Parents often inquire as to how they can bring Montessori Methodology into their home. Montessorians strive to assist the child in being as independent as possible. To achieve independence, step-by-step instructions are important. Think of a new routine or skill you would like your child to learn (listed below by age groups are some suggestions). Now actually perform the routine yourself. How many steps did the routine take? Can you write each step of the routine? Be as specific as possible. Now determine how many of those steps your child could handle. Perhaps you only want to introduce the first two steps and wait until those have been mastered before adding additional steps. Once you start the new routine stick to the steps you wrote down and follow them consistently every time you perform the routine. Soon your child will perform the routine with no assistance from you! Once the child masters the steps of the routine they may adjust the steps to meet their own needs. It is best not to interfere unless the adjustments make the outcome unacceptable.

Routines you can reinforce at home:

• Infants: Regular rest time and bed time.
• Toddlers: Setting the table for meals, removing their dishes from the meal table, washing dishes.
• 3-6 age child: Putting away shoes and coat upon returning home, sorting laundry, folding clean laundry.
• Lower elementary: Bedtime routine (bath, brush teeth, story), established school work routine.
• Upper elementary/middle school: Putting away gear from extra-curricular events such as music lessons, sports.

Copyright 2005, Ingrid Weland