HOW TO SET UP A MONTESSORI INSPIRED SELF CARE STATION FOR YOUR TODDLER

I am thrilled to have a guest post about a Montessori Inspired Self Care Station on Mommy Moment today. I took my Casa (age 3-6) training in Montessori and when my daughters were little we had a very Montessori-inspired home. There are some basic things that any parent can do to create a Montessori environment in their home and today we are talking about the self-care station.

How to Set Up a Montessori Inspired Self Care Station for your Toddler

written for MommyMoment.ca by Kaitlin Krull

As your baby grows into a toddler, independence will become an important part of both of your everyday lives. Everything you teach your child now will help her to grow into a self-sufficient and confident adult later in life. Self-care is essential to your child’s newfound independence, and there are many ways to teach her about caring for her body and possessions. At Modernize, Here is what you need to create this fantastic resource for your little one.

ESSENTIALS

When setting up your toddler’s Montessori inspired self care station, choose a place that makes sense logistically for you and your family. Most Montessori parents set up a low table in their children’s bedroom, but a shared bathroom works just as well if you’re struggling for space. The most important part about the station is the equipment included, because you will be teaching your child to complete these tasks herself and she will need to know where to find them. Stock your station with a water basin or sink, mirror, washcloth, towel, toothbrush, and hair brush. If you want to follow strict Montessori practice, keep each of these items separated and store them all under the tabletop.

EXTRAS

While the basic Montessori setup is perfect for toddler self-care, you might want to add a few extras to your station to give your child additional opportunities to develop more self-care skills. Child-friendly hand soap, toothpaste, hair accessories, and jewelry will not go amiss in your toddler’s station. If your little one is potty training, a toileting station equipped with potty, toilet paper, and spare clothes complements the other aspects of self-care perfectly.

ACCESSIBILITY

After you’ve determined what you will keep in your toddler’s self-care station, turn your attention to accessibility. The point of Montessori-inspired self-care is to encourage independence, so make it something that your kids can use all on their own. Stock your station with a stool if necessary, safe and non-toxic supplies, and any other items you think might help your toddler. When you introduce your child to the station, model the practices you wish her to practice and encourage her to repeat them herself. You’ll be surprised at just how much time your toddler will devote to self-care when given the chance. Don’t forget to teach your child how to clean up her station regularly, and double check her tidying up work and restock any supplies when necessary.

Would you like a Montessori Inspired Self Care Station for your toddler?

You may also like this post on 5 THINGS YOU WON’T SEE IN A PRIMARY MONTESSORI CLASSROOM:

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