The prepared environment is the term used in Montessori to describe how each Montessori space is designed to enrich the lives of the people who use the space. SO you may ask, “How do you create a Montessori home?” In a Montessori school, each classroom is specifically designed to appeal to the age range of children in that class (a three year age span in Montessori). In a Montessori home, the family room and kitchen will offer opportunity for all…
Are you thinking of adding a painting easel in your home? Or are you frustrated with the amount of space the easel takes up in your house? Many of the easels designed for children are bright, garish colors, plastic, and oversized. Who wants that as a centerpiece in you family space? Today we want to share an alternative to an art easel in your home. Children love to paint and draw, and giving them a large surface to do so…
I have been speaking with many clients lately about sensorial clutter. We see the piles of papers or the over crowding of furniture, but we often miss the clash of sounds, different lighting, and over crowding of shelves and wall space. Young children don’t miss these things. They unconsciously absorb it. They are not able to filter out clutter like adults can. We will all be taking a break from work in the next few days. I challenge you to…
In my Family Friendly Interiors work, I often encounter families who want to create a playroom just for the children. When I hear this, I strongly urge them to reconsider. A room designated just for toys often goes unused. Children like to be where the action is. They like to be around their parents, even if they are playing parallel to their parents, they like to be near. Humans are social animals and we enjoy company. Rather than a playroom,…
It is wonderful to see how many families are embracing Montessori philosophy and bringing it into there homes. There are many blogs by moms about how this is working for them, some Montessori trained, some self-educated, and all with a unique point-of-view to share. One key element to consider when bringing Montessori home is the prepared environment. The environment is its own “teacher/guide” for children. It is through living in a prepared environment that children learn. Each environment they experience becomes…