After five kids it seems that we have a hair pattern in our house with our babies. We either get blonde bald baby or darker hair with curls. Either way, we don't get a lot of hair cuts around here with my younger toddlers. The curly ones haven't needed it, and the bald ones haven't had much hair until 3. So, my kids tend to be a little older for their first cuts, and therefore a little more aware of what's happening.
Tips for Haircuts with Montessori Toddlers
With that awareness of change can come a bit of anxiety over the haircut process - what it will look like, feel like, and be like. As with all things, we want to make sure our kids feel respected, heard, and safe when we are touching their bodies and making changes that effect them. Additionally, haircuts can be a sensory challenge for some kids and just overall a scary experience - um, hello, stranger with scissors.
Teddy recently had his first major hair cut at just over 3-years-old. Sob. He went from toddler-baby looking guy to just so huge in a matter of minutes. The process went really well for him after a couple of months of preparing for this moment. So, I thought I would share some of the ways we prepared Teddy for his recent first haircut:
- Take Your Time: we started talking about why we need hair cuts - hair in our eyes, not wanting to comb, knots - many weeks ago. Toddlers aren't born with a sense of why every task needs to be done, so we just talk about it
- Play: I encouraged Teddy to play with my hair, and, if he wanted, let me play with his. Just getting more comfortable with hair in general and how it can change.
- Watch: Teddy went with Henry to get his haircut. He could see the whole process without any pressure to participate
- Practice: With his permission, I used scissors to clip a few small sections of his hair to show him that it doesn't hurt to cut hair.
"We must respect the child and he must understand that he is respected. He needs to be prepared for everything that is going to be done for him." Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures
- Ask: Each week I asked Teddy if he was ready for his haircut. For awhile he said no, or gave a time when he would be ready. But, then one day he said yes. So we scheduled.
- Pick Your Time: I picked a time when I thought it would be less busy (right before lunch on a Tuesday) This way I knew that it would be quieter and less overwhelming. Some kids might like more action happening and might feel more comfortable during a busier time - trust and know your child.
- Explain: I made sure that I took the time to explain everything that was happening to Teddy as his hair was getting cut. It was good modeling for the adult who may not have been used to that, and helpful for Teddy to know what was happening.
And, that's it! Overall it was a really successful and low stress event for Teddy and I think will start him off on a positive foot with haircuts. Moving forward, I will continue to ask (as I notice the need) if Teddy wants a haircut. Ultimately, it's his hair and the length he chooses will be up to him.
How do you prepare for a first haircut?
How do you prepare for a first haircut?
