While the prepared environment is a concept for Montessori classrooms, the philosophy can also be created at home.

"When you enter a Montessori classroom, you'll notice it is calm, organized, and attention has been paid to adding beautiful touches throughout the space," Lanou says. "The same can be true for a child's space in their home. One of the first important steps for parents is to manage the huge amount of 'stuff,' such as toys. Doing a massive de-cluttering will make everything else easier. If you just can't bring yourself to getting rid of certain items, keep them in a box, in a storage area, and rotate through them over time."

Everything in its Place

Lanou recommends choosing one area or shelf for your child's various belongings, such as toys, puzzles, and books.

"Lay them out neatly and separated from each other. This will make each stand out, be noticed, and feel special," she says. "It will also help your child know where it belongs when they are finished with it. In their Montessori classroom, children return their activities to the shelf where they chose them from when they're finished. They learn that this is important so that others know where to find that work when they want to choose it."

More than just being tidy, this teaches children to care for their environment and be aware of their impact on it.

"Young children have a very strong sense of, and need for, order in their lives," Lanou says. "At home, this process of putting away their puzzle may seem unnecessary to a child when they found it on the floor in the first place, or maybe they found it from a big bin of toys. By giving it a special designated place, they are more likely to make sure it returns there. And isn't it easier to keep an area with ten special toys or books organized than it is to keep a big heap of activities organized?! Then, from time to time, you can rotate the activities out and bring something new out. And that's so exciting to see an old favorite toy or a brand new one!"

Ditch the Toy Box

"There's an essential developmental incentive to clear the clutter out of your child's life," wrote P. Donahue Shortridge, a longtime Montessorian. "Providing external order for your child shows him to organize his thinking. He is categorizing, sorting, grading, and matching all the impressions he takes in every day."

Shortridge recommends getting rid of the traditional toy box and replacing it with a shelving system. Having a large, unorganized assortment of toys on top of each other is itself a form of clutter.

"No matter how cute, inexpensive, convenient or cherished, the large universal receptacle does not lend itself to everything having a place," Shortridge writes. "Shelving is best. Categorize the toys by type; each deserves a box, then shelved."

Show Them How Now

Make the clean-up process a natural part of the playing process by putting away toys and learning objects together with your child. By doing this early and often, children will see that putting away their toys is as natural a part of the process as when they took those objects out of them out.

This doesn't have to be a chore, either. Putting toys away can be made into a fun game. However you do it, it will be effective; the best way for children to learn a behavior is when they see their parents exhibit that behavior.

Limit, Contain, Donate

For containing toy clutter, A Fine Parent recommends a three-part approach: Limit, Contain, Donate.

Limiting the number of toys a child has available through cycling them in and out makes everything afterward easier. It can also make old toys feel new again after the child hasn't seen them for a few months, the parenting blog points out.

Contain by enforcing designated spaces for toys to be stored when they're not being played with, as well as certain areas for when they are being used.

Donating toys once in a while is a surefire way to decrease clutter, while also doing a little bit of good for others.

A Little Beauty Helps

"And don't forget to add that special touch of beauty to the area," Lanou says. "Perhaps a little vase with flowers or a potted plant, a bowl with shells you found at the beach, or a framed photo of your family. These little touches add warmth and an invitation to maintain and treasure this special area."

Dr. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori method, wrote: "We should take care of the child just in the same way that the earth was prepared for millions of years to prepare for human beings."

"This is our power, and our responsibility, as adults, to prepare the environment for the child," Lanou says. "And by doing this, we are changing children's lives."