Jul 05 , 2023

Are you Montessori enough?

In the Montessori Facebook community, I've observed a recurring topic. Many of you mentioned "not being 100% Montessori" or began a post with "I know it's not Montessori but..."

I'm here to dispel Montessori myths and misconceptions. I'm here to help you cut through the clutter and simplify your Montessori experience. So let's be open and brutally honest about this.



Montessori is not about toys, materials, or the ideal minimalist home. Montessori education is not just for schools or homeschoolers.

Montessori is not about teaching children as young as three years old to count, read, and write.

Montessori is not an all or nothing approach.

Montessori does not advocate having your infant sleep independently from the start.

Montessori isn't just for AMI-trained instructors.

Montessori education is not just for the wealthy.

Montessori does not imply allowing your child to do anything he wants whenever he wants.

Montessori is a philosophy. Maria Montessori stated that she just observed the youngsters and discovered the natural laws of growth that were within each child.

"We discovered that education is not something that the teacher does, but rather that it is a natural process that develops spontaneously in the human being," she stated.

I understand you may have learned about Montessori through blogs, Instagram, or Pinterest.

I'm guessing you first bought a couple wooden toys and were disappointed by your child's lack of enthusiasm.

Or you feel strange around your youngster, who enjoys his duplos and that large battery-operated toy that drives you insane.

Or maybe you don't have the time, energy, or money to make major adjustments and believe you can't do Montessori.

I'm here to inform you that you absolutely can. I know this since I've been doing it for 11 years. Without Pinterest, Instagram, and support groups.

I began with what I had: our own bookshelf, a few items from my kitchen cupboard in a little basket for my baby to explore, and a few repurposed plastic vegetable trays to house my toddler's toys. I began to observe and remove toys one by one. I stopped saying "good girl" and started smiling instead. I slowed down our walk and stopped for hours with my daughter to look at the ants.

I stopped giving her puree and instead offered her a spoon and a tiny cup...

I only read Tim Seldin's "How to Raise an Amazing Child" at first. That is still my fave novel. And, yes, I trained as a Montessori teacher because I loved Montessori education so much that I decided to make it my full-time work!  

I had a second child, and now that I had a little more money, I purchased a few additional wooden toys. I didn't bother with a cot this time; we started with a floor bed. I was able to complete two of the Montessori mobiles, and a buddy created a puzzle ball for us.

I had a few additional Montessori items to teach my children aged 2 to 5 at home, but not the entire set, just what I thought they needed. I made several three-part cards and maths tools myself.

But the Montessori ideas were at the heart of our lives. We want to encourage our children's independence. We want to help them pursue their personal goals. We assist them in developing self-discipline.

A Montessori life is one in which you follow your child's lead and study about his development in order to understand how he learns and matures.

For me, it's all about "the child," not "the material" or "the house."

According to Maria Montessori

 "The greatest honour and deepest gratitude you can pay me is to turn your attention away from me and towards the child."

It's all about keeping an eye on your child.

It is all about encouraging independence through everyday activities.

It's about involving your child in your daily activities so that he or she can connect with you, feel important in your family, and develop self-discipline and self-confidence.