By: Kirandeep Pabla
In Montessori education, a prepared environment is an environment tailored to a child’s needs. It meets their level of intelligence and abilities and satisfies their need for independence and meaningful self-directed work—play. The importance following the child means observing and understanding the child and respecting their interests and developmental level.
A prepared environment needs to be:
• safe and ready to be explored
• ordered and beautiful
• peaceful, harmonious, and inspiring
Creating an at Home Environment
Encourage independence and participation in practical life. Practical life activities are an essential part of Montessori education. Not only do they boost independence and self-confidence, this teaches children how to overcome obstacles and develop confidence in their abilities. They will begin to see themselves as a capable, competent and contributor to their environment.
Examples:
- Put toys on a low shelf so that they can reach them at any time. Consider using a floor bed/cot. It promotes freedom of movement.
- Create a self-care area, where the child can wash themselves, brush teeth, comb hair, etc.
- Put your child’s clothes in an easy-to-reach spot (dresser/wardrobe) where they can choose their own clothes.
- Create a cleaning area with a small broom, piece of cloth, and water so that they can tidy up after themselves
- Create a snack area to independently take a snack and fill a glass with water without asking you.
Environment
Creating a calm and distraction free environment has a huge impact on our mental and physical health helping children to concentrate on their activities. The space should be neat and perfectly organized. Everything is beautiful and has its own place, as all children have a natural sense of order helping them orient themselves in the world.
Examples:
- Assign a place for every toy. Children love order and predictability.
- De-clutter your child’s room whether it’s limiting the number of decorations, toys, or pieces of furniture.
- Toy rotation. Always display only a limited number of toys at a time and store the rest away.
- Limit the time spent in front of the screens.
- Spend more time in nature
- Display their art
- Use natural materials (wood, cotton, linen)
- Adding plants and helping to care for them
