Starting Montessori school is a beautiful milestone – not just for your child, but for your whole family. At Lotus Preschool, we understand that this transition can come with a mix of emotions. The good news is, with a little preparation, your child can step into this new world. They can do so with confidence and joy.
One mum, Sarah, told us: “I was so nervous about Theo starting school. But when I saw how excited he was to put on his own shoes. He carried his bag like a big boy. I realized he was more ready than I thought. Montessori gave him that spark.”
Here are some gentle tips to help prepare your little one – and yourself – for a Montessori beginning.
Foster Independence in Everyday Routines
Montessori education is built on the belief that children are capable and competent. Encourage independence in small but meaningful ways:
- Let them choose their outfit each morning (even if socks don’t match)
- Allow them to pour their own water or help with snack preparation
- Create small, accessible storage spaces so they can pack or tidy independently
Parent Testimonial: “Ellie takes so much pride in making her own sandwich. It’s messy, but you can see her confidence growing every time she tries.” – Louis, dad of a 4-year-old
Create Calm, Predictable Mornings
Montessori classrooms are calm and ordered – and your mornings can be too:
- Prepare items the night before to avoid morning stress
- Follow a predictable morning routine with a visual chart
- Allow extra time so your child can move at their own pace
Common Challenge: “My child is slow to get ready and we end up rushing.”
Solution: Try using a picture-based morning schedule to make each step fun and clear.
Nurture Natural Curiosity
Montessori embraces the magic of a curious mind. You can do this at home by:
- Exploring the outdoors and talking about what you find
- Involving your child in baking, measuring, or sorting
- Offering open-ended materials like building blocks, wooden figures, or magnifying glasses
Parent Story: “Zara became obsessed with snails after we found one in the garden. She made a little notebook and drew ‘her snail’ every day. That spark of curiosity started with a walk around the block.” – Tara, mum of two
Practise Grace and Courtesy
Montessori education gently teaches social skills through respectful interaction:
- Model kind phrases like “please may I,” “thank you,” and “after you”
- Practise turn-taking with games at home
- Use stories or puppets to role play social situations
Tip: Role play what a first school day might look like. Start from greeting the teacher and continue packing up at home time.
Talk About School with Positivity and Reassurance
How you talk about school will shape how your child feels about it:
- Speak about the classroom, teachers, and activities with warmth and excitement
- Confirm their feelings, even the nervous ones
- Reassure them that you’ll always be there at the end of the day
Real Moment: “We created a special goodbye rhyme that we say every morning. It became our little tradition and helped Charlie feel secure walking into school.” – Joanne, mum of a first-year student
Overcoming Common Worries
Many parents share similar concerns. Here’s how we can ease them:
“Will they be okay without me?”
Montessori environments are nurturing and supportive. Staff are trained to help children settle in gently.
Tip: Practise short separations in advance and always say goodbye – never sneak away.
“My child doesn’t like change.”
Routine helps children feel safe. Visit the school together, meet the teacher, and talk about what they can expect.
Tip: Read picture books about starting school to build familiarity.
“They’re shy around other kids.”
Montessori settings encourage peaceful, one-on-one interactions and small group activities.
Tip: Arrange a few play dates before school starts to build social comfort.
Further Reading for Curious Parents
If you’re keen to explore more about Montessori education, we recommend:
- What is Montessori? – Montessori Society UK
- Montessori Guide for Parents – AMI Global
- [Book: How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin]
Final Thoughts
Preparing for Montessori isn’t about buying special materials or mastering skills before day one. It’s about offering your child trust, respect, and the chance to grow into themselves. You’re already doing that by reading this.
We’d love to hear from you
What’s helped your family get ready for school
Do you have a favourite routine or goodbye tradition
Share your tips and stories in the comments below – you may inspire another family
If you’d like to learn more about Lotus Preschool, we’d be delighted to welcome you. You can also visit our Montessori environment. Just get in touch.
We follow an innovative international curriculum, thoughtfully adapted from the Montessori pedagogy, and are proud to uphold the high standards inspired by Dr. Maria Montessori. As an initiate member of the South African Montessori Association (SAMA), we are also in the process of registering with the Department of Social Development to further support our commitment to quality education and care.
At Lotus, we believe in the holistic development of the child—fostering independence, curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every learner. We look forward to welcoming your family into our community.
