Montessori from Birth: Month 5

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

Thank you for following along on this journey with us! For a quick reference guide to each month, please feel free to jump back to each month in this post.

By Matthew Enloe | Cerca Cultivation

This guide covers growing techniques, flavor profiles, and post-harvest care for marigolds and nasturtiums. You’ll learn how to identify healthy seedlings, maximize shelf life, and integrate these flowers into your garden-to-table routine. The focus is on practical, high-yield strategies for home growers.

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

One of the most important Montessori materials for this age is a Montessori practical life activity, such as pouring or spooning activities. These activities promote independence, concentration, and fine motor skills, and can be introduced in a structured and simple way.

By Montessori Beautiful

In Montessori classrooms, every item is designed to be useful and beautiful to a child. Materials are high quality and long-lasting. Moving parts are just tricky enough to present an age-appropriate challenge, while still being manageable.

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

At this age, Montessori materials can be used to promote exploration, support language development, and encourage independence.

By Jorge Hoyos of Sapiens Child

It makes sense when you think about it. How can a child learn to sit and eat independently and properly if the table is too high to reach? How can they hang their own coat like daddy does if they can't reach the hook?

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

Wooden push or pull toys, stacking rings or towers, and simple matching games can become favorites in your home for years to come!

By Sara Cotner of Monarch Readers

We believe that beginning readers deserve phonetically-controlled, beautiful books. While children learn to read, we also want them to learn that reading is fun. Children deserve “mirrors” that help them see the beauty in themselves, as well as “windows” that help them see the beauty in the world around them.

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

Support your little explorer with ramps and challenges - couch cushions were a favorite surface at this time!

By Matthew Enloe | Cerca Cultivation

Ready to transform your thumb from brown to green? Cerca Cultivation shares invaluable advice for aspiring gardeners, revealing the absolute easiest vegetables and herbs to cultivate, setting you up for immediate success in your first growing season.

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

You may notice items tucked into your shoes, or their favorite toys tucked within other containers at this age. It's great to give your little one a safe alternative to fulfill this desire!

By Matthew Enloe | Cerca Cultivation

A well-planned garden bridges the gap between homegrown produce and daily meals, addressing food security and sustainability. By implementing these techniques, you’ll transform your garden into a reliable food source, ensuring a steady supply of homegrown produce tailored to your culinary needs.