The Montessori environment is specifically and intentionally prepared for the child. Everything that is placed in the classroom has a purpose. When adding a material or an item to the classroom, it is important to ask, “How does this contribute to the child’s learning?” If it does not have a specific purpose, then it probably does not belong.

Recently, there have been a lot of images posted online of classrooms decorated to look like vintage carnivals or circus environments. Bulletin boards and windows are decked out in bright banners and made to look like the “big top” tents. Red and white striped popcorn buckets are used for everything from pencil holders to bookends on library shelves.

These classrooms are bright and colorful, but they are also cluttered and distracting. The energy of bright, primary colors bounces off the walls. Every inch of space seems to be decorated with cute ‘stuff’ that screams “this is a fun place to be!” The décor beckons the children to play rather than to work or learn.

The stimulating surroundings make it difficult for the children to focus on their work instead of on their environment.

Often, our first response to seeing a decorated classroom is “Oh, how cute!” And the creativity and work that goes into creating these spaces is impressive. But, it is important to consider the environment’s purpose and the children’s needs: “What is the purpose of the décor? How does it fit with your expectations of learning and behavior?” Look at the classroom from a Montessori perspective and reflect on the intent of each item in the environment.

An Intentional Environment for Intentional Learning — Understanding the Montessori Prepared Environment

Studies have shown that a large amount of color can be overstimulating, causing the mind to work continuously to remove the distraction and organize the visual information. Too much color, too many patterns, and excess motion can create a stressful learning environment. (Verhese, 2001) Studies suggest that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or sensory processing disorders react negatively to primary colors. Students of all ages and abilities respond favorably to less stimulating environments that have subdued, warm neutral color schemes with low wall-to-floor contrast. (Gaines & Curry, 2011)

The carefully prepared and intentional Montessori environment goes beyond color and clutter.

The materials themselves purposefully lead the child from concrete understanding to abstract thinking. Made from natural substances, the materials also help the children make connections with the natural world. Materials should be in perfect working order and intact. If they have missing or broken pieces, the materials should be removed from the shelves until they are repaired or replaced. And they should always be returned to their proper place so that the child may find them without struggle.

Preparing the Montessori environment goes beyond placing materials on the shelves. Every object in the Montessori environment is chosen intentionally, with its direct and indirect purpose in mind.

The intentionally prepared environment satisfies the needs of the child while removing distractions that may act as an obstacle to his learning.