How to Prepare a Montessori Toddler Environment at Home

Transferring Water Activity (Photo from Barefoot in Suburbia)

Toddler programs in Montessori schools generally start at 15-18 months and run to age 2½ or 3. You can use many of the same Montessori principles and ideas to create a Montessori-friendly toddler environment at home.

The Montessori phrase “Help me to do it by myself” is probably the most important concept to keep in mind for your toddler. Create an environment that will help your toddler gain as much independence as possible.

There are many things you can do to make your home a Montessori-friendly toddler environment. You’ll want to have low shelves with activities in baskets and on trays, toddler-size table and chair, and real child-size tools and utensils. Practical life activities for care of self, care of the environment, control of movement, and grace and courtesy will be essential.

Ideas for Creating a Montessori-Friendly Toddler Environment

I have a number of posts on infants and toddlers.

Montessori for Everyone has Essentials of a Toddler Classroom  and other infant and toddler posts.

The International Montessori Index has resources for Montessori Birth to Three.

Daily Montessori has information for Montessori 12-24 Months and Montessori 24-36 Months.

Lovely Examples of Montessori-Friendly Toddler Home Environments

Montessori Toddler Closet (Photo from Vibrant Wanderings)

Vibrant Wanderings (photo:  The Montessori Toddler’s Closet) UPDATE on April 10, 2012: Personal Care in a Montessori Home

Sew Liberated

A Montessori Home

Kitchen Corner (Photo from Peaceful Parenting)

Peaceful Parenting

Things to Remember

Our Montessori Chronicles

Montessori-Style Bed (Photo from To the Lesson!)

To the Lesson! (Montessori bed post) and toddler posts

A Secure Base

Carrots are Orange

Our Natural Journey

Sparkling Bay

Lesson Plans to Pots and Pans

The Montessori Child at Home (ideas for both toddlers and older preschoolers)

Some Helpful Resources

I have a post on Top 10 Montessori Principles for Natural Learning.

Montessori for Infants and Toddlers has blog posts with lots of Montessori ideas.

Montessori Mom has Toddler Scope and Sequence & Lesson Ideas – Practical Life Skills.

“What’s unique about a Montessori program for toddlers?” is a 1-minute video from Cottage Montessori.

It’s best to provide lots of manipulatives for learning, but don’t worry about doing many formal Montessori lessons with your child. Follow your child’s interests and let him or her choose activities.

Here’s a reassuring post from Confessions of a Montessori Mom Blog: Can You Give a Toddler a Lesson?

Montessori MOMents has a post on ages 0-6 with some information and links appropriate for toddlers.

Montessori Learning Materials and Activities for Toddlers

For older toddlers, see the links in my posts How to Set Up a Montessori Space at Home and  How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom.

Montessori Mom has a post on Toddler Scope and Sequence & Lesson Ideas-Practical Life Skills.

Fruit Cards (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Montessori Print Shop has inexpensive toddler materials (materials for language development).

Montessori for Everyone has inexpensive toddler materials (materials for language development along with a comprehensive checklist).

Our Montessori Home has many posts on infant and toddler activities.

1+1+1=1 has Tot School ideas and links to other parents who often use Montessori-inspired activity trays and manipulatives.

Lily Tots has many Montessori-inspired toddler activities.

Putting Straws in a Container (Photo from Growing a Godly Girl)

Growing a Godly Girl has many Tot School posts and tells how she adapted activities according to her daughter’s readiness and interest level. (Photo: Tot School – 15 Months)

Little Red Farm has lots of Montessori-inspired toddler activities.

Cherry Blossom Adventures has many Montessori-inspired activities during “tot school.”

Barefoot in Suburbia has lots of toddler posts (photo at top of this post: Toddler Tuesday).

Montessori Mama has many posts with toddler activities.

The Adventures of Bear has a Montessori-friendly toddler environment and lots of activities for toddlers.

Kingdom of the Pink Princesses tells how they’ve adapted their home and homeschool to include a toddler.

Lacing Activity Basket (Photo from Jada Roo Can Do)

Jada Roo Can Do has many toddler activity trays (photo: Thrift Store Finds).

My Child-Centered Life has many Montessori-inspired toddler activities.

There are so many activities you can do with a toddler. But you don’t need to feel overwhelmed. Just follow your toddler’ needs and interests and encourage your toddler’s independence. And have fun!

Linked with The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions,  Link & Learn, Pinterest Tuesday and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.