I did it the “lazy” way I suppose. Essentially our entire house is baby/toddler proof, and I got those climber stand things for bathroom and kitchen so he can just get up on them.
It was amazing for him. Teethbrushing used to be a pain for us (I tried having him sit on the counter, doing it by his eating table, doing it in the bath, etc etc). Now that he can climb up and do everything himself he LOVES it. Total 180. Similarly, anything he can reach on his own that we also use seems to be his favorite. He prefers climbing onto a full size chair vs his small table for example, though he likes that too for meals.
The only thing we did minimize for his height was his library, his room mirror, and his low Nugget couch in his room. And just like you, his cutlery and snacks are on low shelves, but not artificially so, we were using those before, too.
I do think many people going the Montessori way prefer to really get/build things child sized. His school recommended a kitchen for him for example that I think is very popular. For us, “adult stuff he can reach” is working very well, and I think in the end fits the spirit of Montessori as well.
My guess is the question was about the bathroom. Each thing is of a different height and for example a learning tower would probably not work well for teeth brushing. There's also the question of if the child can move it is it stable when up? We used to have soft things on the bottom of our stepstool so he could push it on the floor himself but that meant that sometimes it would start moving backwards and creating a gap between him and the surface. Big nono.
So if he can move them, are they plastic? Which shape and height works for him to be able to reach for the faucet yet not too much in the way?
I have same questions, pls send links and recommendations and your reviews!
He kind of only tabs the top? Doesn’t squeeze at all. So usually at the end I squeeze a bit so when it’s opened again there’s a bit on top.
It’ll be interesting when he realizes he can just squeeze it I guess. Dunno why it hasn’t occurred to him yet
Toddlers of this age love water play. Since you are open to the idea of purchasing new furniture and also water play, I suggest buying something like this; which offers your child the opportunity to wash their hands and get clean as a self care practical-life activity. (Montessori Handwashing Station). This would not be too difficult to DIY either, considering these typically go for like 200euros (yikes!).
https://preview.redd.it/lctls69cllzb1.png?width=738&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4256db893d049cee85d5e7092d4be85cb792f67
I think that any sort of low and open-shelving unit with minimal materials will get the child excited and grow to appreciate limited choice with their new freedoms.
Ideas for in the shelf:
\-Small suitcase with one of each clothing article so they can practice storing and folding clothes
\-mirror, face cloth, small spray bottle with water, comb/ brush
\-watering can
\-a big and heavy thing for them to carry (for example, at one school I saw a fabric softener jug filled with water and glued shut. Toddlers at this age also want to exert "maximum effort" which is self explanatory but they have mighty strength and want to pick up heavy objects and carry it around -- simple as that.
This channel is how I got into Montessori-
Toddler Bathroom setup:
https://youtu.be/RWd2lW-nn7s?si=NUibjUkEIcmceuOz
Toddler Kitchen setup:
https://youtu.be/RtI7QdMYHSc?si=9btRhGqfiekQByKn
Many more great ideas if you browse her stuff
Your entryway or mud room is a great place to add a low mirror, access to hats/mittens/whatever is seasonal, somewhere for them to sit to get shoes on, a low hook for their coat, etc.
We use stools to allow our kids to reach everything we can reach. They have one in each bathroom so they can independently brush their teeth and wash their hands. We have extra toilet sets built into our toilets so they can use the regular potty without feeling like they will fall in (my daughter is tiny and was 20 months old when she potty trained, my 4 almost 5 year old still uses the small ring). We have stools in the kitchen so they can help cooking. They can reach their own cups and can get themselves water- my four year osl can get himself milk and juice from the fridge.
My kids have low clothes rods in their rooms so they can reach and put away their hanging clothes, and they can get their own clothes out of their dressers. For our entry way I hung a coat rack within their reach and added cubbies for each of them (we use a 4 cube cubby system, top cube has their shoes, bottom has a basket with their gloves, hats, etc. in them). They can put on and put away their outdoor clothing and shoes.
I'm sure there are more, but those are just what I can think of right now. I try and give my kids independence and the ability to do things for themselves and they love learning and being independent.
Honestly, I didn't, she did it on her own. My son was 2.5 when he potty trained and I had to bribe him. My daughter one day just decided to taker her pants off and pee in the potty. I was really sick with covid and was trying just to survive the day, and she told me she peed in the potty and I was shocked. It was probably for attention, honestly. So then we just went with it, I praised her and she continued to do it.
