If you’re looking for ways to create a Montessori playroom in your home, you’re in the right place. These 6 beautiful ideas will help you get started.
It’s no secret that kids learn through play. And in fact, the Montessori Method is predicated on this philosophy.
Whether you’re already a Montessori parent or you’re just looking for ways to create an educational play space for your kids, these tips are sure to spur some great inspiration.
From finding smart storage solutions to incorporating learning materials into different areas of the room, we’ve got you covered.
So get ready to watch your little one’s creativity and curiosity blossom!
This post is all about creating a Montessori playroom for your kids.
About the Montessori Method
Before we get into playrooms, I want to provide a little bit of background information for those who may not be familiar with Montessori spaces.
The Montessori Method is an educational approach that was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori.
The Montessori Method emphasizes a child-centered educational approach that allows children to learn at their own pace in a supportive and stimulating environment.
This educational approach has been used for over a century and is still popular today.
One of the key features of the Montessori Method is the use of educational materials and activities that are designed to engage the senses.
This hands-on approach to learning helps children to develop a love of learning, as well as important life skills such as concentration, coordination, and independence.
The Montessori Method is also characterized by mixed-age classrooms, where children of different ages learn alongside one another.
This social environment helps children to develop important social skills such as cooperation and empathy.
If you are looking for an educational approach that is individualized, hands-on, and socially interactive, the Montessori Method may be right for you.
What is a Montessori Playroom?
Montessori playrooms are designed to encourage independent play and exploration. They should be a completely safe space for your child to freely explore.
Think yes space!
The Montessori method is based on the philosophy that children learn best through self-directed, hands-on activities.
As a result, Montessori playrooms are typically filled with natural materials like wood and fabric.
There is usually a limited number of toys, and each one is carefully chosen to promote a specific skill or concept.
For example, a Montessori playroom might include a set of blocks for building, a set of nesting bowls for sorting, and a set of balls for rolling.
Toys are typically open-ended (meaning they can be played with in different ways) and the number of toys is limited so that each child has the opportunity to focus on one activity at a time.
[RELATED: The Yes Space: How To Create An Environment In Which Your Children Can Thrive]
Benefits of a Montessori Playroom
One of the key benefits of a Montessori playroom is the promotion of independent play.
Because children are free to move about and explore at their own pace, they learn to trust their own judgment and become more confident in their ability to problem-solve.
This type of environment also fosters creativity and imagination, as children are free to experiment with all the materials in the room.
A Montessori playroom also provides children with the opportunity to learn through hands-on exploration.
By touching, manipulating, and using the materials in the room, children are able to gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as math, science, and language.
This type of play-based learning is especially beneficial for younger children, who often learn best through experiences.
Overall, a Montessori playroom offers many benefits that can contribute to your child’s development and well-being.
6 Tips to Create a Montessori Playroom
1) Put all toys within your child’s reach
When you enter a true Montessori play space, one of the first things you’ll notice is that all of the toys are within your child’s reach.
This might not seem like a big deal, but it’s actually an essential part of the Montessori philosophy.
The idea is that young children should be able to choose their own activities, without adult assistance.
As they explore and play with the materials, they’ll learn new skills that increase your children’s independence and confidence in their abilities.
In addition to having all of the toys within reach, it’s also important that all of the furniture in the room is fit for a small child.
This includes items like a child-sized table and chairs, Montessori shelves, and artwork hung at a child’s eye level.
After all, this is their room and it’s important to set up the space in a way that allows them to play completely free from adult intervention.
2) Embrace natural materials and organized shelves
Montessori Philosophy stresses the importance of an organized playroom, hands-on learning, and using materials that are based in nature.
For this reason, Montessori playrooms typically include wooden toys, neutral colors, and plenty of natural light.
In addition, Montessori spaces are typically tidy and well-organized.
This helps to create a calm and orderly environment where your child can focus on their tasks instead of being distracted and overwhelmed by too many toys.
