Did you know we weren't always a Montessori family? Some of you might if you have been reading long enough or if you dig around long enough in the archives. But, it's true. When Henry was born I didn't even know Montessori existed beyond being that "weird little preschool in that one church basement." We collected every mainstream baby toy, contraption, distraction, and junk known to man. We had it all. And, it was awful. People who are new to Montessori may wonder, what exactly is the problem with too many toys?
Montessori playrooms, homes, and classrooms are just sparser than their mainstream counterparts. It's an easy difference to see and one that makes a HUGE difference to a child. But, seriously, why is having too many toys a problem in a Montessori home?
The Problem with Too Many Toys - Montessori Thoughts
Well, there are a few reasons that having too many toys is a problem in any environment, but especially a Montessori one. Research studies have even concluded that having too many things can make it more difficult for children to exercise their creativity and to learn from their environment. Children are move likely to be distracted, overwhelmed, and face fatigue in spaces that are crammed with toys.
Here I have listed a few Montessori specific reasons why too many materials aren't ideal in a home. Any number of these is reason enough to take a hard look at how many toys you have out and whether it's working for your children.
Overwhelming
One, a room full of toys is overwhelming to a child, especially a baby or toddler. It can be difficult to choose anything to play with when there are so many choices. So, what value is there to the child if the child is unable to actually use it? I think many of us have experienced a child walking into a playroom, sifting around for a bit and then claiming to be bored."We must therefore create a favorable environment that will encourage the flowering of a child's natural gifts. All that is needed is to remove the obstacles." Maria Montessori
Before Montessori, I would see Henry do this and assume his boredom meant he didn't like what we had. So, I would buy another toy, gadget, or container. It never once occurred to me that he may just be completely overwhelmed by the choices. To use an adult example, think about how it feels to walk into a dirty kitchen filled with dishes. Where you do you start? How does it feel? The same feelings of dread and overwhelm can happen in a busy playroom.
Order
Next, rooms full of toys can disrupt a child's sense of order. The sensitive period for order starts at birth and continues until between age 5 to 6. It peaks somewhere between 18 months and 2.5-years-old. When we have things everywhere, children are unable to maintain the natural order they crave so much. Without this order, they can seem sort of lost.
When that sense of order is disrupted, so is their concentration, and independence. This sense of order produces a natural happiness for children. It helps them to orient themselves in their environment, it literally stitches together the entire environment and their own relationship within it. What fun is it to play with a puzzle, if you have to search for the pieces first? Or if the parts to the stacker are at the bottom of the toy box. It's almost physically impossible for a young child to focus on one activity if they have to gather everything from a crowded room or bin with a clear sense of order.
"The little child’s need for order is one of the most powerful incentives to dominate his early life." Maria Montessori
When that sense of order is disrupted, so is their concentration, and independence. This sense of order produces a natural happiness for children. It helps them to orient themselves in their environment, it literally stitches together the entire environment and their own relationship within it. What fun is it to play with a puzzle, if you have to search for the pieces first? Or if the parts to the stacker are at the bottom of the toy box. It's almost physically impossible for a young child to focus on one activity if they have to gather everything from a crowded room or bin with a clear sense of order.
Stress
Practically, it can just be a source of stress -- for both the child and the parent. How much time is spent just trying to keep the room somewhat usable? How much struggling between the parent and the child is done to maintain the area? Or, the amount of time at night I spent cleaning up after Henry went to bed.
Now, I'm not saying that Montessori will cure all of these issues and your kids are going to magically start cleaning everything up, but it has made a huge difference. When there is a place for everything and everything in its place, it really is so much easier for everyone to maintain that order. And so many of those struggles disappear.
Now, I'm not saying that Montessori will cure all of these issues and your kids are going to magically start cleaning everything up, but it has made a huge difference. When there is a place for everything and everything in its place, it really is so much easier for everyone to maintain that order. And so many of those struggles disappear.
Beauty
Finally, it's usually just not beautiful. I know my playroom wasn't before Montessori. It was dread. It was stuff thrown everywhere in bins, along the walls, on the floors. It would get so messy Henry couldn't walk. You couldn't find pieces, toys randomly started making noises, I got foot injuries from stepping on the junk. This is a clear issue.
When toys are everywhere, it doesn't call to the child. It doesn't suck the child in. It doesn't invite the child to work. All of which is so so important for you and the child. And if it isn't beautiful, then you know it's not working.
And, the solution, is to get rid of those toys!
"The child should live in an environment of beauty." Maria Montessori
And, the solution, is to get rid of those toys!
Once you recognize the problem with too many toys, how do you fix the problem? Here's how to purge your toys keeping Montessori in mind!
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