A Montessori Approach to Clean-Up Time by Carine Robin
W
e know that Montessori is all about order. We know that children have a sense of order. The Montessori classroom is an orderly environment where every activity has its place. Montessori teachers encourage children to use one activity at a time and to tidy up each activity after they have finished with it. As parents, we expect that the Montessori philosophy will help our children to be tidy! In my experience as a teacher, it’s easier for children to tidy up in the classroom. The Montessori school is designed for children and leads naturally to order. There are clear rules and expectations, and children are more willing to clean up after themselves in the classroom. What if I tell you that, despite being a Montessori teacher, my children’s bedrooms are not orderly? They don’t tidy up spontaneously. There are several reasons for that, and I have learned over the years what helps children to tidy up and to stay organized. Three reasons why children don’t tidy up?
1.
You might have heard of the sense of order? This is one of the ‘’sensitive periods’ observed by Maria Montessori. It is now described more as a tendency that all human beings must make sense of their environment. It’s not so much about “tidying up after themselves” or keeping their bedroom clean” than about routine, rhythm, and knowing what comes next.
“…everything in his environment should be kept in its accustomed place; and that the actions of the day should be carried out in their accustomed routine.”
2.
I did a big work on myself to understand my hoarding tendencies and to learn to be more organized. So, if like 50 percent of the parents I work with, you tend to be “messy and disorganized,” you cannot expect that your children will be able to tidy up spontaneously. Children need role models. The more you clean and tidy in front of them, the more they will see it as being part of the routine.
They will express that sense of order about what matters for them. For example: sorting their little people; being obsessed about their collection of pebbles; sleeping with their special teddy is all about that sense of order! “It seems to him, at this stage, a particularly vital matter that everything in his environment should be kept in its accustomed place; and that the actions of the day should be carried out in their accustomed routine.” – E.M. Standing, Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work, p. 123 Sense of order doesn’t equal being tidy!
Are you a tidy person? I’m very honest on this blog and on my social media about the fact that I am not a naturally tidy person. I used to have lots of clutter in my life.
3.
They don’t see you cleaning and tidying! I have said it already but even the tidiest parent tends to “clean” when the children are not around. Have you ever sent your co-parent to the park with the children, to allow you to do a good clean-up session?
TOMORROW'S CHILD © § MAY 2022 § WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG
Do you tend to do everything when they nap? Or do you tend to tidy up all their toys at the end of the day when they are in bed? Stop now and do as much as you can in front of them. Montessori is about teaching life skills and independence, so taking care of the environment is something that I would advise you to focus on. Teach your child to fold the laundry, to do the dishes, empty the dishwasher, setting up the table and cleaning the windows! How to help children to tidy up?
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Work on yourself: if you are not naturally tidy, start with you! Do a big decluttering session, try to understand why it’s hard for you to be orderly. Seek support if needed. Your children will thank you!
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Equally, if you are a very tidy person, lower
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