Ask a Montessori Teacher: What Do You Do When a Child Takes a Material They Haven’t Been Presented?

 

 

 

One of the great ironies of the Montessori classroom is this:
we spend hours preparing beautiful, intentional materials—
and then we’re surprised when children are irresistibly drawn to them.

This question comes up constantly, especially at the beginning of the year:

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“What do I do when a child keeps taking a material they haven’t been presented—or is misusing it?”

The answer isn’t a script. It’s a mindset—paired with a few clear non-negotiables.

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First: This Is Normal (Especially Early in the Year)

Young children are meant to be attracted to the environment.
If a child is reaching for materials, that tells you something important:

They are curious.
They are interested.
They are ready for engagement.

The challenge isn’t stopping the behavior—it’s guiding it.

And this guidance looks different depending on your classroom.

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Are you needing some support with how to structure your classroom? As a Montessori teacher, I understand that feeling of overwhelm! I have created a detailed lesson plan to 'hold your hand' through each day.  These lesson plans can either be used to jump start how to create the rhythm of the classroom (monthly) or I have a full year plan that can then be used for a 3 year cycle.

Montessori Daily Lesson Plans 

Montessori INSPIRED Lesson Plans 

 

LOOKING FOR ART LESSONS FEATURING DIFFERENT ARTISTS? 

Link to my FREEBIES

 

What New Teachers Are Really Asking When They Ask About Montessori

There is a question I hear repeatedly from new teachers.

Sometimes it’s asked directly.
Sometimes it’s disguised as something else.

It sounds like:
“Am I doing this right?”
“How do I manage the classroom?”
“What if I make mistakes?”
“How much freedom is too much?”

But beneath all of those questions is a quieter one:

Can I trust the child—and can I trust myself as a guide?

When people first encounter Montessori, they often focus on the visible things: the materials, the shelves, the calm rooms, the independence of the children. What they don’t see right away is that Montessori is not primarily a method to be mastered, but a way of seeing the child.

New teachers are rarely asking for a script.
They are asking for reassurance.

They want to know whether order can exist without constant control.
They want to know whether children can be trusted with real responsibility.
They want to know what to do when things don’t look as peaceful as the photos.

These are honest questions. Necessary ones.

In my opinion, Dr. Maria Montessori did not design an approach for perfect classrooms or perfect adults. She observed real children—curious, impulsive, capable, and deeply sensitive to their environments. She understood that adults, too, are in a process of formation.

 

READ MORE ON SUBSTACK

 

Are you needing some support with how to structure your classroom? As a Montessori teacher, I understand that feeling of overwhelm! I have created a detailed lesson plan to 'hold your hand' through each day.  These lesson plans can either be used to jump start how to create the rhythm of the classroom (monthly) or I have a full year plan that can then be used for a 3 year cycle.

Montessori Daily Lesson Plans 

Montessori INSPIRED Lesson Plans 

 LOOKING FOR ART LESSONS FEATURING DIFFERENT ARTISTS? 

Link to my FREEBIES