After all, an organized playroom is a happy playroom!
[RELATED: How To Build a Natural Playground In Your Own Backyard]
3) Use a limited number of age-appropriate toys
Too many toys in a playroom can be overwhelming for a child.
Kids really don’t need a bunch of toys like we typically buy for them.
By including a limited number of toys in your Montessori-style playroom, your child is more likely to focus on and engage with the toys that are available.
This can lead to deeper exploration and a greater understanding of the world around them.
To keep the toys interesting and relevant to your child’s interests, a toy rotation can be a big help.
By periodically introducing new toys, children have the opportunity to stay engaged and excited about their surroundings.
In addition, Montessori toys often incorporate bright colors and stimulating textures to help promote exploration and discovery.
4) Provide open-ended toys for your child
One of the most important aspects of a Montessori play area is that it contains a variety of open ended toys.
This means that the toys are not designed for a specific purpose, but can be used in a variety of ways.
For example, wooden blocks can be used to build towers, castles, or anything else that your child can imagine.
This allows your child to use their imagination and creativity, and to experiment with different ways of playing.
In addition to wooden blocks, other popular open-ended toys include toy animals, art supplies, and musical instruments.
When storing your different toys, it’s important that each toy has a dedicated space on the shelf.
This makes it easy for your child to find what they are looking for and also to put their toys away independently.
Where to buy open-ended toys
If you’re looking for open-ended toys for kids, your best bet is to shop at a specialty toy store or an online retailer that specializes in educational toys.
While you may pay a bit more for these types of toys, they’re generally well-made and will last longer than mass-produced items.
Plus, your child will likely get more use out of them since they can be used in endless ways. Here are a few of our favorite places to buy open-ended toys for kids:
Lovevery: Lovevery is a subscription-based service that takes the guesswork out of which toys to provide for your child. They do this for you by delivering high-quality, developmentally appropriate toys, activities, and playthings based on the Montessori method right to your doorstep.
Fat Brain Toys: This online store has always been one of my favorite places to shop. They specialize in educational toys for children of all ages. You’ll find a great selection of open-ended toys here, as well as plenty of other fun learning products.
Bannor Toys: Bannor Toys is an online store providing a wide selection of Montessori-focused toys for your playroom. All of the Montessori toys from Bannor Toys are designed with quality, safety, and sustainability in mind.
Amazon: Sometimes as parents, we just need convenience. If you’re looking for Montessori toys quickly and at affordable prices, there are plenty of great options to be found on Amazon.
5) Ensure there is plenty of open space to play
Any good Montessori environment should have plenty of open space for children to explore and play in.
A climbing structure like a pickler triangle is a great way to encourage active play.
Pikler triangles are also versatile and can be used for a variety of activities, from climbing and crawling to building an imaginative fort.
Additionally, a climbing structure can help to develop gross motor skills such as balance and coordination.
As your child grows, they will be able to use the pickler triangle in new ways, making it a valuable addition to any Montessori environment.
[RELATED: 6 Life-Changing Toys For Climbing Toddlers That Will Save Your Sanity]
6) Make sure the play space is clean and cozy
It is important for your Montessori play space to be clean, organized, and cozy.
A cozy space will make your child feel comfortable and encourage them to spend more time exploring and playing.
An organized space will help your child to focus on the task at hand.
And a clean space will promote a safe and healthy environment.
Here are some tips for creating a cozy, organized, and clean play space:
- Create a cozy reading corner with pillows, a soft blanket, and plenty of books. For reading corner ideas, check out my post with many adorable reading nook ideas for kids.
- Set up a balance board or other gross motor skills equipment in an open area.
- Add a child-sized (but comfortable for adults too) Nugget Play Couch to your space.
- Make sure there is a quiet space where your child can go to wind down or take a break.
- Keep the play space clean by regularly tidying up, dusting, and vacuuming.
- Organize toys and materials so they are easy to find and put away.
