Jasmine: I have been a mainstream educator, policymaker, trained in Maria Montessori Institute, London as an AMI Assistant for 3-6 and 6-12yos, and a certificate in Interior Design Level 1 from Central Saint Martin's, UK. I teach Montessori parenting courses online and have had the pleasure of working with parents around the world. But my biggest accomplishment is mothering two children I've raised the Montessori way.

Jasmine: Montessori is not just an educational philosophy, but a way of life that encourages independence and peacefulness. Konmari® gave me the tools to support peacefulness at home. I have tried other ways of decluttering, but the mess always comes back. Konmari® is the only system that has allowed my home to stay uncluttered. One point that resonates in both Konmari® and Montessori, is how you don't need to empty your home of all you love. A home doesn't have to stay spotless and spartan all day. Rather, after children play, by having a place for everything, it is easy to restore order.

Jasmine: When the world is acclimating to a new normal, the daily rhythms need to be strengthened, so children know that their parents and their home will always be their sanctuary and safe base. Home has become a place where we spend more time, and with that, many parents are looking to organise their homes and provide rich learning experiences at home, from growing a container garden or working with their hands. I love to have "connection rituals" daily. This could be as simple as putting my phone away and chatting with my child during lunch, designating one day a week as takeout day and putting the children in charge of choosing (or ordering, if your child is older), or lighting a candle and setting the table with fresh flowers once a week.

Jasmine: My children produce a lot of art, so they are responsible for displaying their art and filing it. We have a large file for each child, and when it's full, the child either has to declutter some or find space for it somehow (they have gotten very creative, sitting on it, folding pieces together, to eke out space for one more artwork). But this also takes the mental load off me as that's one less thing for me to be in charge of; I do not have to scold or nag them. The children are also expected to help around the home with washing dishes, mopping the floors, and so on. This is something we call practical life in Montessori, and it's done wonders for their independence and confidence. They won't need to take adulting classes in college on how to cook or iron, because they already know how to. This year, I gave them a shelf each, that they have to organise and maintain. Each child's shelf holds their collections of hairclips, rocks, or favourite items. I save up pretty gift boxes in different sizes for them to use, so it makes storage fun.

Jasmine: Start with the child's needs. What is one thing that they always ask you for help with? See if you can adjust your home environment by making the item accessible to them. What is one thing you wish they would help with? See if you can provide child-sized or small, easy-to-grip adult tools and build it into a weekly family rhythm, so that it gets done, without the need for praise, rewards. When the child helps you, for example with sweeping the floor or tidying the shelf, it won't be done perfectly at first. Resist, resist the urge to "do it over" for them, as that sends them the message that you will clean up after them!

To check out Jasmine’s Instagram account, click here. You can also read about her parenting journey on her blog here.

KonMari® & Montessori Homes: Guest Interview (Part 2)

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