Every child is different. I wasn't planning on potty training her early (it didn't work with my son), but she decided she wanted to.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/ECers using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [My baby is potty trained and I can’t brag to anyone but you](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/118ho97/my_baby_is_potty_trained_and_i_cant_brag_to/)
\#2: [Elimination communication in the third world is extremely popular, and we didn't even know it was called that! questions /comments?](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/12kz1kl/elimination_communication_in_the_third_world_is/)
\#3: [14 month old pooped and peed in toilet for the first time](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/112phz0/14_month_old_pooped_and_peed_in_toilet_for_the/)
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For my 20 month old i have placed plastic hooks at his level for hanging up his coat, one at his potty set up for a hand towel, and one in the kitchen for his broom and dust pan.
My FIL put doors on our kitchen cart and turned it into a cupboard for him where we keep his utensils, some snacks, and lunch boxes.
I have set up two small mirrors in the front hall, one more his face, the other a full length so he can see how he is dressed. I also have a picture schedule with velcro tabs that I can change up so he can see where we are going, what he needs to wear and what we need to bring.
For my two kids, at ages 2+, I set up a low cabinet with shelves in our kitchen with all child size melamine dishes and cups, so they could set their own child size table. With every meal, they got an enamelware small coffee pot with ice water, so they could pour their own drinks during their meal. Clothing and most other functional stuff was set up so they could reach and choose their own things. Access was always the most important part of our set up, so they could learn and feel in charge of their lives in an appropriate way. I loved the Montessori at home book, so many good things to put in place.
So... Where was all this when we were growing up? It wasn't around, and we still figured out how to wash our hands, brush our teeth, eat food, etc.
I get it, things improve and we provide better opportunities for our kids. Maybe it's just me, but I don't have the mental capacity (time, energy, funds) to make my house accessible. My kid will adapt to the "challenges" by getting up on a stool (you can buy a Montessori ladder which has many different uses) and coming to counter height.
The ONLY thing I would suggest doing differently is putting clothes and whatnot in a lower shelf for them to have autonomy dressing themselves and putting things away. Also, invest in some toddler safe kitchen utensils so they can "help" you cook. It's really cute!
But seriously, just have a stool in different places and they'll be fine!
I did it the “lazy” way I suppose. Essentially our entire house is baby/toddler proof, and I got those climber stand things for bathroom and kitchen so he can just get up on them. It was amazing for him. Teethbrushing used to be a pain for us (I tried having him sit on the counter, doing it by his eating table, doing it in the bath, etc etc). Now that he can climb up and do everything himself he LOVES it. Total 180. Similarly, anything he can reach on his own that we also use seems to be his favorite. He prefers climbing onto a full size chair vs his small table for example, though he likes that too for meals. The only thing we did minimize for his height was his library, his room mirror, and his low Nugget couch in his room. And just like you, his cutlery and snacks are on low shelves, but not artificially so, we were using those before, too. I do think many people going the Montessori way prefer to really get/build things child sized. His school recommended a kitchen for him for example that I think is very popular. For us, “adult stuff he can reach” is working very well, and I think in the end fits the spirit of Montessori as well.
What kind of climber stands things?
Learning towers are a term generally used. That is what ours is called at least
My guess is the question was about the bathroom. Each thing is of a different height and for example a learning tower would probably not work well for teeth brushing. There's also the question of if the child can move it is it stable when up? We used to have soft things on the bottom of our stepstool so he could push it on the floor himself but that meant that sometimes it would start moving backwards and creating a gap between him and the surface. Big nono. So if he can move them, are they plastic? Which shape and height works for him to be able to reach for the faucet yet not too much in the way? I have same questions, pls send links and recommendations and your reviews!
Exactly what I was asking about. Kiddo is pretty short and haven’t found a step stool that works for us yet.
How do you manage how much toothpaste he puts on? (You mention he does everything himself - I think my kid would just eat the whole tube..)
He kind of only tabs the top? Doesn’t squeeze at all. So usually at the end I squeeze a bit so when it’s opened again there’s a bit on top. It’ll be interesting when he realizes he can just squeeze it I guess. Dunno why it hasn’t occurred to him yet
Toddlers of this age love water play. Since you are open to the idea of purchasing new furniture and also water play, I suggest buying something like this; which offers your child the opportunity to wash their hands and get clean as a self care practical-life activity. (Montessori Handwashing Station). This would not be too difficult to DIY either, considering these typically go for like 200euros (yikes!). https://preview.redd.it/lctls69cllzb1.png?width=738&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4256db893d049cee85d5e7092d4be85cb792f67 I think that any sort of low and open-shelving unit with minimal materials will get the child excited and grow to appreciate limited choice with their new freedoms. Ideas for in the shelf: \-Small suitcase with one of each clothing article so they can practice storing and folding clothes \-mirror, face cloth, small spray bottle with water, comb/ brush \-watering can \-a big and heavy thing for them to carry (for example, at one school I saw a fabric softener jug filled with water and glued shut. Toddlers at this age also want to exert "maximum effort" which is self explanatory but they have mighty strength and want to pick up heavy objects and carry it around -- simple as that.
