Summer is fast approaching and the school year is coming to a close. It has been a beautiful year, yet with many challenges that led to classroom or school closures. If there is one thing we’ve learned from those, it is that consistency is an important part of a developing child’s day. It has been so nice to be able to get back into our normal routine.  You can maintain similar consistency with your home routine while you are away from school this summer. Here are some ideas to help foster your Montessori child’s development while on summer break:

• Help your child’s inner clock by maintaining a similar bedtime and wakeup routine each day.
• Schedule downtime and unstructured free-play.
• Keep in mind that Children love to explore the great outdoors of their very own backyard.
• Allow for autonomy and independence by setting up your play room for your child:
  • Maintain a system for organizing and returning of toys.
  • Set out several activities at a time, and rotate them throughout the Summer months. (This will also help keep interest alive!)
• To assist with independence:
  • Allow your child to choose their own outfits
  • Help with snack and lunch
  • Help choose what activities they would like to do

One important note that I would like to include: it is OKAY for your child to “be bored”. Some of the best creative moments develop from boredom. At the start of the school year, the primary classes did not prefer recess on the field. They were used to having objects to entertain themselves with.  The children found themselves walking around and didn’t know what to do. Now, they are demonstrating explosive creativity and imaginative play. The field has become a fan favorite across all three Primary classes.

Takeaway: you do not need to feel obligated to have a mapped schedule for your child every day, but keeping resting times and eating times the same will help maintain consistency.  It is fun to allow space for spontaneity, while offering your child options. As the end of the school-year approaches, the teachers are doing the same in the classrooms by offering more collaborative choices and time to enjoy one another.