Parenting

Starting Montessori at Home

February 15, 2012

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is, How do I start teaching my children with the Montessori method at home? The plethora of information out there can be overwhelming and it’s hard to know where to start. If you’re interested in using the Montessori Method in your home, this is what I’d suggest: Research [...]

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Creating a Montessori Environment Without Losing the Home

January 16, 2012

While I love the Montessori philosophy and am happy to incorporate it into our home and make it our choice of schooling, I never want to hold so tightly onto the philosophy at the expense of losing our home environment. What I mean by that is the home should first and foremost be a place [...]

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Use Your Words, Not Your Body

September 27, 2011

We’ve been struggling a bit with Joey expressing himself in inappropriate ways, especially when he feels Otto is invading his space. It can be frustrating for us, becaue must of his triggers are relatively small incidents. But for Joey they feel like a big deal. For example, if we tell him we’re done with an [...]

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Toys & the Child {part 2}

August 12, 2011

If the majority of today’s toys do little to engage the child in meaningful work (or play), then what are we to do? As parents, how do we cultivate an environment that meets our children’s continuously developing needs, allows opportunity to explore, engage in imaginative play, and does not build the standard American consumerist attitude? Each family will answer [...]

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Toys & the Child {part 1}

August 8, 2011

“The toy has become so important that people think it an aid to the intelligence; it is certainly better than nothing, but it is significant that the child quickly tires of a toy and wants new ones.” – Maria Montessori, Education for a New World (64) I remember someone being in our home and heard [...]

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TV & the Imagination

May 31, 2011

Joey’s getting to the age where he’s making up his own stories. It’s fun to watch and hear him narrate. Lately though my husband and I have noticed one thing we don’t like too much, oftentimes instead of coming up with his own story or naming a toy he copies a story he sees from [...]

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Slow Life Down

March 22, 2011

This year I’ve been intentionally seeking to slow our family life down. To live at a more peaceful and relaxed pace without frantically rushing from one activity to the next or running back-to-back errands shoving kids into coats and carseats with sandwiches in my purse. I’m a work in progress, but so far I feel [...]

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When they’re absorbed in a task

January 12, 2011

don’t interrupt! Not for praise, not to encourage them. That can come later. I’ve distracted Joey a time or two while he was working simply because of my own excitement of what he was accomplishing. When a child is actively engaged in a task they’re working. They’re learning. Figuring out how they can manipulate the [...]

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Teaching Toddlers Emotions

December 27, 2010

Our emotions vary from day to day, even in the moments through out the day our temperaments change. These can sometimes be confusing for a young child as they’re not quite sure how to decipher one emotion from the next. Sure some emotions are easier than others, like happy versus sad. But what about frustrated compared to [...]

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Your Baby Can Read?

September 28, 2010

If you have an infant or toddler it’s likely have you’ve seen the advertisements or at least heard about the program Your Baby Can Read. photo credit I’m not buying it. I’ve seen the infomercials and I can’t deny that its brought up the urge to join the bandwagon. But, honestly, that’s just good marketing. This program [...]

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One Day

April 8, 2010

One day you’ll look back and think, “Where did the time go?” Was it worth it? Did I spend enough time with my babies? Do they know how much I love them? Did I teach them the truly important things? There’s still time…our babes are waiting to be filled. You have a chance today to [...]

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