Montessori Inspired Holiday Ideas

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate, whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, or any other special occasion your family observes. While this time of year can bring excitement, it can also be a time of stress and chaos, especially if you have young children. If you're looking for ways to make the holidays more enjoyable for everyone, consider incorporating some Montessori principles into your celebrations.

What is Montessori?

Montessori is an educational approach that emphasizes independence, self-directed learning, and hands-on activities. It's based on the belief that children learn best by doing, and have a natural curiosity and desire to learn.

How can you incorporate Montessori principles into your holiday celebrations?

The key is to focus on traditions and rituals that are meaningful to your family. These shared experiences build strong relationships and create lasting childhood memories. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Involve your children in the preparations. No matter what you celebrate, let them help decorate, prepare special foods, wrap presents, or set the table. Build traditions with your children as they will instil lifelong memories and beautiful connections.

• Create a holiday-themed basket. Fill a basket with items related to your celebration. This could include pinecones and cinnamon sticks for Christmas, dreidels and gelt for Hanukkah, or colourful rangoli powder for Diwali. Or create baskets for other cultures, this will open discussion and exploration into other beliefs, cultures and holidays.

• Set up a holiday-themed activity table. This could include activities like colouring, puzzles, making decorations, or learning about the story behind your celebration.
• Read holiday-themed books together. Explore books that reflect your family's traditions and introduce children to the cultural significance of your celebrations. Explore books and stories of other cultures.
• Bring nature into your celebrations. Go on a nature walk and collect items for a nature-inspired centrepiece or decorations. This is a great way to connect with the natural world and your child.

• Make homemade gifts or cards. This is a thoughtful way to show your loved ones how much you care, and it's also a great opportunity for your children to practice their fine motor skills and express their creativity.
• Sing holiday songs together. Get into the holiday spirit and share songs related to your celebration a great way for your child to experience different musical styles and traditions. Perhaps they could learn to play a holiday song.
• Focus on experiences rather than gifts. Spend time together as a family, go on outings, share stories, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

More tips for creating a Montessori-inspired holiday:

• Keep it simple - Focus on a few activities your child will enjoy.
• Be patient - although it is a time for celebrations it can also be a time of overwhelm, for parents and children.
• Have fun! Enjoy this special time with your family