Furnishing a children's room that is not only practical and functional, but above all child-friendly, proves to be a big challenge for many parents. Ultimately, this is where you sleep, play, romp and learn! Creating a multifunctional space where little ones learn something new every day, entertain themselves and discover the world in a playful way is a difficult task. This is where Maria Montessori's pedagogical concept for the prepared environment comes to the rescue. It says that the role of adults is to provide the child with an environment that meets his needs and is aligned with his hunger to learn. This means he can develop his skills undisturbed and gradually become more independent. The so-called house bed for children plays a crucial role. The piece of furniture fulfills several important functions and supports children in developing their interests in freedom.
House bed for children: what is the educational Montessori approach?
At first glance, a house bed looks like an ordinary play bed. But so that we understand why it ispromotes child developmentand what role it fulfills in the children's room, we must take a closer look at Maria Montessori's pedagogical approach.
Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870 and graduated in medicine from the University of Rome. At that time, it was forbidden for women to study medicine, but thanks to her excellent performance, Montessori was admitted and successfully completed her studies. Shortly thereafter, she was hired as a doctor at the university clinic and originally worked with disabled children. This work inspired her and she soon began to develop her own pedagogical method. The method caused a sensation in her home country and soon became popular in other countries, including Germany. Today it is still implemented in more than 600 daycare centers nationwide when dealing with children on a daily basis. So that you can get a better idea, we list the most important basic principles of Montessori education for you here:
1. The child's freedom to explore the world is a fundamental part of the concept. Parents should provide the little ones with various opportunities to learn independently and promote their own development. Ultimately, the child learns to solve problems independently and is constantly trying out new things.
2. The child has complete freedom of choice and can decide for themselves which topic they want to deal with, what they want to try out and whether someone should support them. For example, the child can choose a partner when playing.
3. A well-prepared environment adapted to the child's level of development. All toys, learning materials, books and other materials are clearly arranged in the room. They are also within easy reach so that the child can always take them and bring them back independently.
4. The room is divided into several areas: play area, study area, sleeping area, reading area.
5. There are clear rules in the children's room: The parents have made the room child-friendly, but the child has to complykeep this orderand always return all toys, documents, etc. to their place.
Basically, the Montessori principles say that parents should create a safe environment for children and then give them the freedom to explore it independently. And that's why the house bed is an inseparable part of itMontessori children's roombecome: It enables barrier-free movement in the room.
Structure, positioning in space, functions
Construction:A house bed for children is made from solid wood, most often pine or birch. The construction itself is very simple. Parents with good craftsmanship can also master the task themselves. If you don't dare, you can also order a bed. In this case, you will have to assemble it on site alone. The children's bed is available in several versions: with or without fall protection and with or without slatted frame. Fall protection is only forSmall children between 1 and 2 years oldnecessary, otherwise you can do without it. Whether you choose a children's bed with a slatted frame depends more on whether the child will actually sleep in the bed every night or whether it will be used primarily as a playhouse. If the house bed has a slatted frame, it adapts to the child's body weight and can additionally support the flexibility of the mattress. A roll-up frame is a space-saving alternative for parents who want to use the house bed as a playhouse and only convert it into a guest bed when necessary. If the mattress is placed directly on the floor, even small children and babies can climb on it. However, the mattress should be aired at least two to three times a week, otherwise you risk mold growth.
When it comes to decoration, you also have several options to choose from: you can opt for a bed canopy or decorate the house bed with a garland. Fairy lights can also be wrapped around the roof.
Positioning in space:The house bed for children can be compared to a four-poster bed. It takes up extra space and if you choose it, you will have to forego shelves and closets above the bed. It is also only partially suitable for children's rooms with sloping ceilings. It is also important not to place the bed against an outside wall and to avoid drafts.
A house bed can perform several functions:
1. As a place to sleep. This means that children can rediscover the world, play and move freely in the room as soon as they wake up. However, an important prerequisite is that the rest of the room is designed to be child-safe.
2. As an additional sleeping option for parents in case the child becomes ill, or for other children who are guests and will stay overnight with you.
3. As a cozy reading corner or day bed where the little ones can sit or lie down and leaf through their favorite books.
4. As a playhouse when decorated appropriately. In this case, you can position the cottage in a corner.
The advantages and disadvantages of the house bed at a glance:
Advantages:
+ Promotes creativity, independence and enables free movement in space.
+ There is no risk of falling, such as with loft beds. Accidents can therefore be easily avoided, provided the children do not use the roof as a climbing frame.
+ Can be decorated as desired with fabric, garlands, cuddly pillows and toys.
+ Is also ideal for a DIY project. The construction is extremely simple and can be assembled and dismantled quickly.
+ It basically grows with the child and doesn't need to be converted.
Disadvantages:
– The entire room should be designed to be child-safe, especially for small children. This means that it is better to attach wardrobes, chests of drawers and all larger pieces of furniture to the wall. Parents should also always ensure that their little ones do not leave the room without supervision and injure themselves.
– Takes up a lot of space, is less suitable for small children's rooms.
– Since the child lies almost directly on the floor, the parents should heat extra. You also need to avoid drafts.
– If the mattress lies directly on the floor, there is a risk of mold forming over time.
Decorate house bed for children
If you are already fascinated by the house bed and would like to implement the Montessori furnishing concept in your own four walls, then we can also help you with several tips regarding decoration. There are no limits to your imagination in this regard. In puristic or Scandinavian children's rooms, you can assemble the bed and leave the wooden surface untreated. Combine it with other wooden furniture, mount wall shelves for the children's books. Decorate the bed with a fabric garland, colorful duvet cover and several cuddly pillows in different shapes and colors. In this way you will set up a gender-neutral children's room where the little ones can develop freely. It is also the perfect space for twins or in the event that siblings have to share a room.
Sometimes the wall decoration makes the difference: with a little skill, you can transform the room into a playful girls' room. With a ready-made stencil and paint, wave motifs can be attached to the wall in no time. A canopy, a cozy faux fur bedspread, a pink fairy light and several decorative pillows with mermaid motifs complete the furnishing concept. Opt for light pastel colors. Celadon green, pink, purple and lavender, for example, form an effective ensemble.
Wallpaper, wall shelves and numerous pictures can give the girl's room additional charm. If the house bed is higher, it is worth considering fall protection. And if the untreated wood does not match the color concept in the children's room, you can simply varnish the wood or paint it with a special wood paint.
Parents with good craftsmanship can also build the bed themselves. In this case, the bed can provide an additional play area for the little ones. With a canopy it can quickly be transformed into a castle or a play tent.
The house bed for children, as part of the Montessori children's room furnishings, offers the little ones the opportunity to discover the world at their own pace. Whether as a cozy reading corner, a play tent or a children's bed: the multifunctional piece of furniture has numerous uses. The bed can also be decorated imaginatively: fabric garlands, fairy lights, wall shelves, cuddly pillows, etc. set the scene effectively. The construction is very simple, can be painted if desired and can be perfectly adapted to the needs of the children. That's why the bed basically grows with you and, unlike loft beds and other children's beds, doesn't need to be converted. In the photo series below you will find further examples of how you can effectively stage the all-rounder. Let this inspire you!
