MONTESSORI AT HOME: What Preschool Play *ACTUALLY* Looks Like!

This is encouraging because it's all things I've observed in my almost 3yo ❤️

Thank you very much! Great video (again!). It will really help us in the future and I am happy that you made me aware so I can enjoy the changes even more (and forget that I forget to rotate)

Hey Ashley, just wondering how you would go about setting up the play space when you have both a toddler and a preschooler? My youngest is still really into the toy shelf and my eldest is doing what your girls are doing. How do I go about making sure that his needs are met but also make it safe for my youngest (1.5) who could still choke on some of the smaller parts? If it helps, they share a bedroom and we have an open plan living space all on the one level. 😊

Thanks Ashley! Great video again. What I've noticed is also that my second child (9 months) is not interested in baby toys at all and only wants to have the things my daughter (almost 4) plays with e.g. magnets. Have you noticed a difference between how Kylie was playing and how Mia did, when they were babies?

This video is fantastic! Such great content with loads of ideas and so well rounded, not to mention the amazing footage. Very impressed! Loved it!

Ashley, can you please create more content about 3-6yr old? Perhaps even a course covering those years from developmental point of view. I found it extremely difficult to continue with montessori approach for children 3 and older due to the lack of resources.
Thank you so much for this video!

From the intro, I slowly started to check off everything you said in my brain. My preschoolers are close in age as your girls, with my oldest turning 5 in March as well.

I have definitely noticed a shift and decided to focus on the practical parts of life in the last 6 months.

Thank you for your sound advice!

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. On a different note- where is your book shelf from in your playroom?

Thanks for the great video! I have noticed this change in my 2,5 year old already and was wondering why. You didn't mention any changes to the cleaning up routine that come with that. Do you still clean up after they finish playing in every area of interest or before major transitions like meals or bedtime? Any other thoughts?

Thank you so much for your channel. My boys are a bit older and wonder if you know of any resources for lower elementary 6 year olds as well. Thank you!

What an excellent video. The details, the quality and the content. This is the whole package. This is where we are at! My 4 and 3 year old are very much in this world of pretend and thrive with open ended play! So glad you discussed dropping the trays and being more relaxed. Really exposing the heart of playtime. Thank you for the excellence in your channel. It cannot be easy. THANK YOU!

Thsi was such a timely video, Ashely, thank you for this! Would love to see your game recos in the Amazon storefront, pls add them when you can!

Loved your video! You described my almost 4 year old to a T ☺️ We started with Mercy Watson chapter books and my daughter loved it! I thought we would do a chapter or two a day, but she had me read the entire book which took about 15-20 minutes. Then she wanted me to read it again! I haven’t decided which chapter book series to start next, but I just got her the Elephant and Piggie book series and wow! She absolutely loves them. It has really sparked her interest in recognizing words and “reading” along with me. Cuddling with me and a pile of books makes her so happy and it fills my mama heart so much.

Hey, Ashley. 😊 Can you please share the book title that Mia and Mike were reading about Space/planets? It looks interesting. 💛

Have fallen in love with your channel! heart

This is a video I didn't know I needed! It's nice to know when my son goes to Montessori school I can relax on the Montessori activities and just let him have fun with open ended play. Right now he's 21 months old and the things he spends the most time playing with are gross motor things (balls, balance board, pickler, tricycle with no pedals, push walker, simply running and spinning, etc), vehicles, animal figurines, lego duplo. And he's obsessed with books and music (I really need to convince my husband we need a Yoto 😆😆😆).

My little boy is 9 months younger than Mia so this is so useful for me! Can I ask, the video seems to imply that you have all these play materials available all the time, is this true for your girls now? What would you suggest if you have a smaller space? I don’t want to limit his creativity by only having a limited amount of toys out…

I have been silently watching your videos for 2+ years and always love your content (along with your online course!). This one gets me so excited for when my daughter turns 3 this summer and will be doing a lot more of these things. Loved this video. Thank you for all of the knowledge over the years.

My 3.5 year old recently picked out a small chapter book at the thrift store. I didn't think it would keep her interest, but it does have at least 1 picture (black and white) on each page and to my surprise she absolutely LOVES it!! It is 10 small chapters that takes me 30-40 minutes to read her the whole book and she sits there for the whole thing! The one we have is called "Itty Bitty Princess Kitty" (she loves cats)

This is so helpful - thank you!!!

They've loved that snail for so long!

My baby is only 1 month old, but I am getting ready 😂

You are such a good mommy

Your description of preschool play is so true when I think of my three year old! That’s why I‘ve decided a few month ago to use the shelf with the baskets and trays for my now ten month old :)

I have learned so much from this video: add some materials now and what to plan for in the next couple of years. Thank you!!

