MONTESSORI HOME TOUR | How We Montessori At Home With a 2 Year Old DIY & Functional Montessori Home

[@MariaandMontessori]

Wanted to highlight again how important it is to involve the child in having a say in setting up their space! Stella chose the prints that decorate her room, the bedding, her rugs, the mirror in her entryway...small decisions, selecting from the choices I knew would work equally well. But this has given her such a sense of pride in her spaces and makes her so excited to not only spend time there, but also take care of them!

[@2012nursetobe]

When you say you've given her choices from options you knew would work well, how did you do this? Do you buy two items and return one? Show her them on the computer? Etc.?

[@MariaandMontessori]

When possible, we did this in person at the store! We'd get to the aisle, I'd explain what we're looking for ("we need to find hand towels for you") and narrate as I look through the options-"This one is too big for our space, and this one doesn't have the loop to hang it, ah but this pink one with circles or this green one with stripes are both a good size and we can hang them. Which one do you like better?" This way has worked well for her, so I've continued it, and she's gotten even better with time. There's been instances when we needed to bring items home to try, so I let her know ahead of time that we are picking 1 (or however many we need) and will need to return the others. We did this for her entryway rug-brought about 5 options home. She was set on keeping 2, so I had to show her that 2 cannot fit in her space. One covers the other. She chose her favorite one after that. We practiced this with her shoes-ordered several pairs, had her try them on, and then pick her favorites. In the case of this many choices, I found it helpful for her (and myself, honestly), to first ask "which one do you NOT want to keep"? This usually narrowed down our options very quickly! And then there were definitely moments I needed her to look at Amazon with me! We still limit her exposure to screens, but I couldn't find a good mirror for her entryway in person. So I opened the 2 options that were going to work, showed her the space we'd put it in, explained what it's for, used the "Try it in your space" AI function when we could, and then asked her to pick. Unlike me, she's VERY decisive and knows exactly what she wants!

[@2012nursetobe]

Makes perfect sense. We only just started taking our daughter into stores, so that option hadn't even occurred to me 😅

[@AngelaAcosta3000]

What a wonderful set up! Can you do an update video on the "other spaces"? Like where/how you store her materials and clothing, and your workspace - basically the spaces that facilitate the creation of a prepared environment.

[@MariaandMontessori]

Oh very interesting! I do have a material storage video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqitZqGJgrF7fsU) - that area hasn't changed. But there's definitely other areas that help create the prepared environment! Great idea, thank you!

[@SvetlanaSambueva]

Восхищение и вдохновение ❤

[@Prisclittle]

Thank you so much for opening your home to us! You have done a beautiful job!

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank you Priscilla! It's been such a long journey but I hope it can help give some ideas!

[@khaouladoulfikar4919]

I love this ❤ wish I had this space, I currently have a very small living room connected to our kitchen harder to come out with ideas but this def helped

[@illuminati_yang2324]

Day 2 of getting inspiration from you. Thanks!

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank YOU! 🥰

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

Aaahhh all that extra space to work with. You've done such a great job with open play stuff the shelf and everything. 😫Hopefully we'll have more room in our own home. I just keep swapping out the gross motor bulky items like the triangle or the trampoline or the tent etc based on what she needs or requests. Its what works for now😅👍🏼

[@MariaandMontessori]

I was always sad that we didn't furnish our home fully before she was born but it ended up being a great move 😅 I would totally just be swapping the larger activities back in our smaller home too!

[@sarahmorris9118]

This is amazing! Thank you for sharing all these great ideas!

[@MariaandMontessori]

Absolutely!!! Glad to share 🥰

[@amandawhite1715]

A lovely home :)

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank you 😊

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

The update on the wardrobe is useful. So far don't need to change the tension rod but soon will need to look at a new wardrobe set up with her growing. Love the bedroom vibes looks so cozy especially once you start doing quiet time. Huda recently helped choose artwork for above her cabinet its something she keeps looking at sometimes i think it makes a difference.

[@MariaandMontessori]

Yes! Stella has started spending so much more time in her room and telling me to go watch her on the camera instead 😅 She's constantly pointing out all the changes she made to it. I'm glad the tension rod is working well for you!! I was hopeful about the one in the entryway wardrobe...but I just took our winter jackets out and it started falling again 🤣 Time to permanently mount that one too!

