It’s easy to set up your child to be independent at home. Choose a few low drawers for your child’s things.  Perhaps you could clear out half of the sideboard for toys and art supplies? With a bit of planning, your child can be as self-directed at home as they are at school. This is achieved by creating a Montessori-like atmosphere at home that increases your child’s independence and reduces the number of things they have to rely upon you for.

At Montessori School of Duluth, everything is at child height and accessible, allowing children to get it themselves, use it themselves — and here’s something to make sure to do at home, too — clean it up themselves.

When they’re given the opportunity to be responsible, children often rise to the occasion and are proud to be able to choose something to do, use it, and put it away without any adult help.