Homes are the most important environment for child growth and development. However, not all furniture found in modern homes is child-friendly. Some children may only experience a fun and safe space in childcare facilities, such as Montessori and daycare centers.
To solve this problem, you can upgrade your home by having Montessori-inspired furniture. This type of kids furniture can help your young ones develop independence, creativity, and overall growth.
Here are the key aspects to know why this type of furniture is a must-have for families.
1. Create a Prepared Environment
Montessori-inspired furniture focuses on creating a prepared environment where kids can explore and learn. So, if most of your furniture is more inclined to adult use, how will your young ones build independence and allow them to move freely and explore?
To help you out, here’s a list of common Montessori-inspired furniture you should have at home:
Kids Bed
Montessori-inspired beds are ideal furniture for children, unlike traditional cribs and toddlers. This type of bed lies on the floor and has a low height. That way, your child can climb and reach it easily.
You can ensure that Montessori-inspired beds are safer and more comfortable. There’s no need to install additional railings if you’re worried your child may fall. The absence of railings also gives more space for your active toddler to move.
Montessori Desk
A Montessori desk is a child-sized desk designed for better accessibility when writing, drawing, reading, and even playing. Some Montessori desks have built-in drawers where your child can store and organize their stuff.
Kids Kitchen Stool Helper
A kids’ kitchen stool helper, also known as a learning tower or kitchen helper tower, allows young children to participate safely in kitchen activities alongside adults. The stool has stable platforms and handles to ensure safety and security.
Cube Chair
As the name implies, a cube chair is a versatile and multifunctional piece of furniture shaped like a cube. Your child can use cube chairs to have interactive seating equipment ideal in different settings such as homes, schools, and daycare centers. The compact size, stability, and adaptability of cube chairs make them popular for children up to six years of age.
Kids Light Table
Another type of kids’ table has an LED-equipped light source underneath. The kids’ light table provides a brighter and evenly lit workspace for your kids to create, engage, and explore. You can use a kids’ light table to help develop the sensory senses of your child and facilitate an educational playtime.
Montessori Box with Bins
Another thing a child should also learn in their early stage is to organize and sort their stuff. The Montessori box with bins has multiple compartments to store various materials, toys, or educational resources used in Montessori-inspired learning environments.
Kids Shelves
Similar to boxes with bins, kids’ shelves also encourage children to have a better storage solution for their belongings, toys, books, and other items. Kids’ shelves come in various sizes, styles, and configurations to accommodate different ages, preferences, and room sizes.
You can place the shelf in your child’s playroom, bedroom, or other areas where they often spend most of their time.
Weaning Chair
Using a weaning chair for kids will help them develop independence, self-feeding, and a sense of belonging during mealtime. The weaning chair provides a safe and comfortable seating option. That way, your child can enjoy their dining experience.
2. Encourage Freedom of Movement
The Montessori philosophy emphasizes granting children the freedom of movement. That’s why you will notice that the design of Montessori-inspired furniture facilitates ample space for children to move and explore their environment. With these aspects, your child can learn the following:
Active engagement
In the Montessori approach, the educational materials and furniture surrounding a child can stimulate active participation. Children acquire essential motor skills through hands-on interaction with objects.
Coordination
By incorporating Montessori-inspired furniture in your child’s space, they can cultivate coordination skills and enhance their hand-eye coordination. A well-functioning hand-eye coordination is crucial in future learning endeavors, such as numbers, letters, shapes, and other educational concepts.
Independence
Montessori-inspired furniture also embraces a multi-sensory approach that empowers children to explore their surroundings independently. This immersive exploration enables them to forge connections, develop a sense of autonomy, and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
3. Embrace Simplicity and Natural Materials
You will notice that all Montessori-inspired furniture has minimalist designs and is made from natural materials. Natural wood is the main component used to craft child-friendly furniture. Wood craftsmanship in kids’ furniture requires the absence of sharp edges. Hence, most have rounded edges to prevent young ones from getting hurt.
The simplicity of the furniture also helps children better concentrate and focus. Because if not, kids will give more attention to the piece of furniture surrounding them instead of the activities you want them to participate in.
4. Child-Centered Design
The construction of Montessori-inspired furniture aims to cater to early childhood development. Montessori furniture also promotes better accessibility for children, unlike when you use typical furniture designed for adults.
Allowing your child to use furniture they can easily access empowers them to engage comfortably in learning activities without your regular assistance.
5. Foster Practical Life Skills
Another great philosophy that Montessori education teaches children is to learn various practical life skills early. Some of these skills include organizing, dressing, and grooming. And the best part, parents can lessen their chores when it comes to childcare since their child can already do basic stuff.
For example, the kids’ shelves will teach children how to organize and sort their stuff. At the same time, child-sized wardrobes can encourage children to choose their desired clothing and find a way to wear them.
Once your child gets used to all these skills and chores, they can feel a sense of accomplishment and foster independence.
6. Cultivate Open-Ended Play and Creativity
Children have a wide imagination. It would be best to surround them with things to encourage open-ended activities and boost creativity. Aside from common Montessori-inspired furniture, you can invest in art easels, building blocks, art supplies, and puzzles.
All these materials can engage children in different learning activities that will enhance their problem-solving skills, self-expression, and critical thinking.
7. Ideal For Longevity and Sustainability
Using Montessori-inspired furniture is a good investment for long-term usage, adaptive to children’s changing needs and developmental stages. You can opt for furniture items with convertible features that you can adjust when your child grows. These include toddler beds, adjustable shelves, and modular storage shelves.
Later on, when your child grows older, all the Montessori-inspired furniture you have invested for them won’t be wasted. Because of the durability of the natural wood used to build this type of furniture, they can last longer. You can also use them for other younger kids in the family, donate them to Montessori and daycare centers, or give them to families with limited resources.
Create Child-Friendly Environment At Home With Montessori-Inspired Furniture
Parents can cultivate an atmosphere that empowers their children to explore, learn, and develop essential life skills by incorporating child-sized furniture with minimalistic features in their homes.
Above all, this type of furniture aligns closely with the core principles of Montessori education, which include a child’s independence, hands-on learning, and a lifelong love for discovery.