[@alenkab2007]

Such a beautiful and inviting environment for your princess. I love her bedroom. Even it is not a big space, but looks so open and there is nothing overwhelming for the child. It's decorated with a good taste. I heard that it was not only your choice of design, wasn't it? 😍

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank you! Yes, she has helped pick a lot of aspects of her spaces-the flower prints in her room, the bedding and pillows, the rugs in her kitchen and entryway, the mirror in the entry....the more she contributes to the space, the prouder she is to take care of it and spend time there!

[@nikkivanluven209]

You deserve more subscribers and views! As always a wonderful video ❤️

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank you 🥺 It's such a game of luck on this end, but I'm always so happy to hear from those of you who do find my videos! ❤️

[@honeylavender22]

Beautiful home and use of space! Where are her purple shoes from shown on her little shoe storage shelf? I once had the same ones for my daughter but forget what brand they are, we loved them.

[@2012nursetobe]

I don't know if you'll be able to answer this, but if you had Stella in school how do you envision that your space would be different? Like would you still do your practical life shelf or the Montessori "playroom"? Or would you primarily just have the imagination and gross motor play areas? Hope my question makes sense!

[@MariaandMontessori]

Yeah definitely makes sense! She'll hopefully be in school come summertime so that's when the change will happen. Since we ARE planning on it being a Montessori school, I won't have the Montessori materials in her playroom anymore. Anything that allows for pretend play like our barn with latches or the house with lock & keys I'll keep out, or if there's something she's still insanely interested in and continues to want to explore it at home, I would still have them on her shelf (right now, I imagine she'd still want her planets matching work even if she spent all day at school exploring them!) But I imagine the "Montessori" shelf will house blocks, magnatiles, the creative stones...all the open-ended items once she's at school. The practical life shelf I will keep at first and see if it continues to get use at home after school or on weekends. She tends to pass the time there if I'm busy in the kitchen with something she can't help with or is just contemplating what to work on. If it's not getting much use, I'll repurpose it for something else. But most everything else-art, music, reading/gross motor area, self-care spaces-they'll remain the same!

[@tayliaready9635]

Maria this is wonderful, you have a beautiful space! I get so inspired by these types of videos but admittedly a little overwhelmed haha I feel our home has so much more that can be done to help our son but I struggle where to start and also feeling as though I need to buy so much stuff which can be expensive. Do you have any suggestions?

[@MariaandMontessori]

Hi! I think it's really important to remember that our home is serving the purpose of a home AND a school, pretty much, since Stella and I are home throughout the day. If your son attends a school or spends time with a nanny, it would be such a different set up! Many of the things we have were slowly acquired or repurposed-I have previous "tours" where our spaces are much less finished. And I purposely took the time to upload them because I too felt overwhelmed seeing the more complete tours like this. When I'm adding to our home, I look for what would be the most beneficial and necessary for our current home set up and Stella's development. As she started to walk, her interest in the kitchen grew, so we got the play kitchen turned functional kitchen. Over the summer she was interested in self dressing, so I put together a small entryway. These days she's really interested in exploring pretend play, so the pretend play area has been getting rearranged. But a lot of the big items are existing furniture pieces or items we were passed down. Her cube "Montessori" shelf was our old pantry setup in our apartment. The little open shelf with her books and board games was a book shelf for my Master's degree days. Her upstairs wardrobe used to be a shelf in her bedroom for all her newborn things like burpcloths, wipes, etc that we attached a closet rod to instead. So I am constantly shuffling furniture around to make it work for our current needs! So I would really recommend going through your day to see what area your son seems to have the most interest in right now that could use a bit more "just for him" space, and add just one or two things that will allow him that independence. That way you're not getting overwhelmed with a whole home revamp!

[@tayliaready9635]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Appreciate it. I’ll do that 😊

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

Gotta get a new stool now that is a bit smaller for the bathroom will have a look at the ones like these online. She's so cute in the soft gluffy robe. Huda right now tried a robe but it annoyed her she just wants pjs for now lol.

[@MariaandMontessori]

Our home has a collection of step stools 🤣 I started adding some to the Bathroom section of my storefront while I was shopping for them because there's just so many different one for different uses at this height. The robe was on and off for us last year. She chose it. Loved it. Then decided she hates it. But this year as it got colder, she seems to be a fan of anything fluffy and warm!

