Montessori children's room

Montessori in the nursery: Help me do it myself

Children bring a lot of joy into our lives, but they also present situations that make us think and doubt ourselves. Don't you often ask yourself: "Am I doing this right?", "How do I do this right?" and "Is there even a right way to do this?". We believe that there is no "right" way. Everyone does things differently in every situation and in their own way. And that is exactly what Montessori is all about.

What does Montessori mean?

The Italian doctor and educator Maria Montessori (1870-1952) developed the Montessori method of education. The guiding principle "Help me to do it myself" means that we provide our children with a framework for playing, living and learning. We support them in discovering their own skills and interests through their urge to explore and develop, and in learning through successes and failures.

3 reasons to introduce Montessori into your home

Montessori is an educational philosophy and practice developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori. It emphasises independence, independent learning and the individual development of the child. But what does Montessori offer your child?

Self-directed learning: Montessori promotes independent learning, allowing children to explore their individual interests and talents.
Concentration and independence: Montessori activities help children develop independence and concentration.
Freedom of movement: Montessori encourages children to be physically active and focuses on active learning.

How to integrate Montessori into your home

Encouraging your child to learn using Montessori methods at home is not complicated at all. With simple means, you can create an environment that supports your child's independence. We have collected a few ideas for you.

1. Self-determined choice of clothing

With a wardrobe at eye level, your children can learn to choose their own clothes. This could start with a small coat rack in the hallway where your child can hang up their jacket after a walk. The advanced version is the Montessori wardrobe, from which your child can put together their own outfit. Our tip: don't overload the wardrobe, but equip the mini wardrobe with selected items of clothing for the current season. This way, your child won't be overwhelmed and you'll avoid any discussions about thick woollen socks in the middle of summer.

Tips for the Montessori wardrobe

2. Washbasin at child height

In addition to choosing clothes, brushing teeth, washing hands and combing hair are also part of the daily routine. Not exactly our little ones' favourite activities. But perhaps washing and styling themselves will become a little more popular than when Mummy or Daddy fiddle around with them. Many parents use a learning tower in the bathroom, which allows children to stand independently at the sink. But there are also other ideas that can help your kids become more independent.

Tips for the Montessori bathroom

3. Tidying up together

When everything has its place, even tidying up after playtime is fun. It also promotes your child's independence and sense of responsibility. This works best with storage space that children can access themselves. If you store toys in boxes, order stickers with symbols can be a great help.

More about storage & organisation

4. Exploring nature in the Montessori home

Montessori emphasises the importance of connecting with nature. Take your child outside, collect chestnuts, shells or leaves and observe animals. Independent discovery also promotes your child's individual development. Your child can dig in the sandpit or help you water and care for plants. If you don't have a garden, you can set up a mud kitchen even on the smallest balcony.

Mud kitchen Build it yourself

Ideen für die Wandgestaltung in der Kita

5. Imitate everyday life with role-playing games

Maria Montessori observed and encouraged active imitation of everyday life. She therefore focused on imaginative games and play materials that allow children to imitate everyday life. With role-playing games such as play shop or play kitchen, you can re-enact and process everyday situations with your children. Playful preparation, such as for a visit to the vet, also helps your child to become more independent.

IKEA hacks for the play shop

IKEA hacks for the play kitchen

6. Sensory activities

You don't play with your food! In Montessori education, that's not entirely true. Food can be examined at length. Touching different shapes and materials promotes your child's sensory skills. Sorting by colour or smelling different scents are also exciting activities for your child.

IKEA Hack: Playful learning with the Montessori sensory table

Creative ideas for your sensory table in the children's room
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7. Creating zones in the nursery

In a Montessori nursery, it is important to create zones. The play area should be recognisable and stand out from the quiet corner or sleeping area. You can achieve this very nicely by choosing the right wall colour. For a quiet area that is cosy and calm. In this area, every child can wind down from their exciting day, read or be read to.

Ideas for wall design

8. Simple food preparation

Washing fruit, making sandwiches or mixing baking ingredients: let your child help in the kitchen! This works best with a learning tower that gives your child access to the worktop. But be careful: never leave your child unattended in the learning tower.

IKEA Hacks Learning Tower

Montessori Waschmaschine mit Wäscheständer

9. Sorting laundry

Even toddlers can learn to put dirty laundry in the laundry basket through play. Many children also enjoy pairing up clean socks. If you feel like it, you can even build a washing machine and a clothes horse for role play.

Making a washing machine with washing drum for children

An IKEA hack for Montessori children's rooms
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Montessori DIY clothes horse for children

We show you how you can easily make a clothes horse for children. True to the Montessori motto "Help me to do it myself".
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10. Encourage art and creativity

Provide your child with materials to be creative, such as paper, paints, coloured pencils, clay or craft supplies. This will allow them to express their imagination and develop their artistic skills. A nice idea is a craft trolley in which various pens, paints and materials can be stored.

Tips for the craft trolley

More ideas for Montessori at home

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A useful way to help your child learn to walk
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KonMarie in the children's room: tidying up according to Marie Kondo

Tidiness, structure, organisation vs. children's room and playroom - is it even possible to combine the one with the other? We say YES!
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Crafting with salt dough for the shop and children's kitchen

Create baked goods with salt dough for the children's kitchen or shop.
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Learn the time

Playfully learn the time with a simple IKEA hack.
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Make your own kinetic sand - DIY recipe for creative play

Discover our recipe for do-it-yourself magic sand! With just 3 ingredients, you can create sensory fun for children in no time at all. Try it out now!
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