“When I was a kid, there was lots and lots of free play with no parental interaction. My kids cannot be alone for five minutes. WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?” That post was just one of many desperate pleas that came across my Facebook feed as parents in coronavirus quarantines vented online. Parents are trying […]
With an impending lockdown as part of COVID-19 we’ve been pulling together great activities you can do with your children at home. The following list provided by Christina Clemer, is a great starting point, and after you show your child how to complete an activity, put it on a shelf where they can reach it […]
I often get asked where I find my favourite artwork for my classroom and for Montessori printables. There is a wealth out there so here are my current favourite sources to get you started. I’m not affiliated with any of these, I just like and love them. And of course please remember to follow your […]
You may already know a bit about the Montessori work period, also known as the work cycle. What exactly is it, and why is it so important? A Montessori work cycle is an uninterrupted block of time. During this time children are able to explore the prepared environment and engage with materials of their own […]
February, often known as the month of love, is a reminder of the importance of the bonds we share with our loved ones. You can cultivate a strong bond with your child beginning at birth. As you welcome your little one to the world, and create a nurturing environment, you will be laying a lifelong […]
Dr Montessori outlined four consecutive planes, or stages, of development from birth to maturity, each plane spanning approximately six-years. At each plane of development children and young people display intellectual powers, social orientations and creative potential unique to that stage. Each plane is characterised by the way children in that plane learn, building on the […]
I regularly get asked by people what activities might be suitable for their child. So over the coming newsletters, I’ve decided to make a Montessori shelfie by age group. Hopefully this will be a helpful resource over the coming months. Also, don’t forget I put together this free 42-page download for you of Montessori activities […]
Montessori-Inspired Tips to Get Preschool Kids Involved in Making Lunches Tips abound online on what healthy foods to pack into your preschooler’s school lunch (see articles here, here, here, here—or just Google “packing school lunches”), yet rarely does anyone ask the question of who should be packing the lunch. What can and should your child’s […]
“Can we apply the Montessori approach at home if our child doesn’t go to Montessori school?” Isn’t it funny how there seems to be one question everyone is asking at the same time. The last two weeks this is what I keep hearing… “We can’t afford a Montessori school”/”We don’t have a Montessori school in […]
Download The ultimate list of Montessori activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers provided by The Montessori Notebook.com
You may think your toddler is relatively dependent and that the things they do around the house don’t matter, but you’d be wrong. Simple actions parents take at home can have a long lasting impact on the way your child enters their first years of school. Here are 80 life skills you can allow your […]
Families want to be supportive of their children’s development. We all get the same 24 hours in the day, so whether our work is unpaid as a primary caregiver or takes us outside the home for most of the day and many special occasions, between chores and school and sleep and the zillion other unnameable […]
A quick glance into many Montessori classrooms will showcase not just students, guide, materials, and furniture, but also often plants. Why is that? Does the teacher just like ferns, or is there a reason? As usual, there is always a reason in Montessori. For why we have plants, there are several reasons! Let’s explore those together. […]
What do you think of when you think of work? What do your family members, colleagues, peers, employees, and children say or think? If you google, “define work,” you will come up with a definition that you will probably find surprising. Using the word work as a verb, it states, “be engaged in physical or […]
Children are aware and can be introduced to toilet learning and independence as soon as they are autonomously mobile. They will often show signs of readiness long before the adults are organised to help them achieve toilet independence. As adults we have little control of our children toileting, what we do have control of, is […]
The Ellipse is a line on the floor of the classroom. It is sometimes in tape, and sometimes painted. Occasionally, classrooms will have different or additional shapes, but the choice of an ellipse is very purposeful; more on that later. A child removes their shoes to carefully walk on the line. First they’ll walk using […]
There’s a tool we use almost constantly in the classroom. In fact, we all use it, all the time! It’s something called a Three Period Lesson, and it’s essentially how we all learn language. There are three different periods, or stages. First, we Name something. Second, we Recognise it. Third, we Identify it. In the […]
When toddlers and young preschoolers start in Montessori, parents are often amazed at the sudden spurt in independence and skill their children display. If your child is starting in a preschool program, and you want to witness this incredible development in your own child, it helps if you are able to prepare your home environment […]
Watching your young child grow up so quickly can be bittersweet, one minute you’re celebrating his first steps and his first words, then you blink and, gasp, your child is ready for his first day of school! When the time comes for a child to start preschool, parents often wonder: May it be best if […]