Thanks for all the ideas! Question about dealing with having only one child in the household. I loved seeing how Mia and Kylie play together and compliment each other's daily life. Our 2.5 year old constantly asks one of us to "play with her". We do give her alot of attention but also trying to let her explore and have alone time but she seems to have a harder time coming up with things to do or play with when "alone". I would have prefer doing lots of playdates with her friends but covid times makes it hard to get together.

Love these slightly more fun, 'applied' montessori at home videos you've been doing the past few weeks.

Oh Ashley, I have been following your channel for some years now and you still manage to inspire me with every new video. Be it your family vlog or videos from this series. I just love the sparks you create that keep me going every week, especially when I feel uninspired. Thank you for your great work <3

Hi very nice video! My son is 23 months old and puts the crayons 🖍 in the mouth when he does art session? Please help me how to stop this ?

😆😆😆

Just preordered your book, can’t wait to read it! I’ve been implementing a lot of what you demonstrate in your videos and my kids are thriving. Thank you for such a informative channel!

This is so oj topic for me! I have an almost 3yo and a 6mo. (In a tiny 1bedroom apartm.) Recently my friend came to visit with her 1yo and comented that we are not montessori because my 3YO corner doesn’t look like her 1yo space. as in- there are almost no activity trays. I admit- i was a little self conscious even thought I followed his interests. So you gave me peace of mind. Thank you! 💗💗

Hi Ashley, I have a question. I recently watched your video on 10 things you don't buy as a montessori parent, 1 of the things on the list, was electronical objects that entertain the children, so I wondered how come Kylie has a audiobook? I love your videos so much and just curious, as I would like an audiobook for my daughter, but she is only 26months old, so perhaps still too young🤔? Thank you

This was a great video, I’ll definitely be coming back to this one for some reminders.

Hi :) can you please make a video of the tv time , what are the girls watch on there tv times Ext ... Thanks :)

Preschool playroom tour please!

This is what is happening at my end now. My kid is memorizing the book I've read earlier.
Also he pretend playing doctor visits, cooking, parenting,...

While it's not the best montessori option, a series we are enjoying that has a bit of balance between fiction and fact is the magic tree house series. We are enjoying the first book right now with the 4 year old boy in our care 🥰

Thanks for this video! ❤

How do you incorporate cleaning up after themselves and playtime? So my house isn’t “tornadoed” all day long 😅

Thank you for your sound advice. It was enjoyable and informative:-)

So true. The set up is so important with toddlers, I literally had to redo my baby boy's room organization, flipped to the side a shelf so it was not too tall, selected favorite books and hide the others because he made such a mess with all this books available at the same time and I got so stressed until I just figured it out and now is so much better.

Hi! I love your channel and all the Montessori videos! I have a almost 3 year old and a almost 5 year old. I have recently been trying to switch over to more of a Montessori style. The practical life stuff is going well! I recently got them a cube shelf and displayed their activities the way you show. The only problem is they just keep dumping everything out and just making a big mess rather than using them the intended way. This is especially true for me almost 3 year old. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do about this?! Thank you!

I’m so glad I found this video.. my 2.5 year old is no longer interested in the organized shelves but my 1 year old is. I will definitely try to make play domains for him😅

I just love watching your family and I love how you include your daughters in putting their cloths away and groceries away and etc. a lot of times I am always in a rush hurry hurry because there’s so many things to do and so little time and I really just want to play all day with them but I am going to include them more in putting their clothes and groceries and whatever else away and make it more fun so it’s not all hurry hurry and stressful.

I also love the obstacle course idea and I think that will be perfect for my three young boys!! Thank you and keep the videos coming, they have helped me alot!!

Thank you so much for this video and all of them really. I was just spinning my wheels trying to figure out how to balance Montessori for home because like you've said, we're not in a classroom we're at home. I appreciate all you've done and the time you've put into each Montessori video.

Love how your girls play together! I’m having a really hard time because I have a 5 year girls and a 2.5 boy and they fight a lot… and when I’m trying to play a table game with my bigger girl the little one tend to destroy it… any advice for that? LOVE ALL YOUR CONTENT! Such an inspiration 💓

My almost three year old is getting into chapter books and longer books. I have introduced the concept of a bookmark not that it's needed she knows exactly where we left off.

My daughter is almost 3 and barely pretends. She also hates doing anything that she can’t immediately master. But also once she has mastered something she just gets bored with it. She doesn’t really build stuff either. She does absolutely love books and always loves for me to read to her. However I’m feeling really stuck on the imaginative play side and things that could keep her attention without me.