shop now
Amazon
12-Piece Stainless Steel Kids Silverware Set
Shop now
Amazon
Stainless Steel Kids Utensils Set
Shop now
Amazon
Toddler Fork, Knife, and Spoon Set
Shop now
Amazon
Bamboo Kids Plates
Shop now
Amazon
Stainless Steel Bowls
Shop now
Amazon
Stainless Steel Plates
Shop now
Amazon
Durable Porcelain 6-Piece Dessert Plate Set
Shop now
Amazon
Glass Custard Cups
Shop now
Amazon
Stackable Storage Bins
Shop now
Amazon
Cellulose Sponge Cloths
Shop now
Amazon
Ring Spun Cotton Kitchen Towels
Shop now
Pottery Barn Kids
Melissa & Doug Dust, Sweep, Mop Set
Shop now
Amazon
Nylon Kitchen Baking Knife Set
Shop now
Amazon
Wooden Craft Table and Chairs Set
Shop now
Amazon
Round Storage Table and Chair Set
Shop now
Amazon
Kids Mid-Century Style Modern White Table Set
Shop now

The Bedroom/Play Areas

Montessori-inspired bedrooms and play areas typically involve a few key components. Floor beds are encouraged to get kids accustomed to climbing in and out of bed on their own. Child-height closets and clothes drawers let children choose their own clothes and get dressed on their own. Accessible bins and baskets corral everything from socks, stuffed animals, winter accessories, bathing suits, and pajamas. The idea here is ease for children and an emphasis on ability over things like cute, put-together outfits. If you want them to be independent, you have to let them be independent.

Play areas usually have low open-shelving for toys and activities and bookshelves with outward-facing books so kids can see what they are choosing. Fewer is better in these regards, as too much stuff will clutter and overwhelm young children, especially when it comes to cleaning up.

Target
Wood 2 Shelf Storage Cabinet
Shop now
Target
6-Cube Organizer Shelf
Shop now
Target
4-Cube Vertical Organizer Shelf
Shop now
IKEA
STUVA Wall shelf
Shop now
IKEA
BRANÄS Basket
Shop now
IKEA
NORDRANA Baskets
Shop now
Target
Aseana Folio Bin
Shop now
Target
Decorative Open Weave Basket
Shop now
Target
Aseana Small Milk Crate
Shop now
Amazon
Kid's Dress Up Clothing Garment Rack
Shop now
Amazon
Wood Household Shelves
Shop now
IKEA
FLISAT Book display
Shop now
Target
Easy-to-Reach Birch Wood Bookshelf
Shop now
IKEA
FLISAT Wall Shelf
Shop now
IKEA
KLACK Tray
Shop now
Target
Seagrass Woven Serving Tray
Shop now
Lakeshore
Look at Me! Balance Bar
Shop now
Amazon
Acrylic Mirror Sheet
Shop now

Bathrooms

Opportunities for independence should follow kids into the bathroom, where things like faucet and lightswitch extenders will help them manage small tasks on their own. Stools, of course, are typically needed everywhere too.

Toilet learning, in the Montessori method, starts early–where babies as young as 12-14 months begin learning how to sit on the toilet. Of course, this doesn’t mean they’ll be toilet-trained this early. It’s a longer process in the Montessori system than the typical three-day method that is popular in modern parenting. Children are gradually introduced to toileting and given space and practice to learn the method on their own as they grow older and abler. Beginning a routine where you pop your toddler on the potty seat at a young age to familiarize them with the seat can go a long way in being emotionally ready at the same time as their bodies are physically ready.

Serena & Lily
Teak Step Stool
Shop now
IKEA
BEKVÄM Step Stool
Shop now
Amazon
Faucet Extender
Shop now
Amazon
Light Switch Extender
Shop now
Amazon
Potty Training Toilet
Shop now
Amazon
Potty Chair
Shop now
Amazon
Potty Training Seat with Step Stool Ladder
Shop now
Amazon
Lilla Children's Green Potty
Shop now

Read More: Our Favorite Montessori-Inspired Toys for Infants and Toddlers