When Your Three Year-Old Can’t Sit Still for a Lesson, You Change the Lesson!

“I’m FREE!” he announces, and you laugh because you know he meant “THREE years old” but yeah, he’s free as well. Free as a bird. Free wheelin’. This kid never ever stops moving! And he’s messy.

One time he got ahold of the shaving cream and you found him staring at himself in the mirror with a big long white “beard”. It was also all over his clothes. Another time he spent the whole day “reorganizing” his toys moving them from his playroom into the living room. Tired but motivated by the fear of tripping, you dumped them all back in the playroom without bothering to put them back on the shelves. You know the mess will just start over again the next day.

This is motherhood. You’re here for it, whatever it brings! Omigosh, yet if he could slow down a touch, that would be kind of great? Right?

But the Montessori Lessons Can’t Wait

No. They cannot. Time is passing by quickly. The Montessori aspirations you have have to happen NOW…before he grows up! But every time you try to sit him down for a lesson, well...it doesn’t go well.

You’re trying to teach him a sound game because you know “I Spy” is a classic Montessori activity. (It is!) You’ve got a basket of little objects, a gentle voice, and so much hope in your heart.

This kid, though? He’s licking the objects. He’s climbing, dumping, scooping…anything but sitting still and naming sounds!

Inside your head, a little voice is starting to whisper: Is he even ready for this? Am I doing it wrong?

I want to tell you something that took me a while to believe, and I did this twice because I had two high-energy, super sensory-seeking children three years apart.

Your child’s need for movement is not a barrier to Montessori learning; in fact, right now, it’s a bonus!

Let’s Tweak Those Lessons

Your child is not behind. He’s not weird. And the lesson may be spot on. Instead, trust that he’s showing you exactly what he needs, and right now that’s big, whole-body learning with a dollop of super sensory fun!

The next time you bring out those sound games, I want you to try these twists:

• Move. Don’t sit still! Get that basket of little objects and this time scatter them around the house, strategically. Then, say “I spy something in the kitchen on the counter that starts with /m/!” Let your child race into the kitchent to retrieve that mmmmmmuffin! Now that is joyful, integrated phonemic awareness.

• Take it outside. Indoor activities may not be your child’s best friend right now. You can still play sound games on the playground. “I see the sssssswing!”

• Make it musical. Instead of talking calmly through the lesson, try singing or using a fun rhythmic voice. Children do pay more attention to sing-songy and peculiar voices. That’s why shows like Sesame Street use it to their advantage!

Progress Will Happen

In the meantime, your lessons will get a lot more fun, and you’ll start feeling more confident as your child’s teacher. Know that concentration does take time to develop..sometimes lots of time if your child is a little developmentally on the slow side. There’s nothing wrong with that, if you were wondering. There’s a wide range of “normal” in early childhood.

As time goes on, you’ll start to have more wins, though! Your child will stay focused for longer. He will revisit familiar materials and use them more purposefully. One day, you’ll just find yourself using that quiet, calm voice again and he’ll be still for a little while.

This is Montessori magic in action.

You meet your child where they are, and in doing so, you build the bridge to where they’re going.

You Can Absolutely Do This

You don’t need a “perfect” child who sits cross-legged and nods on cue. Who wants that anyway when you already have a TRULY perfect child? A wild and wonderful, curious and courageous one! You already have what it takes to teach this little darling: love and trust.

If you’re nodding right now, thinking, this sounds like my child, we’ve got your number. 😉

And if you want to know exactly how to plan your Montessori day, what materials to offer next, what lessons to wait on, we've got a resource for you that will make it all feel so much easier.

🎉 Start your free 7-Day Trial. If you decide to stay and upgrade to our full and complete curriculum, you’ll get instant access to the Lesson Explorer, fully-scripted sound games, a plethora of ideas for sensory-seeking kids, and our Montessori Planning Card System to help you create a homeschool rhythm that you love.