Daily Montessori Schedule

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Upon briefly researching the Montessori Method of Education as a potential candidate for facilitating education for your younger one, you may think of this pedagogical tool to be quite chaotic and unorganized. 

However, this is a myth and definitely far from the truth. The Montessori Method of education lays heavy emphasis upon auto-didactic education, mixed-age level classrooms, and collaborative activities.

At first glance a Montessori Classroom may seem chaotic however, the Montessori Method of education focuses on providing children with a learning environment that brings order and balance to their lives from a very young age. 

A typical day in a Montessori Classroom encompasses self-directed uninterrupted work cycles and systematically structured daily routines or schedules. 

Each routine is specifically curated for your child based on their age-appropriate needs as well as requirements. 

If you are a parent or an immediate caregiver who wants to incorporate the Montessori Philosophy and Principles into your homeschool environment, we have got you covered. 

Here are Daily Schedules in Montessori for different age groups to help you plan out a day of optimum productivity for your child.

What does a typical day in Montessori look like?

A day in a Montessori Classroom is as fun, joyful, and exciting as one may imagine a day in a mixed-aged level classroom would be. 

Ideally, children enter the classroom early in the morning and work independently or in small collaborative groups. 

A Montessori Classroom integrates 20 children overall who are promoted to perform 20 separate activities one at a time. This gives each child an opportunity to partake in any activity of their choice and interact with materials as they please.

Usually, by the end of the morning session, the whole class comes together to partake in a collaborative gathering activity to sing jolly tunes, talk about themselves, and talk about the weather, projects, or calendar dates to discuss events. 

After the group gathering children are set free for their afternoon dismissal after which children on a half-day schedule are allowed to go home and the ones who are there for the full day are allowed to have their lunch. 

After lunch and cleaning up the workstation younger children are either allowed to rest or sleep while the older children are promoted to choose their next material for the afternoon. 

A typical day in Montessori often ends around 3 pm after which children who are there for the full day leave for home and the daycare pupils stay for the aftercare program.

Why is the Montessori Daily Schedule So Important?

It can seem quite unconventional to associate structured schedules or systematic routines with educational tools meant for toddlers and infants. 

However, the Montessori Method of education promotes your child to become confident, self-reliant, and independent from a very young age.

The daily schedule or routines in the Montessori Learning Environment is a resourceful and fun way of providing the child with a consistent pattern of learning time, activities, meals, play, and rest. 

While Montessori Classrooms are mixed-age level they promote children to partake in both individual and separate activities. 

The consistency and predictability of the daily schedules and routines in a Montessori Environment provide children with a sense of security, order, as well as structure. 

These routines contribute significantly to the social, emotional, physical, and motor development of the child. 

Each child in the environment is promoted to partake in activities of their choice as well as develop social skills by interacting and collaborating with their peers in gatherings. 

Montessori Schedules and routines are also a great way of developing the child’s inner personality and intelligence.

Montessori Daily Schedules for Different Age Groups

Montessori Daily schedules are a great way of inculcating the values of order, responsibility, and discipline in children. 

Each Plane of development or age group is provided with a separate schedule that is structured around their age-appropriate needs and requirements. 

While different Montessori Schools have different timings for starting and ending the day, the structure of the day is fairly similar. 

To help you understand the Montessori Daily Schedule a little better, here is a basic outline of a typical Montessori Daily Schedule for Different Age groups:

A Daily Montessori schedule for infants:

This Montessori Schedule is targeted at children between the ages of 0 to 2 years and can start when the child reaches 6 weeks of age. 

While a daily schedule for an infant may seem eccentric and unconventional this Montessori Schedule provides infants with a sense of security and order through predictable routines. 

Ideally, A Montessori Schedule for infants comprises learning activities, meal time, rest, and outdoor playtime. 

Morning Schedule (7:30 am to 9 am)

  • The Montessori Center opens
  • Warm Morning greetings
  • Montessori Uninterrupted Work Cycle Begins

Mid-Morning schedule (9 am to 11:30 am)

  • Morning Tea time
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Group Gatherings and collaborative activities

Afternoon Meal Schedule (11:30 am to 12 pm)

  • Lunchtime 
  • Socializing with peers
  • Cleaning up after lunch

Mid-Day Rest Schedule ( 12 pm to 2 pm)

  • Afternoon Nap 
  • Resting time
  • Quiet time and Activities

Afternoon Schedule (2 pm to 4:30 pm)

  • Afternoon tea
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Pack up and Clean up

Evening Schedule (4:30 Pm to 6 Pm)

  • Indoor play and activities
  • Late afternoon or evening snack time
  • The Montessori Center Closes

A Daily Montessori Schedule for Toddlers:

The Montessori Schedule for toddlers begins when the child is between the age ranges of 2 to 3 years. 

