Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
If you’ve been amazed by videos of toddlers tackling surprising tasks — like using developmentally appropriate utensils to cut their own strawberries or pouring themselves a glass of water from a pitcher — you’re not alone. Parents around the world are sharing videos of their at-home “Montessori” practices on social media, and several of the videos have gone viral. The hashtag #MontessoriToddler on TikTok had amassed more than 2.6 billion views as of February 2022.
It’s simple to understand why parents are clamoring to learn more about these practices, as increased independent activity on the part of the child can take one more thing off of a busy parent’s plate. But is the Montessori method as depicted on social media the key to helping your child gain more independence? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
What is the Montessori Method?
Developed at the turn of the 20th century by Dr. Maria Montessori, the Montessori Method is an educational model that is rooted in the biological development of the child. Dr. Montessori believed that children are far more capable than we often realize and that, when given the opportunity to take on tasks in developmentally appropriate ways, they can learn to do things independently that we would consider advanced.
The Montessori Method is most often employed in Montessori schools, which are found around the world. If you were to step into a Montessori classroom, you might find children as young as 3 years old cleaning their space, taking care of materials, and learning alongside peers. This is because the Montessori Method encourages children to take on many activities in the classroom independently, under supervision of classroom guides (the Montessori term for teacher). The tasks are all developmentally appropriate, and have underlying academic, social, and real-world applications.
Montessori Method at home
The Montessori Method isn’t just a classroom management system. Montessori educators encourage families to mirror classroom lessons at home. Children are encouraged to participate in cooking, cleaning, and other family care activities.
So, when you see parents on the internet sharing Montessori practices at home, there is a chance that what they’re showing is in alignment with the Montessori philosophy! Food preparation and self-serving are things that you would see in a Montessori environment! But there are some key differences to spot when determining what practices are actually part of the Montessori Method and which aren’t.
How to spot the dupes
There are several key factors that you can use to spot Montessori practices and their dupes. An easy one is the use of technology or battery-powered components. The materials Dr. Montessori developed for her classroom have not changed in the more than 100 years since she created her system. So anything that is battery-powered is not in alignment with Montessori practices.
Montessori materials all serve multiple purposes. For example, a sensory station might include vessels that teach about weight, pouring, texture, and volume. A wooden balance beam that is flagged as a Montessori material might not fit this same bill. While it’s great for teaching balance, it doesn’t serve a social or educational purpose intrinsically. Using utensils to cut food into bite-sized portions would be a Montessori activity, but grabbing a snack pack off of a shelf may not qualify.
The takeaway
It’s incredible to see so many children and families integrating the Montessori Method into their homes! Generally, American parents would be amazed to see all that their children could do with a little practice and developmentally appropriate materials. And while many of these viral videos fit the Montessori Method, some do not. Regardless, learning more about the Montessori Method could revolutionize what you and your child do together at home.
Maria Schuermann-Cole is headmistress of the Maria Montessori School.