I was hoping to post about our own Montessori kitchen, but alas, we’re not done setting it up yet.
We have a low drawer with James’s things (bowls, glasses, spoons and forks, a sponge, small dish towels), but I also want to add a low shelf where I can put self-serve snacks and food preparation tools as he gets a little bit older. I would also love to add a water source for him. As soon as we finish, I will make sure to post an update.
Instead, I thought I’d share a few Montessori-inspired kitchens that I love. I could happily look at pictures of Montessori spaces all day and these are some of my favorites.
A “Montessori kitchen” is set up for the child’s independence. The child’s dishes, tools, and cleaning supplies are accessible on a low shelf so that he can get them himself. Many Montessori kitchens also have a water source available to the child, a work space for food prep, and some have a small refrigerator or a refrigerator drawer designated for the child to access independently.
There is no one “right” way to do this. It can be adapted based on your kitchen and also based on the ages of the children in your house, and their level of interest in cooking and food preparation.
Many Montessori homes use play kitchens as the base of their children’s kitchen setup because they include a “sink” where the children can work with water. These play kitchens aren’t used for pretend pots and pans though, they are used to provide the child with a space to actually work in the kitchen.
I love the simplicity of this shelf. It is totally accessible, regardless of the size of your kitchen, and would be relatively easy and inexpensive to put together.
How We Montessori Kitchen Progression
I love seeing how this beautiful kitchen setup changed over the years! I’m also hoping to get a small water dispenser like the one shown in the 18 month kitchen picture for James soon.
This is so beautiful, I’m in love with the aesthetic of this one. I especially like the removable stainless steel sink and the water dispenser setup.
This one is full of great Ikea hacks, which makes it a relatively affordable setup. I love the description of how her child uses his work space too – great inspiration!
I love the inclusion of a mini fridge in this one! It really takes accessibility to the next level, and also looks pretty adorable.
I hope you love these beautiful child-centered kitchens as much as I do. Hopefully I can share ours soon!
Do you have a kitchen setup for your child? Tell me about it or link to pictures in the comments!
6 Comments
What a cool idea! I have been working on a snack station in the pantry where the kids can get their own snacks. They love to help in the kitchen but I had never thought to set up a space for them like this.
My son has just figured out how to open the pantry, so I need to do that soon!
This is such an interesting post. I’ve really noticed recently, as I’m thinking on my toddler going to preschool later this year, that my house is not set up well for his independence. It is not safe for him to climb into and off of his booster seat himself and even with a stool it is difficult for him to reach the bathroom sink (partially cause he is short). I love seeing the Montessori set ups with child-size options! Looking forward to seeing your kitchen set up when you are done!
Thank you! Sadly, mine is still not done…hopefully soon! I have the same problem with the bathroom sink, I got a step stool, but I need to find another one because he still can’t quite reach. It’s hard to find one that’s tall enough, but still sturdy!
This is adorable! Liam goes downstairs in the morning to “make breakfast.” This usually involves grabbing granola from a low shelf in the pantry and a spoon. That’s it! I really like all these additions and will consider adding more useful items to his breakfast shelf.
Aww, that’s awesome that he makes his own breakfast! Nothing wrong with keeping it simple 🙂 I hope you guys are doing well!