How to Create a Montessori Bathroom

Montessori is a lifestyle that is based on the desire to create an environment that allows children to explore the world around them while creating a sense of independence. As children grow older and more autonomous, it’s important that they are able to learn how to utilize every room in the household responsibly. This means that a Montessori environment is essential everywhere in a home, even in the bathroom.

In order to create a Montessori bathroom, adults must provide children with accessible and appropriate materials that allow them to engage in self-care and become interested in daily hygiene. Caregivers should supply developmentally appropriate hygiene items and bath toys, as well as step stools or potty chairs if necessary.

Since there are quite a few hygiene components that are involved within the bathroom, it’s necessary that caregivers learn how to create a Montessori environment in every aspect of their child’s bathroom. This may help more than you realize!

Why Create a Montessori Bathroom

There are a few reasons why parents might decide to have a Montessori environment in their bathroom. First of all, it’s important for children to have real-world experience and to be able to participate in the same tasks as other family members.

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According to michaelolaf.net, children are very observant of the people around them and want to start mastering the mental and physical skills that will help them to start taking part in important tasks. Going to the bathroom is a task that everyone does, and children want to be able to start using the toilet, brushing their teeth, washing their hands, etc. just like other members of their family. Related: Self Care in Montessori

When a Montessori environment is created for a child in the bathroom, it gives them the opportunity to start mastering important daily tasks. This is why it is necessary for parents to allow developmentally appropriate items to be in reach for children when they are in the bathroom.

When children feel the urge to master a certain task, such as brushing their hair or washing their hands, they should be able to fulfill that urge until they feel that they have perfected that task. This also allows children to repetitively work on these tasks that will eventually turn into great hygiene habits.

Another one of the goals of Montessori is to allow children to become more autonomous and independent. With the help of a loving and observant adult, children can become capable of reaching these goals. A bathroom is a place where children learn about taking care of themselves in an age-appropriate way. The best way to accomplish this is by having developmentally appropriate items that are in reach for children.

Of course, parents should be able to decide what should and should not be accessible for their children. Obviously dangerous materials like razors and medication should be kept out of reach, but they should have access to the appropriate hygiene tools for their age.

When parents learn which items are appropriate for their children to have, it’s important that the Montessori environment has every single item and material in its own place. This fulfills one of the principles of the Montessori prepared environment: structure and order. When caregivers are able to create accessible and organized spaces, children start to understand a sense of order in their home. It also gives children a sense of responsibility to put their belongings back in their original spot.

An iconic characteristic of Montessori is to have appropriately sized furniture and items for young children. This allows children to have hands-on experience and become motivated to learn about daily tasks. In the bathroom, it is especially important that children have smaller-sized items so that they can learn how to utilize daily objects and have real-world experience.

Creating a Montessori Environment for Toilet/Potty

In order to create a Montessori environment for the toilet area, it’s important to use furniture that is appropriately sized for the young child. If there is room for a separate potty chair in the bathroom, this can be a good option. If your child prefers using the same toilet as adults, then you can place a step stool in front of the toilet so the young child can reach it on their own, or purchase a potty training seat with a step included.

Not only does having these furniture items make children more independent, but this also ensures that children understand the appropriateness of regulating themselves while inside the bathroom. Even if you have a young child that is not quite interested in toilet training, place these items in the bathroom anyways. As your child reaches ages between 1 and 3, they will have a greater desire for autonomy and will want to start using the toilet just like their caregivers and other adults.

It’s also important to make sure that toilet paper is within the child’s reach. Caregivers should teach children how to use “slow hands” when using toilet paper so that the child doesn’t end up creating waste. If the toilet paper isn’t within reaching distance, parents should create a basket with wipes for the child to utilize. In this basket, caregivers can also include books, underwear, and clothing.

While children are beginning to learn how to use the toilet, it’s normal for mistakes to happen. That’s why having a change of clothes and underwear on hand is important so that children can independently, or with a little help, get dressed.

Check out our article for more information about potty training the Montessori way.

