What is a Montessori toddler room?

The Montessori method is a form of education developed in the 20th century by Dr. Maria Montessori, whose main objective is to give children exploratory freedom, making them able to interact with everything in their environment in a safe way, which ends up stimulating their growth, development, and independence.

To achieve these goals, one of the most important parts of the Montessori method consists in creating a safe environment, which should start in the bedroom. Unlike ordinary baby rooms, the Montessori room has simple storage, a very low bed, and furniture at the child’s height, which allows the child to be constantly stimulated and to feel free to play, concentrate or sleep, without needing constant help from an adult to reach objects, for example.

Besides the bedroom and the home, the Montessori method can also be applied at school, and there are already some Montessori schools that seek to stimulate children to learn according to the concepts developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and other collaborators.

Unique steps to have a Montessori room

Although the idea of a bedroom inspired by the Montessori method is something quite simple, sometimes it is difficult to find inspiration and creativity. So, to make the task of designing and building such a room easier, there are a few basics:

Do not use a cot

Cots are usually very high and therefore the child is dependent on the parents to be able to reach the bed itself. Therefore, the ideal is for the bed to be at a low level, preferably leaning against the floor so that if the child falls out of bed during the night, they do not run the risk of hurting themselves.

A good option for making a Montessori bed is to place the mattress directly on the floor or use a futon or tatami, for example. So the child can get out of bed when he wakes up, explore the room, and play. It is also always recommended to use pillows to limit the space and prevent accidental falls.

Scale down the bedroom

The decoration of the room can be done in a similar way, as usual, however, it is best that the furniture is suitable for children, that is, that it has a smaller size to facilitate its access. Besides, normal-sized furniture may create anxiety in the child, who feels very small and vulnerable, even inside his room.

So, some tips are to use small and low chairs and tables, hang art and mirrors at the child’s eye level and use shelves with only 2 or 3 levels of height. To store toys, the best options are small boxes or chests without lids.

Make a simple decoration

Strong, bright colours are great for encouraging your child to play, however, in the bedroom, it is important to opt for more neutral colours and pastel shades that promote peace and relaxation. Some shades to paint the room include baby blue, light pink, or beige, for example. Little by little, elements with more colour and patterns can be added to the room as the child grows and shows curiosity for more vivid colours.

Besides the colours of the room, you should also avoid the accumulation of objects, opting for a cleaner look. One option to free up more space is to use furniture and objects with more than one function. For example, the toy box can have a lid and work as a stool, which can be stored under the table to save space.

Use wood whenever possible

Wood is a material that helps retain heat and is pleasant to the touch, so it should be used whenever possible, in furniture and objects, but also on the floor so that the child can walk barefoot without suffering major temperature changes.

Ensure baby’s safety

Since the child will have all the freedom to explore the room, safety is a key point when thinking about the room. Thus, some important points to ensure safety are:

• Cover the room’s sockets with child-proof plugs;
• Avoid using furniture with corners, preferring those with rounded corners or protecting the existing corners;
• Use rugs on the floor to prevent the baby from injuring himself if he falls;
• Place fixed bars on the wall so that the places are safe for the baby to hold on to while trying to walk;

It is also recommended not to use objects that may break, such as glass or porcelain, as they may leave sharp pieces on the floor. Thus, although mirrors are important for the child to get to know himself, they should always be kept out of reach, at least until the child is old enough to recognize the danger of breaking the mirror.

Main benefits of the Montessori method

The benefits of this method are mainly related to the development of the child, helping him/her to:

1. Identify their own limits;
2. Identify own capacities and abilities;
3. Develop order, coordination, and concentration;
4. Stimulate independence and creativity.

In addition, the Montessori room is a very safe space that allows the child to create a greater sense of confidence and calm, avoiding feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem, common to growth.