Montessori Activities

 

 

Fun and Inspirational Montessori Activities You Can Do at Home

 

Montessori education was developed to encourage children to think for themselves. Children are provided every opportunity to engage in their world and are enticed into learning. In other words, learning is more like play time. Children learn without knowing they are doing far more than playing.

The system of Montessori education is denoted via:

•        Children in mixed age classrooms

•        Children provided blocks of time in working on projects (up to three hours)

•        Children have limited choices in their activities

•        Children are free to learn concepts through exploration of materials rather than ‘direct’ instruction

The Montessori model of education was introduced across America in 1911. These activities may be used to prepare a pre-schooler for school or for home schooling purposes. The techniques are devised to assist a child in exploring, measuring, and observing the world around them.

 

1. Counting Objects & Matching Numbers

 

 

 

 

A great way to introduce mathematics to a toddler. You can find objects in the house, socks, spoons, pasta etc. Make a game of it through using everyday objects that are familiar to the child.

 

2. Scrap Alphabet 

Build tactile skills by letting children glue fabric, paper, cut our cereal boxes, magazines, scraps etc to cardboard cut-outs of the alphabet. This activity builds up the muscles needed for writing/holding a pen or pencil.

 

3. Discovery Baskets

 

 

 

Discovery baskets or shopping bags can be filled with items that are similar or from different rooms of the household is a good way to keep a toddler’s mind active.

 

4. Miniature Weaving

 

Miniature weaving is an activity that will unleash an older child’s creativity and more than a little imagination. This can be a tricky one to do and is suitable for any older children in your household .

5. Nature Scavenger Hunt 

             

Put together a nature scavenger hunt for you kids and their friends. Glue what kids are looking for onto paper .

6. Observation Trays

This one is great if you happen to have a magnifying glass at home.  

 

Add a magnifying glass to observation trays. Allow your child to explore up close vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The magnifying glass gives children a real sense of observation and satisfies their notion toward exploration.

7. Clothes Pin Words

 

Clothes pin words sparks creativity and letter recognition in a small child’s mind. These are so easy to make and is a wonderful way to teach the connection between the alphabet and words.

 

 

 8. Play-Dough: Fine Motor Skills

 

 

Make it yourself playdough it is far cheaper and more fun to make than the store bought kind. The kids can even help make it! Younger children build and fine tune motor skills, while older children get a boost in their creativity.

9. Taste Bowls

 

This activity teaches a child about the four senses of taste. Have the child close his or her eyes or use a blindfold. Use a spoon to feed the different tastes to the child.

10. Number Clip Cards

 

 

These counting cards are a great way to teach numbers the Montessori way. The child simply ‘pins’ the correct number and learns number recognition at the same time, you can draw the pictures yourself ask your children what their favourite things are and draw them on .

11. Miniature Tree Table

 

 

A DIY Nature Tree Table to spark a child’s imagination and to teach about the outdoors. Children can use toys on hand or the items found in their nature scavenger hunt. Blutac if you have any is a great way to get the branches to stick down.

12. DIY Coin Box

 

 

The DIY coin box builds fine motor skills and teaches counting. Little hands are sure to stay busy. A sharpie pen can be used to mark the chips with numbers, or you can just use the coins you have around the house. 

13. Mystery Bag

 

 

A mystery bag should be filled with 4 or 5 familiar objects. The bag heightens a child’s sense of touch and tactile recognition. You can ask them questions, like what can you feel, is it soft or rough, spikey or smooth. This can really help to encourage and promote your child's speech and language development.

14. Colander and Pipe Cleaners

 

This is a fun and quite simple activity. If you happen to have pipe cleaners and a colander you can have your child thread pipe cleaners through the holes in a colander. The unique designs awaken your child’s creativity and imagination.

 

15. Pom-Poms into Cardboard Tube

 

 

Kids will love the disappearing and sudden reappearing of items again here you can use pom-poms, pasta, toy cars anything you can find that will fit through the hole in this activity.  Tape the tube to a nearby press, door or wall.

     16. Letter Recognition

 

 

 

If you have letter magnets at home , play with the letters with you child this will leads to familiarity with the alphabet. 

 17. Ping-Pong Ball Scoop

 

Teach hand-eye coordination with this DIY ping-pong ball scoop game

 

Teach hand-eye coordination with this DIY ping-pong ball scoop game