Montessori reading area - it is a space in our home or class where all necessary conditions are created for a child to immerse themselves in the process of reading.
We might think that such area requires a lot of space, but that's not the case. The reading zone can fit into any room, regardless of its size, even if you don't have a dedicated children's room.
Just take a look at how differently you can arrange this corner so that all family members feel comfortable.
The reading zone can be in the living room or next to the bed. Whether it's a full-sized floor shelf or just a small wall-mounted one, it all depends on the possibilities of your space and finances, but you can create this corner for your child.
So, what do you need to create a nice reading zone?
- Bookshelf.
It can be a wall-mounted shelf or a freestanding one. The important thing is to have the books facing the child. This way, the child can recognize their favorite book and will want to take it from the shelf on their own to read.
- Seating area.
A comfortable and cozy rug, a small chair, a sofa, or a stool. Whatever you choose, the child will be happy to sit comfortably for extended reading sessions.
However, even considering all the necessary elements, we can still make many mistakes.
What are the most common mistakes adults make when creating this zone?
- Placing shelves too high.
Before mounting the shelves on the wall, think about the child and lower yourself to their height. Will they be able to reach the books on such shelves independently?
If not, then:
- they will constantly ask you for help;
- they won't be interested in going to those books at all because they will feel incapable and demotivated - "I can't even reach that book";
- it's dangerous because the child may try to reach for the books, pull on the shelf, and everything might collapse on them.
- Books stacked one behind the other.
In this case, the child won't see what each book is. As a result, they will take out all the books to find the one they want, creating a mess around them, and they won't be able to read with focus because other books will distract them. Moreover, no child will want to clean up all that mess after reading.
- Too many books.
I understand that if you love reading, you might have a large collection of books, but it doesn't mean you have to display all your library in the child's view and reach. This may work for us adults because we have developed self-control and analysis, so we know exactly what we need and read the titles at a glance. But it won't work with a child. Having too many options can have the opposite effect, and the child won't know what to choose. So, we choose a limited number of books, and the rest of our treasure is kept in closed storage and rotated.
- Mixing the reading zone with the play area.
Beauty lies in simplicity! And I know how tempting it is to recreate those perfect kids' spaces from Pinterest, but adding unnecessary decorations to this zone or, worse, toys on the shelf amidst the books will send mixed signals to the child. Books are not toys! Books require a different attitude and mood for the reading process. So, it's better to separate these zones and keep toys on the toy shelf and books among books.
- No place to sit.
Even if you have nice shelves and not many books, where will the child sit with their book? Go to another room? Along the way, something might catch their attention, and reading won't happen. So, it's essential to have a seating area right next to the bookshelf.
May your reading zone be organized and comfortable for the child!
If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask in the comments. By doing so, you support my work on the blog and help promote it, and perhaps your question will solve the problem for other parents.