This routine provides the toddler with consistency and order by incorporating a structured pattern of learning, meal, rest, and play routines. 

Just like the Montessori Schedule for infants, the routine targeted to toddlers (2 to 3 years) incorporates a similar pattern of activities and plans.

Morning Schedule (7:30 am to 9 am)

  • The Montessori Center opens
  • Warm Morning greetings
  • Montessori Uninterrupted Work Cycle Begins

Mid-Morning schedule (10 am to 12 pm)

  • Collective Morning Tea time
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Group Gatherings and collaborative activities

Afternoon Meal Schedule (12 pm to 12:40 pm)

  • Lunchtime 
  • Socializing with peers
  • Cleaning up after lunch

Mid-Day Rest Schedule ( 12:40 pm to 2:30 pm)

  • Afternoon Nap 
  • Resting time
  • Quiet time and Activities

Afternoon Schedule (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm)

  • Collective Afternoon tea
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Pack up and Clean up

Evening Schedule (4:30 Pm to 6 Pm)

  • Indoor play and activities
  • Late afternoon or evening snack time
  • The Montessori Center Closes

A Daily Montessori Schedule for Preschoolers:

The Montessori Method of education provides preschool children between the ages of 3 to 6 years with a structured and systematic daily flowing routine. 

However, the daily Montessori Schedule is quite similar to the Montessori Schedule for toddlers.

Morning Schedule (7:30 am to 9 am)

  • The Montessori Center opens
  • Warm Morning greetings
  • Montessori Uninterrupted Work Cycle Begins

Mid-Morning schedule (10 am to 12 pm)

  • Collective Morning Tea time
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Group Gatherings and collaborative activities

Afternoon Meal Schedule (12 pm to 12:40 pm)

  • Lunchtime 
  • Socializing with peers
  • Cleaning up after lunch

Mid-Day Rest Schedule ( 12:40 pm to 2:30 pm)

  • Afternoon Nap 
  • Resting time
  • Quiet time and Activities

Afternoon Schedule (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm)

  • Collective Afternoon tea
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Pack up and Clean up

Evening Schedule (4:30 Pm to 6 Pm)

  • Indoor play and activities
  • Late afternoon or evening snack time
  • The Montessori Center Closes

A Daily Montessori Schedule for Primary Students:

The daily routine for preschoolers starts a little earlier than the infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Morning Schedule (7:15 am to 8:45 am)

  • The Montessori Center opens
  • Warm Morning greetings
  • Montessori Uninterrupted Work Cycle Begins
  • Montessori Gathering Activities

Mid-Morning schedule (9 am to 12:30 pm)

  • Collective Morning Tea time and snack time 
  • Restroom Break
  • Outdoor Play Activities
  • Group Gatherings and collaborative activities

Afternoon Meal Schedule (12 pm to 1 pm)

  • Lunchtime 
  • Washing hands
  • Socializing with peers
  • Cleaning up after lunch

Mid-Day Rest Schedule ( 1 pm to 2:30 pm)

  • Afternoon Nap 
  • Resting time
  • Quiet time and Activities

Afternoon Schedule (2:30 pm to 2:45 pm)

  • Half-day students leave for home

Evening Schedule (3 pm to 5:30 pm)

  • Indoor play and activities
  • Late afternoon or evening snack time
  • The Montessori Center Closes

So, Is Montessori Daily Schedule meant for your child?

The Montessori Method of education is a century old pedagogical that promotes auto-didactic and self-directed education to set your child on a path to success. 

A Montessori Classroom at first glance may seem to appear chaotic, loud, and unorganized, but this is far from the truth. 

Montessori Daily Schedules are one of the most effective ways of inculcating the values of order and structure in children from a very young age. 

The consistency and predictability of the daily schedules and routines in a Montessori Environment provide children with a sense of security, and order, as well as structure allowing them to become well-rounded individuals. 

These routines contribute significantly to the social, emotional, physical, and motor development of the child.

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