These three words can guide your choices as a parent of a young child.

You make choices based on what you believe to be best for your child and family. These choices may be based on emotion, assumptions, or exasperation. I encourage you to consider making your decisions based on a system you know can work.

When you can create a system for yourself in your decision making for your children, you may find that you have better, less-stressful outcomes and more confidence as a parent.

Although all situations and families are different, many of the choices you make as a parent in a day can go back to these three words: Choose. Move. Repeat.

These are the three freedoms that Dr. Maria Montessori provided for in her first classroom and are still part of every authentic Montessori environment (whether home or school).

The freedom to choose.

The freedom to move.

And the freedom to repeat .

Within a classroom, this may seem easy, but what does this mean as a parent?

I recommend that as a parent, when faced with making a decision about What’s for dinner? Do we go to the park or on a walk? or Will you wear a blue or green hat? you come back to these three freedoms.

Ask yourself: How can I offer my child choice in this situation?

For example, if it is dinner, can he choose between carrots or green beans?

Then ask, How can my child have the freedom to move in this situation?

You can offer your child freedom of movement with dinner is by inviting them to help set the table or wash the carrots?

Whenever you incorporate movement into a task, you help children connect and learn. Children need to move to learn and can get very frustrated when expected to be still.

The next question you can ask is: What part of this can we repeat?

Well, when it comes to dinner, I suggest just one dinner (Ha!). You can think about what are the repetitions within the dinner? When setting the table, how many place settings are needed? When washing the carrots, how many carrots need to be washed? Then how can this become a daily activity? Can you repeat this multiple times a week? Can your child come to count on this as a predictable routine?

Choose, move, repeat. These three words can be a system and checklist for parents while bringing consistency, predictability, and routine to your days. They are the three words that can create harmony in your busy family life.

Sarah Moudry (@sarahmoudry) is an education innovator whose work is focused on creating education environments and experiences that inspire growth and joy. Her work is rooted in Montessori philosophy and paired with her extensive experience as a designer.

Recently, her projects included the founding of StudioJune (@thestudiojune), a Montessori parent and child education center, and Family Friendly Home (@familyfriendlyhome), an interior design company that creates inspirational home and school interiors.

Sarah is the author of books and online courses that help parents, childcare professionals, and grandparents to incorporate Montessori practice into their lives. She has an M.Ed in Montessori education, a B.S. in environment and design, AMI Montessori certification for birth to six years, and is an Associate Member of ASID.