Unpopular opinion alert: Montessori spaces aren't meant to be "perfect". We often refer to them as a living, breathing space. Which means - they will get messy! Things will be out of place, maybe they will be cluttered, maybe there will be too many toys in rotation. You will notice. Your child will have a harder time finding things, being independent and putting things away. The mess will come back. So what does this mean? You're not failing at Montessori! Your space is one where children are taking the lead and that means it won't always go exactly as planned. Here's what you can do: Take a moment and observe. What are they having trouble with? What part of the environment seems to be the problem? Are the systems in place working? Do they need tweaking? In my experience, most often, when the child is not putting things away, it's because the system needs adjusting. So edit what's there and adjust your system. When you're done, bring them to the space and talk about any new changes together. Most importantly, try again! Montessori is a journey and not a destination. Our learning is never complete and we are always adjusting and growing 💜