In their formative years, children are naturally curious about themselves and the people around them.  From recognizing their own reflection to understanding friendships and family roles, these early discoveries shape how children see themselves and connect with others. Everyday interactions, with parents, siblings, teachers, and peers, quietly lay the groundwork for their sense of self, empathy, and confidence. 

While many of these experiences happen in the classroom, they can be meaningfully extended at home. Here are simple, Montessori-inspired activities families can try to support children in their exploration of themselves, their families, and their friends.

All About Me Tray

What You Need:

• A small tray or basket
• A mirror
• Photos of your child
• Objects that represent their interests (favourite toy, book, color swatch, etc.)

Activity:
Invite your child to freely explore the tray. Encourage them to look into the mirror, identify their facial features, and talk about the objects they see. Ask open-ended questions such as, “What do you like about yourself?” or “What makes you special?”

Montessori Touch:
This activity nurtures self-awareness and confidence. By reflecting on their own interests and features, children begin forming a positive sense of identity.

Emotion Matching Cards

What You Need:

• Cards showing different facial expressions (happy, sad, angry, relaxed, etc.)

Activity:
Lay out the cards and invite your child to name each emotion. Ask them to share times when they felt that way, or match emotions to family members, friends, or story characters.

Montessori Touch:
Recognizing and naming emotions builds emotional literacy. This helps children develop empathy and self-regulation, skills that are essential for forming healthy friendships in preschool and beyond.

Family Photo Storytelling

What You Need:

• Printed family photos

Activity:
Sit together and look through the photos. Invite your child to name family members and describe moments captured in the pictures. They may also sequence photos to tell a story about a family event.

Montessori Touch:
Storytelling supports language development, memory, and emotional connection. Children learn about family roles and relationships, strengthening their sense of belonging and understanding of family structures.

Family Tree Craft

What You Need:

• Paper or cardboard
• Crayons or coloured pencils
• Glue
• Printed photos or drawn pictures of family members

Activity:
Help your child create a simple family tree. Let them decide where to place each family member and decorate the tree as they wish. Afterwards, let them talk about their finished work.

Montessori Touch:
This process-based art activity allows children to visually organize relationships. It encourages independence, fine motor skills, and an appreciation of family diversity.

Friendship Bracelet Making

What You Need:

• Yarn or string
• Large beads (safe for preschoolers)

Activity:
Invite your child to create bracelets for their friends, allowing them to freely choose the colors and patterns to be used.

Montessori Touch:
This activity strengthens fine motor skills and concentration. More importantly, it encourages children to think about others, fostering generosity and emotional connection.

Me and My Friends Sorting Activity

What You Need:

• Photos or drawings of your child and their friends
• A flat surface or tray

Activity:
Ask your child to sort pictures based on different criteria: who they play with at school, who they see outside of school, or shared interests.

Montessori Touch:
Sorting builds logical thinking and classification skills. It also helps children reflect on social connections, reinforcing their understanding of friendship and relationships.

Why Social and Emotional Learning Matters

Identity and relationships are not taught through direct instruction, but discovered through meaningful experiences. When children are supported in understanding their emotions and relationships, they build skills that last a lifetime, empathy, resilience, and a strong sense of self. 

At House on the Hill, children are viewed as whole individuals: social, emotional, physical, and cognitive learners. Home activities that reflect Montessori principles while exploring these facets extend classroom learning in a natural way.

When exploring these activities at home:

• Let your child take the lead
• Use open-ended questions like “How does that make you feel?”
• Focus on the process, not the end result

For parents exploring preschool in Singapore, we invite you to discover the Montessori approach and its positive impact on a child’s holistic growth.