What is a Montessori-inspired homeschool room? For our family, it is focusing on the 4th principle of the Montessori pedagogy, The Prepared Environment, and combining it with our unschooling philosophy.
We believe that a homeschool space or room should promote natural and play-based learning. Our definition of unschooling is learning through life experiences and self-directed inquiry. Much of this is done through play in the earlier years. Maria Montessori believes play is the work of the child. Some might call this space our playroom, but that is exactly how we learn, play.
When the environment is designed with intention, a Montessori-inspired homeschool room should promote independence, curiosity, and freedom.
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What Is A Montessori-Inspired Homeschool Room?
Because we are eclectic unschoolers, our spaces and ideas evolve based on our children’s interests and needs. A Montessori inspired homeschool room:
- is minimalistic, with a limited number of toys and activities
- has everything displayed in reach of the child
- has open and empty spaces
- includes open-ended toys to promote engagement, creativity, and imaginative play
- has a set place or home for items to foster routine/order
- has variety (a toy rotation is great for this)
- is a safe and cozy space that your child will enjoy spending time in
Here is how we have applied these concepts to the design of our Montessori inspired homeschool room…
Minimalist Homeschool Room
Montessori-inspired spaces are often simple and minimal. So much so that you can find videos on YouTube of parents applying the Montessori philosophy to their entire home.
Having a limited number of toys and activities allows children the space to focus and engage deeply in their play. When there are too many options, children jump from one thing to another, rarely mastering anything.
A good rule of thumb would be to limit toys and activities to around 8-10, according to most Montessori guides. Since we have more than 8-10 toys, we like to do a toy rotation. A toy rotation is simply storing all toys/activities in one place and rotating what you have in the homeschool room regularly.
We do a toy rotation once a week and my two children love seeing toys they forgot they still had.
The Child’s Reach
The Montessori approach says that to foster independence and autonomy, toys and activities should be on display and within the child’s reach.
Low shelving is commonly seen in Montessori and Montessori-inspired spaces for this very reason. While we have these cubed shelves from IKEA, I would recommend lower open shelving for a more traditional look.
The cubes do help with organization for children when they return activities to their home/dedicated space.
Open Space for Movement
We are blessed to have a home that had a separate dining area which allowed us to use it as a homeschool space. If you have space, consider including items that promote gross motor skills.
It is important for children to have access to open spaces where they can be wild & free. This can be outdoors if your home does not accommodate such space or at a community park.
A few things we have in our space are the Nugget Comfort couch, a Pikler Triangle with a reversible ramp/slide, wobble board, and an indoor swing. A future project will be a rock climbing wall to utilize the empty space on a sidewall in the homeschool room.
Again, we are very privileged to have this extra space. A space like ours doesn’t have to be your Montessori-inspired play space, but I do encourage you to create a space somewhere in your home to encourage the development of gross motor skills.
Toys That are Open-Ended
Usually, when you see a Montessori-inspired room, you see wooden toys, natural materials, and plants. You won’t see toys that light up, battery-operated, or plastic. These types of toys usually entertain and distract children, rather than engage them.
Many parents who are inspired by the Montessori philosophy choose wooden toys because they are environmentally friendly, last longer, and are more aesthetically pleasing, to be honest.
However, plastic toys can be more budget-friendly and will work with this approach if chosen with intention. The less the toy does, the more your child will do.
I have a blog post all about where you can buy more sustainable and open-ended toys, as well as DIY ideas. You can read that blog post here.
Give Everything a Home
Children thrive on organization and routine. For this, I like to give everything a home or a place and keep them there.
Now I know you’re thinking, wait, I thought you mentioned toy rotations. Why yes, yes I did. Giving everything a home doesn’t mean the space won’t be rearranged periodically. The point is not to have everything just thrown everywhere.
Try to encourage children to put activities back in their home when finished. Depending on the age of your children, this may or may not be practical but you can still model this habit when you are helping pick up toys.
Our youngest is 18 months old and can usually put away her activity with little assistance and some reminding.
Variety of Activities
You want to mix it up. Bring in a variety of toys and activities for your children to choose from. I like to include at least one activity from 8 different categories to ensure different skills are being developed:
- literacy
- mathematics
- science and discovery
- sensory
- hand-eye coordination
- open-ended
- practical life and dramatic play
- messy and process art
A big part of the unschooling approach to homeschooling is observation. This is also a big part of the Montessori approach. When you notice your children spending more time in one area, you can keep that in mind for the next toy rotation. This also works in reverse with activities that might have been too advanced.
Safe and Cozy Environment
Our final stop on the tour, our cozy space. A homeschool room or playroom should be a safe and cozy environment that children want to be in.
Whether it’s a beanbag in the corner, a padded mat with a few blankets, or a reading nook like we have here; make sure your child’s space is safe and cozy.
Montessori-Inspired Homeschool Room Tour
While this space is not fully Montessori, it is inspired by the Montessori philosophy. I plan to continue redesigning this space to fit the needs of my littles. On my booklist is the well-known guide, The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simone Davies.
The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simone Davies
Turn your home into a Montessori home—and become a more mindful, attentive, and easygoing parent.
It’s time to change the way we see toddlers. Using the principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, Simone Davies shows how to turn life with a “terrible two” into a mutually rich and rewarding time of curiosity, learning, respect, and discovery.
OTHER BLOG POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY
HAVING FEWER TOYS IS BETTER FOR DEVELOPMENT
NATURAL AND OPEN-ENDED TOYS: THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP
25 SPRING READ ALOUD BOOKS (THE KIDS WILL LOVE)
WHAT IS UNSCHOOLING: THE CURRICULUM FREE CHILD
18 GREAT APPS FOR HOMESCHOOLING & UNSCHOOLING
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