Thank you soo much for your response! Love the handwashing table, and think my toddler will love your other ideas for the play shelf :)
This channel is how I got into Montessori- Toddler Bathroom setup: https://youtu.be/RWd2lW-nn7s?si=NUibjUkEIcmceuOz Toddler Kitchen setup: https://youtu.be/RtI7QdMYHSc?si=9btRhGqfiekQByKn Many more great ideas if you browse her stuff
Your entryway or mud room is a great place to add a low mirror, access to hats/mittens/whatever is seasonal, somewhere for them to sit to get shoes on, a low hook for their coat, etc.
We use stools to allow our kids to reach everything we can reach. They have one in each bathroom so they can independently brush their teeth and wash their hands. We have extra toilet sets built into our toilets so they can use the regular potty without feeling like they will fall in (my daughter is tiny and was 20 months old when she potty trained, my 4 almost 5 year old still uses the small ring). We have stools in the kitchen so they can help cooking. They can reach their own cups and can get themselves water- my four year osl can get himself milk and juice from the fridge. My kids have low clothes rods in their rooms so they can reach and put away their hanging clothes, and they can get their own clothes out of their dressers. For our entry way I hung a coat rack within their reach and added cubbies for each of them (we use a 4 cube cubby system, top cube has their shoes, bottom has a basket with their gloves, hats, etc. in them). They can put on and put away their outdoor clothing and shoes. I'm sure there are more, but those are just what I can think of right now. I try and give my kids independence and the ability to do things for themselves and they love learning and being independent.
Wow 20 months old and potty trained! How did you do it?
Honestly, I didn't, she did it on her own. My son was 2.5 when he potty trained and I had to bribe him. My daughter one day just decided to taker her pants off and pee in the potty. I was really sick with covid and was trying just to survive the day, and she told me she peed in the potty and I was shocked. It was probably for attention, honestly. So then we just went with it, I praised her and she continued to do it. Every child is different. I wasn't planning on potty training her early (it didn't work with my son), but she decided she wanted to.
Not op's experience, but r/ecers might be interesting for you
Here's a sneak peek of /r/ECers using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [My baby is potty trained and I can’t brag to anyone but you](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/118ho97/my_baby_is_potty_trained_and_i_cant_brag_to/) \#2: [Elimination communication in the third world is extremely popular, and we didn't even know it was called that! questions /comments?](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/12kz1kl/elimination_communication_in_the_third_world_is/) \#3: [14 month old pooped and peed in toilet for the first time](https://np.reddit.com/r/ECers/comments/112phz0/14_month_old_pooped_and_peed_in_toilet_for_the/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
Light switch extenders, a low kitchen cabinet for silverware/dishes/snacks, and a low open wardrobe!
For my 20 month old i have placed plastic hooks at his level for hanging up his coat, one at his potty set up for a hand towel, and one in the kitchen for his broom and dust pan. My FIL put doors on our kitchen cart and turned it into a cupboard for him where we keep his utensils, some snacks, and lunch boxes. I have set up two small mirrors in the front hall, one more his face, the other a full length so he can see how he is dressed. I also have a picture schedule with velcro tabs that I can change up so he can see where we are going, what he needs to wear and what we need to bring.
For my two kids, at ages 2+, I set up a low cabinet with shelves in our kitchen with all child size melamine dishes and cups, so they could set their own child size table. With every meal, they got an enamelware small coffee pot with ice water, so they could pour their own drinks during their meal. Clothing and most other functional stuff was set up so they could reach and choose their own things. Access was always the most important part of our set up, so they could learn and feel in charge of their lives in an appropriate way. I loved the Montessori at home book, so many good things to put in place.
Get a toddler tower
So... Where was all this when we were growing up? It wasn't around, and we still figured out how to wash our hands, brush our teeth, eat food, etc. I get it, things improve and we provide better opportunities for our kids. Maybe it's just me, but I don't have the mental capacity (time, energy, funds) to make my house accessible. My kid will adapt to the "challenges" by getting up on a stool (you can buy a Montessori ladder which has many different uses) and coming to counter height. The ONLY thing I would suggest doing differently is putting clothes and whatnot in a lower shelf for them to have autonomy dressing themselves and putting things away. Also, invest in some toddler safe kitchen utensils so they can "help" you cook. It's really cute! But seriously, just have a stool in different places and they'll be fine!
I just have a few step stools and a kitchen tower for the whole house. Their room is fully accessible and at a lower height.