Montessori assistance for parents + teachers so that they can ditch the overwhelm and be empowered.
Judgement-free Montessori guidance for parents + educators
Social media scrolling got you down? You see all these wonderful ideas you’d like to try to make the perfect environment for your child or students, but you are unsure where to start and get stuck feeling…. well, stuck. (Not to mention, who can afford to buy all new things, anyway?)
Do any of these sound familiar?
✔ You're always wishing you had the perfect Instagram-worthy playroom
✔ You're constantly saying that you wish your child had a longer attention span
✔ You feel like it’s impossible to get anything done when your child is awake
✔ You're frequently wondering how anyone can cook with their child, let alone use the bathroom alone!
Imagine what it would feel like if you knew exactly what to do to boost your child’s natural independence, promote their self-confidence, and give yourself a little break, too!
What if I told you that you could...
✔ Enjoy a cup of coffee without interruption (maybe it’s not a pipe dream)
✔ Understand what to look for to know what toys and books to put out for your child’s development and how to do it in a way that interests them
✔ Do chores with your child’s assistance, no matter their age
✔ Create a child-safe area in almost any part of your home that allows them to have freedom and independence without the need to worry
Introducing:
Prepare My Environment
With Prepare My Environment, you can:
Have your own Montessori “Clea and Joanna” moment*
If you live in the NYC/Boston/CT area, I can come to you!
Get the child-friendly, Montessori-inspired kitchen, playroom, bedroom, bathroom, or home you’ve always admired.
*pssst….think “The Home Edit”
Meet Virtually
Not in my general vicinity? No worries, I can give you lots of tips and tricks over Facetime or Zoom. I work with your floorplan and what you own to guide you to make your home Montessori-friendly.
Experience Judgement-Free Guidance
Homes are super intimate, personal spaces. Messy, cozy, and cluttered or clean, lean, and minimal, I work with YOU to figure out, well, what works best for YOU. Judgement-free guaranteed.
What People Are Saying:
“Kari has created an environment that my children are drawn to and our family wholeheartedly admires.”
— Erin
Your life before Prepare My Environment:
Even when surrounded by fun toys, your child doesn’t seem to want to play
Shopping for educational toys is overwhelming
You struggle to entertain your child and wish they could become more independent
Envisioning your child helping to tidy up is simply a dream
Your life after Prepare My Environment:
An organized play area that can entice your child to have some focused fun
Knowing that everyday objects you already own can be enough- no need to lust after the newest trendy toy
Grab some free, quiet time for yourself, no matter what age your child is
Your child knows exactly where everything goes and is willing to help*
*that’s the goal, anyway!
Here’s what you get:
1. Customized Prepared Environment
Dr. Montessori believed that the environment is a child’s “third teacher” (along with themselves, first, and their guide (teacher/parent.) Your space will be analyzed by an expert-trained and well-practiced Montessori teacher and mom; that knows how to strike a balance between what the child needs developmentally and what is fun and comfortable (even if you homeschool, home isn’t a classroom!)
2. Access to an expert Montessorian
While preparing your environment, ask me anything about your child’s development, something that you’ve always been wondering about, Montessori philosophy, or any specific toys or activities you’ve wanted to do. I’m here to help create your holistic Montessori experience in a realistic way.
3. Get everything you need in one place
After working together, whether in-person or virtually, you’ll receive a written report about everything we discussed, including links to anything I recommend. This will be password-protected on my website, so you can access it anytime from anywhere.
$100/hr. in person*
or
$75 /hr. virtually
15-minute free discovery call to see if we are the right fit for each other
A cost/hour estimate is given to ensure this fits your budget
In-person, a finished space that is able to meet your child’s and your family’s needs.
A virtual option that will give you a step-by-step process to create your very own prepared environment using what you already own
The opportunity to ask any questions of an experienced Montessori teacher and mom
Lists (and links) to specific Montessori materials or Montessori-inspired toys we discussed
BONUS: a written report on your own website page with links that you can access from anywhere
*additional costs may apply
Need to chat first? Book a Free Discovery call here.
Now booking clients for January 2024.
Need to chat first? Book a free Discovery Call here.
Here's what happens when you sign up:
Step 1.
You’ll fill in the form linked by the button below and tell me all about you, your child(ren), & your needs!
Step 2.
We will schedule a free Discovery Call or virtual meeting to determine if we are a good match for each other and to answer any of your questions.
Step 3.
I’ll create a contract, and we will both sign. You will share more personalized information about your child(ren), your home, your goals, your floorplan, etc.
Step 4.
We will pick a date for your in-home consultation or virtual environment preparation!
Projects:
1. My Own Home
Preparing the environment for my own home has been an ongoing project for the past nine years! After all, as my kids have grown, their needs have changed. I first prepared the environment to welcome my oldest into the world, and I have never stopped. The challenge of making a safe space for two children was my biggest (and most rewarding) challenge.
2. Montessori Classrooms
I have taught in five AMS classrooms over the years- three out of five started from scratch. I had to set up the classroom for over twenty students many times. Whether it be a toddler classroom, a 3-6, 6-9 or 9-12; I have done it all! (That’s the equivalent of pre-k through grade 6 in US public school talk.)
3. Friends and Family
I’ve been graciously invited to help set up the homes of my family and friends along with my clients, which is super rewarding. My favorite experience has been a new mother in Miami that needed help figuring out the arrangement of her child’s bedroom-it had a tricky configuration!
FAQs
1. I’m a Montessori teacher or Head of School. How can you help me?
One of my absolute favorite things is cultivating the perfect Montessori classroom experience. I’d be happy to help- let’s chat!
2. If I get rid of all my child’s non-Montessori type toys, I’m afraid we’ll have nothing left.
I hear you! The good news is two-fold. First, we can start small and still keep what your child loves to play with. Yes, if you want, you can still keep that electronic push-button toy. On the other hand, children are often overwhelmed by too many toys and less is often more. You may be surprised with how little they actually need!
3. What do I do with all my decluttered items?
I can advise you on what to re-sell and recommend places to do so. Or, if you’d rather donate it, I can take it off your hands and bring it to a local charity. No extra work for you.
4. My house is a disaster. I’d be too embarrassed to have someone come in and see it!
Listen, I GET it. While I spend a lot of time cultivating the spaces in my home, my own kids can be messy, and life gets busy. My home is far from perfect (please don’t look in my oldests’ room right now…) Your priorities may not be to have a perfectly clean kids’ area. It’s all good! I promise, you will get no judgement from me- only support. And, your area will be clean and tidy when I’m done!
5. I want to have matching baskets and bins and make things look aesthetically pleasing. Can you help with this? Do you go shopping? How do I know what I need?
The short answer- yes, I can help! We can do this in one day or multiple visits, depending on where you live and your budget. I’m happy to work with you to create the most beautiful space in a way that works for you. It also sounds like so. much. fun. Can we start now?
6. My kids are different ages and have different needs. Especially keeping small things out of the way of my youngest. Can you help?
Absolutely. My kids are almost three years apart, and I’ve been there. Wanting to give my oldest some independence but being absolutely petrified of my youngest choking on a stray lego. Rest assured, it can be done, and having an outside person (aka: me!) take a look at your space and rearrange furniture to help create a flow that works for both children can take a lot off of your plate.