Create a Montessori-Style Daily Tasks Chart

Ha, back to school…! Getting back into the routine after the holidays isn’t always easy. Yet, routine is essential for children: it reassures them, gives them structure, and supports their balance.

Maria Montessori explains it very well: children need a clear framework to thrive, but also opportunities to develop their independence, step by step.

👉 A simple and effective tool to help them organize their day?
A daily tasks chart, to make yourself in a fun and creative way. And the bonus: by creating it with your children, you already encourage them to use it!

Why is a routines chart useful according to Montessori?

Montessori pedagogy is based on the principle that children learn best when they are active participants in their daily actions. The tasks chart is not a control tool, but a visual support that makes the day’s flow concrete and accessible.

Its benefits:

• Independence: the child knows what to do and when, without relying on adult reminders.

• Clarity: with simple pictograms (drawings, photos, icons), even the youngest can understand.

💡 Tip: prioritize real photos, of your child or everyday objects. More realistic than icons, they help the child visualize the action more easily.

• Participation: by decorating and making their chart, the child takes ownership and enjoys using it.

• Progressivity: start with 2–3 pictograms (brush teeth, put on pajamas, get dressed). Then add more over time according to age and ability.

DIY Inspirations for a Daily Tasks Chart

There are countless ways to create a routines chart. Here are some easy models to make with recycled materials, from simplest to most elaborate:

1. The Bead Version

• Materials: thick cardboard or laminated cardstock.

• Each action is associated with a string containing a bead, which the child moves when completing the task.

• Adaptable: more or fewer actions depending on age, and multiple beads if several children use the same chart (example video or Pinterest example to download).

• Montessori Bonus: replace pictograms with photos of the child performing the action → more concrete and motivating (example).

2. Clothespins / Thumbtacks Version

• Materials: thick cardboard or cork board + wooden clothespins or thumbtacks.

• Each pin represents a task that the child moves.

• Simple and effective (example video).
  ⚠️ This system assumes the child already knows at what time of day the task should be done.

3. Printable Version with Velcro

• Print, laminate, and attach with velcro or on a magnetic board (example video).

• Express alternative: simple cardstock + sticky tack (example 1, example 2 more elaborate).

• Ideal for starting with minimal materials.

4. More Elaborate and Aesthetic Version

• Made of wood or durable materials, ready to use.
  👉 Example: June & Jane.

Steps to Make Your Own DIY Chart

• Choose the base
  Thick cardboard, recycled wooden board, or simple laminated cardstock.

• Create the pictograms
  Hand drawings, printed images, photos of the child.
  Montessori Tip: always prefer clear and precise images, ideally real photos.

• Provide a moving system
  Clothespins, velcro strips, magnets, envelopes…

• Involve the child
  Cutting, coloring, gluing… The more they participate, the more they will proudly use their chart.

• Start small
  Introduce only 2–3 tasks. Gradually add new steps as the routine is established.

A Tool That Grows with the Child

The chart can evolve with the child:

• 3–4 years: simple routines (wash hands, put on pajamas).

• 5–6 years: more steps (prepare backpack, tidy up toys).

• 7–8 years: expanded responsibilities (set the table, feed a pet).

It’s a responsibility tool that naturally adapts to the child’s development.

Conclusion

Creating a daily tasks chart is not just a fun craft activity for back-to-school. It’s also a concrete way to foster independence, confidence, and calm at home.

With a few recycled materials and a bit of imagination, you provide your child with a simple, playful, and Montessori-friendly tool to organize their daily life.

✨ Ready for a calmer back-to-school and a year full of independence!