Do you want to provide a Montessori education for your child, but don’t think you can afford it? Think again! There are plenty of ways to do Montessori on a tight budget. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best ways to provide a Montessori education for your child without spending a fortune. Stay tuned for more tips!
Shop Secondhand
One of the best ways to do Montessori on a budget is to purchase used Montessori materials. You can often find great deals on Montessori materials at garage sales, thrift stores, and even online such as Facebook Market Place and Ebay. You can also check with your local Montessori school to see if they have any materials they are looking to get rid of.
DIY
Another great way to save money on Montessori materials is to make them yourself! There are plenty of DIY Montessori materials tutorials online that can help you make your own Montessori materials for a fraction of the cost.
The Dollar Tree is a great place to find items for Montessori activities. $1 Muffin trays can be used for sorting activities, you can get locks and keys, and just about any random item you need. I made themed sensory bins with items from the Dollar Tree.
One of the most important things to remember about the Montessori method is that it is all about fostering a sense of independence and exploration. You don’t actually need any toys to promote a Montessori environment. Just because a toy is wooden or beige does not make it Montessori. Montessori toys encourage free play and creativity so no batteries! When you keep this in mind Montessori is actually very inexpensive. The method was originally developed to help low-income families so the Montessori concept has been completely warped. There is no need to pay $50 for a wooden puzzle.
Free
My grandparents pulled the pots and pans out of the cabinets and let me hit them with spoons when I was a baby. That is a great example of a free Montessori activity. It gives the child freedom to make sounds and discover cause and effect by hitting the pots and hearing the sound. Montessori can be done with items you already have in your house. I also carried around a potato like a baby doll as a toddler. That would technically be a Montessori toy. It is natural without electronic functions which encouraged me to use my imagination to pretend it was a baby. To be fair, I was also a weird kid who collected dead ladybugs and locust shells, which is Montessori as well haha!
One of the most important things to remember about the Montessori method is that it is all about fostering a sense of independence and exploration. You don’t actually need any toys to promote a Montessori environment. Just because a toy is wooden or beige does not make it Montessori. Montessori toys encourage free play and creativity so no batteries! When you keep this in mind Montessori is actually very inexpensive. The method was originally developed to help low-income families so the Montessori concept has been completely warped. There is no need to pay $50 for a wooden puzzle. My grandparents pulled the pots and pans out of the cabinets and let me hit them with spoons when I was a baby. That is a great example of a free Montessori activity. It gives the child freedom to make sounds and discover cause and effect by hitting the pots and hearing the sound. Montessori can be done with items you already have in your house. I also carried around a potato like a baby doll as a toddler. That would technically be a Montessori toy. It is natural without electronic functions which encouraged me to use my imagination to pretend it was a baby. To be fair, I was also a weird kid who collected dead ladybugs and locust shells, which is Montessori as well haha!
Montessori Environment
In addition to Montessori materials, another important aspect of Montessori education is the Montessori environment. You can create a Montessori environment in your own home without spending a lot of money. One way to do this is to declutter your home and create open spaces for your child to explore. You can also use natural materials to create a Montessori environment in your home. For example, you can use branches from your backyard to create a Montessori garden or use old fabric to make Montessori mobiles.
Finally, one of the best ways to save money on a Montessori education is to take advantage of free Montessori resources. There are a number of great Montessori websites, blogs, and forums that offer free Montessori materials, tips, and advice. You can also find a number of free Montessori printables online. By taking advantage of these free resources, you can provide a Montessori education for your child without spending a lot of money.
So there you have it! These are just a few of the best ways to do Montessori on a budget. By following these tips, you can provide a Montessori education for your child without breaking the bank. Stay tuned for more Montessori tips and tricks!
