10 simple ideas to steal from these amazing Montessori classrooms in Spain

Hi there everyone,

Last Friday was our last class before the summer break. What an amazing year it has been. We moved location and settled in very quickly into the new space. I always feel so grateful to work with these amazing families. Children getting to explore, discover and connect. And, particularly with all these crazy world events happening around us, I love working with parents to find a way to lead our children into a better kind of world.

You are all probably ready to put your feet up and relax for the summer (or cosy up if you are heading into winter), so today I have an easy but inspiring read for you – I am delighted to show you around the new Montessori classrooms at Montessori Village in Madrid. I love these spaces SO much.

A little about The Montessori Village

“We are Montessori Village from Spain – four Montessori schools in Madrid. We have a Nido (for babies), Infant Community (for toddlers) and Casa (for preschoolers). We are trained guides working to show Montessori to the rest of Spain, to make parents and society more conscious. It’s so important to show there is an alternative to traditional school. Our environments are prepared with care right down to the smallest details, giving the child an opportunity to live a real Montessori experience, with all the things they need at the ready without needing an adult to help. We are working to maximise their independence, their freedom, and to satisfy their needs and be happy.”

I totally agree. So happy to have a look around these Montessori classrooms with you. Thank you for sharing Montessori Village!

Let’s take a closer look

I love these cube chairs in the baby class – sturdy for babies to practise climbing in to sit and with sides to support them a little whilst sitting

This space is so inviting for a baby to explore. I’m so fond of the little pops of yellow through the space – makes it so friendly.

These shelves are great for a baby to pull up on and explore. The bar with mirror is also great for practising pulling to standing and cruising. So cosy.

Even pink walls don’t feel overwhelming – balanced with wood, a light floor colour and light furniture, this space gives a warm and welcoming feeling

A wall of windows gives such beautiful light and a view to the outside space

A Montessori toddler classroom – look at those coat hooks discreetly placed on the side of the classroom; including lamps make the space even more inviting

Such beauty – combining Ikea with custom elements makes it affordable and cosy

A Montessori preschool classroom – everything in its place; fresh flowers and plants make the classroom feel like a home; the materials so attractive you just want to get straight to work

Some details

Food preparation activities at the ready – everything the child will need carefully prepared and at the ready

A toddler classroom shelf with manipulatives – activities for eye hand coordination for younger toddlers

10 ideas to steal to use in your home

1. Place tables by a window or by natural light where possible.
2. Have sturdy chairs that are the right height for your child – for example, the cube chairs in this classroom are great for babies and younger toddlers.
3. Make sure things are at the child’s height – plants, mirrors, the furniture, and cleaning things. Things up high can feel overwhelming for young children.
4. It’s totally ok to mix Ikea furniture with unique pieces to keep things affordable yet still attractive and cosy.
5. Use rugs to soften the space and make things inviting.
6. Display books facing forward so the children can see the covers, rather than using a regular book shelf – just rotate often.
7. Have a pet for the children to help look after – did you spot the fish in one of these classrooms above?
8. Avoid clutter – it helps keep the space (and the children!) calm.
9. Have fresh flowers in the space – such a simple way to add beauty. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. Why not visit the market, the supermarket, or pick some wild flowers if you can.
10. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – have a place for everything. This will help children learn where things belong and help them to pack away.

I hope you are super inspired by these spaces to get working on your own spaces at home. Feel free to share any pictures with me. Be sure to follow Montessori Village on Instagram too: http://www.instagram.com/montessorivillage/

I’m going to be travelling with my kids over summer (off to pack the last things!). But I’ll be sure to drop in to say hi and send you some more Montessori inspiration over the break.

Warmest wishes,
Simone

PS If you live in Amsterdam and have ever been interested in Montessori training, now is the perfect chance. Heidi Phillipart-Alcock is running the first AMI training here in Amsterdam to be a Montessori assistant for 0-3 year olds. The training will be 60 hours of lectures over 4 weekends, starting in September (€900). More details HERE.