Is Beige Your Child’s Favorite Color?
No? Then the space you’ve worked so hard to create isn’t Montessori—no, it’s not even “Montessori inspired.”
As a former Montessori guide, I was initially excited to see Montessori going more mainstream. All children could benefit from an environment thoughtfully prepared for their developmental needs. I was hopeful that more children would have access to purposeful activities that lead to engagement versus short-lived entertainment. This would benefit both child and parent alike.
Then I just kept seeing beige, gray, and their modern day color baby, greige. There were bland, lifeless play areas flooding my social media feed over and over. I’d see all the little wooden toys lined up perfectly on the wooden shelf. And I couldn’t help but think who is playing here? I can’t tell based off of the photos. Is this a child who is really into dinosaurs, does she like blue or green more, and how old is she anyway?
I’m not sure if the prevalence of wooden materials in Montessori classrooms somehow encouraged the misconception that a Montessori home space should have a mute palate but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. While the rest of the world is set up so the adult is comfortable, the Montessori environment puts the child at the center of it all. Everything is set up just as the child would set it up if she had the capabilities to construct her own world to make her as comfortable as possible. This is because everything in the environment was chosen by the child through Dr. Maria Montessori’s observations. For example, the pink tower is pink because that is the color Montessori observed the children preferred, not because she decided the tower looked best pink or it matched some color scheme she had chosen for a room.
Dr. Maria Montessori would encourage you to observe your child and see what she is drawn to and include that in the space. If the space isn’t a reflection of the children who are meant to play there, it’s not serving its purpose. If you want your social media to have a certain aesthetic, use a filter. Don’t filter your child’s play area.