Preparing the Home for Baby: A Montessori Perspective
Jeanne-Marie Paynel of Voila Montessori addresses expectant parents about how to prepare the home for arrival of baby.
What to Expect After Baby Arrives
Expectant parents read books like What to Expect When You’re Expecting and take pre-natal classes to prepare themselves for labor. But after the baby arrives, many new moms and dads are left asking, “Now what do I do?”
Jeanne-Marie Paynel answers that and many other questions for eager parents through her company, Voila Montessori. Paynel has a Masters degree in early childhood development, specializing in the ages 0-6 and is an accredited Montessori teacher. As a guide and home consultant, Paynel works with individual families to assess and improve the home environment to best support children through their different developmental stages.
Learn how to discipline your child through the years in our Online Parenting Course!
4 Special Areas for Your Infant
For new or expectant parents, Paynel recommends preparing four special areas in your home that will serve as points of reference for your infant. Your baby will be able to recognize these areas and will know what to expect when they are in that area.
- The Sleeping Area: When your child is in this calm, quiet place, she knows it’s time to sleep.
- The Physical Care Area: A place for changing, dressing, and the post-bath routine.
- The Feeding Area: A soothing place for focused one on one time, no TV, and no cell phone
- The Movement Area: This area of play and discovery will evolve as your child grows.
The Intelligent Purpose of Baby Toys
Paynel also encourages parents to think about the types of toys they select for their babies. Consider the “intelligent purpose of the toy.” How does the toy contribute to your baby’s development? It’s not necessarily about the price of the toy or the amount of bells and whistles. Toys can be home-made out of simple inexpensive materials. As long as they are made out of safe, preferably natural materials, and are appropriately placed for the developmental stage of your child, baby will be stimulated and content.
“If the environment is properly prepared for the child, that is where they will develop naturally, and part of that environment includes the adults,” explains Paynel. “We all have this inner drive to adapt to this world we’re born into, so when parents are prepared and understand the development their child will be going through, we can better help them and guide them.”
by Pamela Layug Laney