Birthdays are meant to be special, yet often the true meaning gets lost in all the presents and festivities. You’ll find a meaningful and educational tradition for children ages 3-6 in many Montessori schools – the Montessori birthday celebration, a celebration of life ceremony. This is a lovely addition to a child’s birthday at home or in the classroom.
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Montessori Birthday Celebration – A Celebration of Life Ceremony
I love that the Montessori birthday celebration gives a concrete way for young children to understand the months of the year and the earth’s revolution around the sun each year. It also is a way for children to feel special and to connect with their place in the world.
Not every Montessori school celebrates birthdays with a celebration of life ceremony, sometimes called a Montessori birthday walk. The first two Montessori schools I taught at had mainly American Montessori Society (AMS) teachers, and neither school used the celebration of life ceremony.
My 3½-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, felt special with her 3rd birthday celebration at school. Her Montessori school has a parent bring photos and tell the story of the child’s life during the child’s celebration of life ceremony. And I can always tell when there’s a birthday at Zoey’s school. She’ll be singing to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”:
There are different variations of this song and of the Montessori birthday ceremony. See a number of variations in my “Free Celebration of Life Songs and Printables for a Montessori Birthday.” Choose whichever variation would have the most meaning or work best for your own child or school.
Montessori Celebration of Life in the Classroom
Celebration of Life – A Montessori Birthday (photo 1) (a lovely description of the birthday celebration for her twin daughters at their Montessori school) by Angie Lile at Vivid Life (no longer available)
Montessori Birthdays (photo 2) from Vibrant Wanderings (blog is no longer available)
Birthday Time (photo 3) from To the Lesson!
Birthday Celebration (photo 4) from Montessori Album
Celebrating Birthdays, the Montessori Way (includes number rod and sandpaper numeral) by Heike Larson at LePort Schools
The Earth Goes Around the Sun (includes number rod and sandpaper numeral) from Hapa LAB
Celebration of Life from Foothills Montessori School
A Montessori Birthday Is Love and Genius from DIY Corporate Mom
Montessori Celebration of Life from NAMC Montessori Teacher Training Blog
You’ll find many examples of Montessori birthday celebrations on YouTube.
Montessori Celebration of Life at Home
Montessori Birthday Celebration (photo 1) from Mama’s Happy Hive
Pup’s Celebration of Life (photo 2) from Discovery Moments (no longer available)
The Earth Goes Around the Sun (photo 3) by Jessie Beerman of The Education of Ours at Mommy Moments
A Homemade Montessori Birthday Celebration from Our Montessori Story
Extra Resources
New Years from Montessori Mom gives the idea of using the Montessori birthday celebration for a New Year’s activity as well
The book How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin has information on a Montessori birthday celebration.
Here’s a wonderful book to add to a child’s birthday celebration: On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
Free Child’s Timeline Outline from Montessori Print Shop
See my “Free Celebration of Life Songs and Printables for a Montessori Birthday” for more resources.
I have a post with more ideas for a simple DIY Montessori birthday at home.
You can even have a simple Montessori birthday celebration for a 1 year old!
Hands-on months and seasons activities are a perfect follow-up to a Montessori celebration of life!
Has your child experienced a Montessori birthday celebration?
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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sheila says
Happy Birthday’s all around!!!!
Deb says
Thanks, Sheila! This is always one of my favorite times of the year with birthday celebrations and the arrival of spring, too!
Discovering Montessori says
Happy birthday to Will and Christina!! Today is also my birthday. Love this post. Thank you for sharing some really nice ideas.
Deb says
Thanks SO MUCH! And happy birthday to you! 🙂
patty says
Just to let you know I just posted a raffle to help Japan.
http://olivesandpickles.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-quake-appeal.html
If you are interested on helping you are more than welcome to participate.
thank you : )
Patty
Deb says
Thanks, Patty! What a lovely thing to do! 🙂
Kirsty says
Happy Birthday! It’s my birthday in a couple of days too! hehe
Deb says
Great time to have a birthday! Happy Birthday to you, Kirsty! 🙂
Susana of Montessori Candy says
Thanks for posting this. Montessori birthday celebrations are truly beautiful and we love celebrating them in our home. The children love to hear about the different milestones in their life, and I feel it is a very unique and special way to honor the child 🙂
Gracias!
-Susana of Montessori Candy
Deb says
Thanks for your comment, Susana! It’s wonderful that you have Montessori birthday celebrations at home! I totally agree that they’re a fabulous way to honor the child! 🙂
5ennie says
Happy Birthday to Will and Christina!!
Here from HHH.
Deb says
Thanks so much, 5ennie! Will and Christina both had wonderful birthdays with special birthday trips this year! 🙂
linda rose says
learnt a lot about montessori birthday celebrations.