It's now or never!

I spent a fair amount of energy this weekend converting Kenzie's room into a (loosely based) Montessori bedroom. I didn't adopt all the methods but it's a start. I figure if I don't start setting up now, it's not going to happen.

The Montessori environment stresses simplicity and all natural materials, which I am not adhering to since I would have to throw out 90% of her toys. 

I started with creating a reading corner for her. A dedicated spot with baskets of books, a tiny chair, and animal decals at her eye level. She spent 45 minutes afterwards trying to figure out how to get them off the wall... with no success.

Baskets are a blessing, she can actually put books away. 

Next, I set up her table and a chair so she has somewhere to work and have snacks.

Perfect for falling backwards off the chair.

I rearranged her changing table into a toddler wardrobe. I took out a shelf and put up a small curtain rod to hold her clothes. We are starting off with 2 outfit choices for the morning, and 2 PJ choices at night. The drawers hold her shoes, hats, and dress up clothes. She can open everything herself and hopefully this will encourage self dressing in the near future... instead of chasing her down and playing the pin the clothes on the toddler game.

It's especially fun to open all the drawers and take out everything...

I used the window sill and small book case to display some of her toys that don't light up or require batteries. 


She really enjoys swiping all toys off the window sill.

Hooks for her hat & coat, which she brings me repeatedly.

The closet contains her kitchen, food, dishes and other toys that may make noise or light up. I figure if I have those behind closed doors, she won't be over stimulated during nap time or at bedtime if she gets up and starts playing.

The kitchen is next to the toy cube. Luckily she has a big closet.

I bought a set of stairs for the bathroom so she can reach the sink for hand washing and brushing her teeth. 

Stop worrying family, she doesn't use these unassisted.

Although I haven't adopted the mattress-on-the-floor Montessori suggestion, I did bite the bullet and change her crib into a toddler bed. Which so far is working out seamlessly.



It's like a constant where's waldo...