Thanks so much to the wonderful teachers who contributed these ideas, which gives you some simple, engaging ideas for connecting with your child during times away from school or anytime they are with you! You may wish to read the ideas for the groups just younger and older than your child as well, as many of the suggestions can easily be adapted.

Simone Davies’ The Montessori Notebook website is recommended for resources on how to parent infants and children at home according to Montessori principles. Here are some of Ms. Davies’ recommendations: 
It’s quite easy to incorporate any of these activities at home with a little preparation. Think about which items the child will need and have them at the ready, only put out a small amount (e.g. just a small amount of butter for spreading in a small dish), and be there to step in to help only if needed.

• Helping with the laundry – bringing things to the laundry basket, putting clothes in and out of the washing machine, adding soap, sorting washing
• Getting dressed and undressed – provide just as much help as necessary and provide clothing that is easy for the child to learn to master
• Help with breakfast – have a container with a scoop in it for them to serve their own cereal; add a small jug of milk on the breakfast table; setting the table
• Help with lunch – have a small number of items where the child can serve themselves, for example, some slices of bread or rice crackers with various toppings or spread; the child may wish to help wash up
• Help with dinner – preparing vegetables (look for implements suitable for small hands) and salad; setting the table; washing up
• Getting ready for visitors – making the beds, getting a towel, tidying away toys
• Baking –helping to measure, pour and stir

Tips: 

• Remember, these activities are meant to be fun. Stop before you feel overwhelmed. And keep practicing!
• Only put out as much as you want to clean up – be it water, dish soap, a travel size bottle of shampoo
• Have cleaning supplies at the ready – a hand mitt on the table to wipe up spills, a child sized broom and mop for larger mess
• When they are under 2 years old, activities will have one or two steps. As they gain mastery, add more steps, ex: put on an apron, wipe up at the end, take wet cloths to the laundry etc.
• Focus on the process not the result – when your child helps you it will take longer, it may not look perfect at the end, but your child is learning to master these skills and you will have a life-long helper at home
• Look for ways your child can help – when younger, keep it simple (an 18-month-old can help carry the t-shirt while you carry the trousers to the laundry basket and can rinse some salad leaves for dinner); as they get to 2+ years, they can help out with even more
• Look for baskets, trays and simple caddies to arrange items for them to help
• Does it look attractive? Sometimes it’s fun to add items that are the same color, keep items looking fresh, and don’t overcrowd the tray or basket so they look appealing
• Keep it budget friendly – You may be able to create these activities with things you have around the home. You can look out for a few nice things to add to your collection for birthdays, well-meaning grandparents and special occasions.
• Benefits: Not only do young kids take pleasure from these Montessori activities, these activities are also great for calming busy kids.
  • Your child learns to take responsibility in the home
  • Collaboration creates connection
  • These skills require repetition to gain mastery which is great for building concentration
  • Your child likes to feel a part of the family and able to contribute
  • These activities involve sequences and you can build up the number of steps in the activity as their concentration grows
  • Involve a lot of movement – great for refining fine motor and gross motor skills, e.g., pouring water without spilling, using a sponge
  • There are many language opportunities around these activities
  • Learning new skills, building independence and feeling of self-reliance
  • The teachers offered these additional ideas: 

The toddlers can always play outside with balls, bikes, etc., help with folding laundry, help bake or prepare food (banana slicing, egg peeling, and cheese slicing are some favorites) or wash dishes with a small scrub brush and dish soap, (the toddler helper stands are great for the kitchen!). Just looking out the windows and talking about what you see is also enjoyable for a toddler. Reading books, practicing with a lock and key, opening and closing different containers, or sorting rocks by size/color are also some easy to do activities at home!