I am constantly blown away by how much my toddler is capable of when I give him the chance.
Which is what inspired me to create a Montessori entryway for my 2 year old, Andrew, right inside the door to his bedroom.
No, he can’t put on his own shoes and socks yet.
But I have a feeling that he’ll be ready to try waaaay before I’ll be expecting it! And what better way to set him up for success than by giving him a special just-his-size space to learn in?
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
When we moved my son, Andrew, out of his tiny nursery and into his big boy room, I decided to use a little bit of empty wall space next to his door to make a Montessori-inspired entryway area for him.
This type of “getting ready” area would normally be located in the home’s actual entryway or mudroom, not a bedroom… but since we live in a rancher, and Andrew’s bedroom is right on the first floor, this setup works well for us.
The mirror and shelf
It took me a really long time to find this shelf. I had such a specific idea of what I wanted: A shelf with a lip to hold a hairbrush, attached to a small mirror with space to hang a checklist, and hooks, or even better yet, pegs, for hanging a jacket or a backpack underneath.
I was pretty sure it didn’t exist.
And then I found this one. And it is perfect.
We decided to hang the mirror at just the right height for Andrew to see himself when he climbs onto the stool. (Any lower and his jacket would have been on the ground.)
The checklist
I created a simple checklist with visuals for Andrew to remember what to do as he gets ready to go in the mornings.
I printed the checklist out on card stock. Then I cut it to just the right size to fit in the frame next to the mirror. I was going to attach it, but he really likes pulling it down and looking at it/talking about each step, so for now it’s just loosely resting in the frame.
(If you want to print your own copy of this checklist, you can grab it here.)
The step stool
Next, we bought this step stool.
It serves 2 purposes: A way for Andrew to reach his bedroom light switch and hairbrush, and also as a spot where he can sit down to put on or take off his shoes and socks.
He has two pairs of shoes which we keep near the stool. He can pick which one he wants to wear when it’s time to leave the house.
We also had this cute woven basket, which is the perfect size to store a pair of socks or two.
Andrew loves picking out his own socks and shoes, even though he still needs help putting them on.
He is already brushing his own hair (sort of!) and he can take off his own shoes and socks, and hang up his own jacket. That’s huge!
I hope you have as much fun creating your own Montessori entryway as we did making this one. Enjoy!
-Laura
Supply list
Here are all the links for the supplies we used to create Andrew’s little entryway station:
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
KidKraft Wooden Two-Step Children’s… |
$23.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
ABenkle Small Storage Basket, Mini… |
$7.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Hanna Roberts Decorative Boho Chic Wall… | Buy on Amazon |
Save A Montessori Entryway for Toddlers to Pinterest:
More from The Organized Mom Life:
Eric Carle: Preschool activity ideas you can do at home
5 days of Eric Carle preschool activity ideas that you can do with your kids at home: My son is 4 years old, and the days can be long. BUT it always makes a huge difference when we have a small activity or two already planned to look forward to each day. Which is why…
Continue Reading Eric Carle: Preschool activity ideas you can do at home
Non toy gifts for 1 year olds
Non toy gifts for 1 year olds: If your 1 year old doesn’t need any more toys, and you’re looking for meaningful, practical gifts for them that they will actually use and enjoy, then look no further. As a mom of four, I’ve gathered a list of my favorite non toy gift ideas for 1…
Gift ideas for kids that they will actually use all year long
I have four kids, and I’ve noticed a difference between toys and gifts that kids play with over and over all year round, and the ones that lie forgotten in a closet once the holidays are over. The best type of gifts encourage creativity and imagination. These gifts can be used over and over in…
Continue Reading Gift ideas for kids that they will actually use all year long
Mud kitchen tutorial
How to make an outdoor mud kitchen for kids with running water, out of a potting bench Did you ever make nature stew when you were a kid? We used to have a blast “cooking” with dirt, grass, leaves, flower petals, and water from the garden hose. As a mom, I decided to make a…
Small nursery ideas: Woodland theme
We just had our 4th baby a few months ago. And we don’t have a nursery. Instead, we have a little nursery nook right off our master bedroom, with all the essentials in it: A crib, a dresser, some basket storage, a laundry hamper and a diaper pail. And we have found that it’s more…
Cardboard box car track
A few days ago, my 3 year old and I created a cardboard box car track. It was a huge hit, and was played with for many happy afternoons. When I posted about it on Instagram, a bunch of people wanted all the details about how we made it and how they could make their…
Leave a Reply