Creating a Montessori Environment for the Sink

When it comes to the sink, there are quite a few different hygiene practices that take place such as brushing and flossing teeth and washing hands. In order for children to use the sink, it’s important for them to be able to reach it! The best way to combat a tall vanity is to get an appropriately sized stool so that the child can use the sink.

Another great item is a faucet extender. Even with a stool, young children might not be able to reach the stream of water. Using a faucet extender ensures that the stream of water moves about 6 inches closer to the child, creating a more accessible environment.

There are also child-sized functional sinks available for purchase if you have enough space in your bathroom for a separate small sink.

Washing Hands

To create a Montessori environment for children to wash hands, caregivers can either place a small bar of soap or a travel-sized bottle of soap for children to wash themselves with. The small size of a travel bottle is perfect for young children’s hands so that they can practice their fine motor skills. If using a bar of soap, make sure it is small enough for the child to grasp. Place a washcloth or hand towel within reach so that the child can dry their hands after washing them.

Brushing/Flossing Teeth

Make sure that the toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are kept in a place, such as a drawer or near the edge of the counter (depending on their age) so that they can reach their belongings and utilize them. Parents can also place a cup on the counter so that children can wash out their mouths after practicing oral hygiene.

If a child often tries to get out of brushing their teeth early, set up a timer for about two minutes so the child understands how long to brush. If your child doesn’t like brushing their teeth much at all, then try to provide a variety of flavored kinds of toothpaste that the child likes. Giving options to children can be extremely helpful!

Creating a Montessori Environment for the Bath

Bath time doubles as a hygienic task and playtime. There are quite a few items that are important to have in the bath area to create a Montessori environment. These include, but are not limited to:

• Travel-Size Bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and soap
• Caddy for toys
• Suction cup mirror
• Low hook to hang towels

Each of these items is important for different reasons. As mentioned before, travel-size bottles are good for children to gain fine motor skills. Using a low-hanging basket or caddy allows different soaps to be within reach for the child. With a suction cup mirror, children will be able to make sure that they are washing all of the shampoo and conditioner out of their hair. Related: Why do Montessori Rooms Have Mirrors?

Once a child is all done with bath time, they are able to get their own towel from a low-hanging hook. When they’re all done drying off, the child will know exactly where to hang up their towel.

Bath Toys

Bath toys are also a large component of bath time for children. The Montessori environment is known to avoid clutter, and the same rule applies to the bathtub/shower. Caregivers should avoid putting too many toys in the bathtub so that children don’t become bored or overwhelmed by all the different options. The toys should often be rotated in and out of the tub so that the child stays interested.

Many practical life skills can be worked on in the bath tub with household items, such as spray bottles, cups and pitchers, eye droppers (we like jumbo ones like these), kitchen utensils, measuring cups, and sponges.

There are also a wide variety of bathtub toys that would be considered Montessori friendly. Anything that allows children to develop their motor skills is a great option.

Montessori sources recommend bath toys such as:

• Boon Building Bath Pipes: The Boon Building Bath Pipes give children the opportunity to create a fun labyrinth of pipes for children to connect, redesign, and to pour water through. This toy should be placed low enough so that young children are able to play with it while sitting in the bath tub.
  

• Boon Cogs: Boon Cogs are gears that can be placed on the wall of the bath tub. This is a great sensory tool for children since they can learn about how gears and cogs work. Since the cogs suction to the wall, children can also learn how to reposition and redesign the layout of the gears.
• Stacking Cups: Toy boats are great for children to learn how to role play and learn how to start using their imagination.

• The Liquid Lab: The Liquid Lab is a set of toys that include beakers and pitchers. This allows children to learn about water displacement and how different shaped glasses can contain the same amount of liquid as other containers.
• Water Wheel: A water wheel is a great toy to entertain children, as well as teaching them about cause and effect. Water is placed at the top of the toy, and then the small buckets empty out the water as the wheel spins. This can be placed towards the bottom of the bath tub so it can be easy to transfer water to the top of the toy.
• Sea Animal Figurines: Just like toy boats, sea animal figurines give children the opportunity to learn how to role play while learning about the natural world around them. Check out our full article on Schleich Animals in Montessori.

Check out our article on incorporating Montessori into your home and lifestyle for more information.