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

Yess i forgot to comment on the other video. Thank you for the idea of the polishing video hahaha the toothpaste on the mirror was a hint that i should try it and she loves it right now

[@MariaandMontessori]

I'm so glad! We still haven't been able to rotate that off the shelf. Everything that could be polished, is getting polished 😅

[@michelagavrilescu]

Hello, can i ask you where you find the solar sistem? Thank you

[@MariaandMontessori]

Hi! The solar system balls are from Amazon! amzn.to/3PbW6k8

[@kbsurveyor]

Is the bed frame from ikea? Love her room, it’s so cute!

[@MariaandMontessori]

Thank you! 🥰 It's one of the only rooms that is complete in the home and we love it so much 🥺 Her bed is from KidKraft! I got it on Amazon (amzn.to/3rplTfh) after searching for a long time for an option that's short and not on the floor. It uses the same mattress she had in her crib, which would've been what she used if we converted that to a toddler crib. But that's ended up working really well for us!

[@kbsurveyor]

@@MariaandMontessori I’ll have to look I’ve been wanting something to fit her crib mattress so this is perfect, thank you!!

[@liavxo4949]

I have a question, are these too many options of things to play with ? I dont know how much is too much

[@MariaandMontessori]

Great question! It really depends on the child! But the 8 cubed shelf has somehow become the maximum number of toys "allowed" in a Montessori home and that's really not true. Especially as the child grows and even more so if they stay at home, like my daughter does! 6-8 toys worked well while she was an infant. But as interest in open ended and pretend play developed, and skills with music and art emerged, it really became impossible to keep it at 8 and there isn't any particular reason why we should l! In reality, Montessori classroom materials aren't rotated like we do at home. Some seasonal items may be added in the science area, practical life, and art, but the majority of materials are available at all times. And that's for the work cycle, after which they'd have access to pretend play/ open ended play at school or at home! As we near preschool age, we focused on a similar set up-a more "homeschool" area with Montessori materials, practical life activities, art, and music, but also space for pretend play and open ended play. An important aspect of the prepared environment is predictability and a sense of order- this allows the child to know what they have, where it is, and focus on being creative with the items they have instead of looking for something in a constantly changing environment. For some, this may be too many options. We added them as her interests grew and developed, and this set up works incredibly well. Her independent play skills have really blossomed, as has her interest in pretend play and open ended play. All that to say, there's not one right answer! We followed our daughter's lead and the main Montessori principles, and that has worked well for us 🥰

[@liavxo4949]

@@MariaandMontessori thank you so much for your detailed response i really appreciate you taking the time to reply ! What inclined you to get a toddler bed as opposed to the traditional montessori floor bed ?

[@MariaandMontessori]

There's not truly a Montessori bed 😅 Any bed the child can get in and out of comfortably and independently is a Montessori bed. The toddler bed we got is super short and she can sit on it independently and comfortably just like her weaning table. It also allowed us to keep using our toddler mattress, which I know is the right firmness for her. Any set up that puts a mattress directly on the floor needs extra maintenance due to risk of mold- that wasn't a route I was willing to explore!

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

This is inspiration truly. Even if we can't do the same within our space it is a good reminder the way you point out how each area is prepared to allow independence and be her own space that she can easily work with that is based on what she needs at the moment and that it does take time to develop gradually.

[@MariaandMontessori]

Always thankful for your feedback! 🥰 It took me a while to decide to share our space because I know not everything would be exactly applicable but I've also always found so much inspiration to seeing how other people change their spaces even if their home is nothing like ours! I'm glad to see that's the takeaway here 🙌 🥰

[@kshum6604]

Wow. Big house. So much stuff dedicated to child. Sigh. In this inflationary economy, I just don't know how feasible it is to allocate so much to essentially creating a day care at home.

[@MariaandMontessori]

Our house is considered on the small side where we are and I unexpectedly became a stay at home mom, so we were down half of our income. Much of what we used had double purpose (like the play kitchen also being a functional kitchen) or repurposed (her play shelf used to be an extra pantry shelf, her entryway "chair" is a stepstool, her wardrobe was a shelf in her nursery). Until just recently when she started preschool, she spent most of the day, every day of her life, in this space. My job was to make it as accessible as I could using what we have.