Montessori Bedroom for A Toddler – What Are the Essentials

Parents of toddlers who are about to enlist in preschool or kindergarten may be familiar with the Montessori Method as they research schools for their little ones. The Montessori Method is a style of education that was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician. Montessori focuses on individually-paced learning and independence. Students are encouraged to question things and make connections.

The advantage of the Montessori Method is that it doesn’t have to be limited to just the classroom. The program encourages parents to bring this approach into their home as well, and the best place to start is your child’s bedroom.

How to Set Up a Montessori Bedroom

Regardless of whether your child attends a Montessori school, the themes of this learning style could prove helpful at home. To embrace this method, though, you have to start by setting up the surrounding environment for success. 

Switch to a Toddler Bed

One of the Montessori core concepts is to foster independence, making this the ideal opportunity to update your child’s bed. 

With a crib, a child is dependent upon his or her parents to access their sleep space. However, a toddler bed on the floor allows kids to get in and out of bed on their own. Your toddler also has more control over when they fall asleep and wake up.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should transition your child from a crib to a floor bed when they are 35 inches tall. At this height, they are typically able to start climbing out of cribs, which could lead to serious injury.

Child-Size Furniture

In addition to picking out a bed their size, you should fill the room with smaller-scale furniture that’s easily accessible for toddlers. This should encourage your child to interact more with their surroundings since they won’t feel so intimidated, which could happen with bigger furniture pieces. Examples might include a kid-size table and chairs, a lowered closet rail for hanging clothes, and easy-to-reach cubbies to place accessories such as socks or hats. 

Some parents even create mini kitchens where their toddlers can access fresh water for a drink or to brush their teeth. 

The goal is to allow for as much independence as possible. This is an excellent opportunity for parents to try and see the world from their child’s point of view and get creative. 

Be Selective With Toys

Rather than filling the bedroom with playtime objects, place a curated selection of toys and activities in your child’s room – in particular, ones that coincide with the developmental needs of their age group. Offering a limited selection helps the child decide what to do, as too many toys could be overstimulating and leave them unsure. 

You should place the items easily within reach and switch them out for new enrichment activities periodically. This way, your child doesn’t become bored and will not need help when they want to entertain themselves. Creating themed stations throughout the room or adding a Swedish ladder gym is a great way to organize your child’s toys and activities as well.

Another helpful tip is to keep electronic entertainment out of the bedroom. Screen time may be popular and can serve educational purposes, but it should be limited. Furthermore, looking at electronic screens too close to bedtime could cause your child to have trouble sleeping and disrupt their body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. 

Decorate With Your Child in Mind

When it comes to decorating your little one’s bedroom, you should plan accordingly to their worldview and what they would like. Pick out artwork that you feel your child would enjoy and place it at a level where they can see and appreciate it. Your child’s room should promote calmness and relaxation, so avoid having too much clutter around and select wall paints that are white or neutral tones.