Toilet Learning the Montessori Way

Danuta Wilson, Toddler Guide and Team Leader at Greenspring Montessori School, presents on toilet learning at home the Montessori way.

Supporting Your Toddler’s Independence

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If you are interested in learning more about how to support your toddler’s growing independence at home, take a moment to watch this webinar with Greenspring Montessori School Toddler Guides, Allie Alexander and Michelle Donohue. Allie and Michelle have over twenty years combined teaching experience and they both have Montessori toddlers at home. They offer practical advice that is easy to impliment, as well as suggested products to aid in your child’s independence.

For a full list of products for your child, please take a look below:

Drinkware

We recommend that you wean children off of bottles and pacifiers once they are twelve months old. Current research suggests that bottles and sippy cups can be damaging to your child’s oral development, so we recommend starting with an open mouth cup, or if you are on the go, a straw cup with a lid or a child’s water bottle.

Cups with Straws

Munchkin Weighted Straw Cup

Contigo Cup

OXO Tot Cup

Children’s Water Bottles

Contigo Kids’ Water Bottle

Summit Water Bottle

Most water bottles found in the children’s section (not the baby section) will work well.

Ikea is also a great place to find inexpensive child-sized open cups, silverware, plates, etc. for when you are eating at the table. We recommend that parents avoid plates and bowls that suction to the table after 18 months.

Footwear

Soft-soled shoes are best for children learning to walk. Once your child’s dexterity begins to improve, we recommend shoes and boots that are also easy to pull on and off.

Stride Rite Early Walkers or Soft Motion

Target, Carter’s, and Kohl’s have soft-soled booties as well.

Baby Bogs Waterproof Insulated Boots

Kids’ Bogs Waterproof Boots

Many of these items can be purchased used on sites like Facebook Marketplace or at your local consignment shop if you are looking for some less expensive options.

We also recommend searching the For Small Hands website if you are looking for something specific for your child. They have a variety of child-sized materials for every area of the home.

Take a look at our Montessori in the Home series for more tips for toddlers and infants:

Raising Toddlers with Self-Discipline

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Greenspring Montessori School Toddler Guides, Danuta Wilson and Kim McCaslin, discuss strategies to encourage your child to self-regulate their behaviors and emotions at home. They provide simple strategies that can be implemented at home today, all based off of their Montessori training, 15+ years combined classroom experience, and their own experiences as parents.

If you have questions or would like to suggest topics for future events, please contact us at learn@greenspringmontessori.org.