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My child always wants to be first – the competitive child and Montessori Does your child always want to be first? Do they always want to win? I see this behaviour a little bit in some younger children but more around children from 5 years and up. Let’s have a look what we can do… continue reading »
Manners, Naturally By P. Donohue Shortridge “Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree.” This quote, often attributed to children’s rights activist Marian Wright Edelman, came to mind recently. Walking toward my local market, I could hear the jovial banter between a father and son, who were about… continue reading »
Grace and Courtesy Beyond Please and Thank You By P. Donohue Shortridge A few weeks ago, I arrived at a hotel to check in, only to find that my room would not be ready for quite some time. There had been a pop concert nearby the night before, attended mostly by moms and their teenage… continue reading »
By Kathy Carey, MAT The general perception today seems to be that children are at greater risk, facing more threats from the outside world than children of decades ago. Parents at all socio-economic levels voice concerns about dangers children face daily: kidnapping, injuries, competition for placement in pro- grams, schools, and activities considered necessary for… continue reading »
Creating Emotional Safety around Tantrums and Crying By K. T. Korngold, MA Sometimes children cry. Sometimes children have tantrums. What causes these outbursts, and how can we best support our children during times of stress and upset? First, it is important to give children positive information about crying— and to let our children know it… continue reading »
The Magic of Montessori By Kathy Carey, MAT When I was 4 years old, my mother took me to Villa Teresa, a Catholic day and boarding school serving students kindergarten through fifth grade. I remember the scene vividly: My mother and I faced a nun dressed all in black, who seemed to me to be… continue reading »
Keeping Everyone in the Loop By Jennifer Toledo A parent recently asked me if I had any ideas on how to relay Montessori tenets to her children’s nanny, who, while loving and invested in the children’s well-being, often did everything for them, hindering their independence. In a busy world, where parents often must rely on… continue reading »
Six Tips for Smooth Air Travel with Children By Olynda Smith As Montessorians, we know how essential the prepared environment is for helping children feel calm. Airports and airplanes are overstimulating and stressful settings that make it difficult to be at ease. Restrictions on movement in an airplane can make even the most even-tempered child… continue reading »
It’s Okay to Just Stay Home and Play By Jane M. Jacobs, MA Remember the carefree days of childhood when you could just play until it was time for dinner? Many of us have fond memories of exploring the neighborhood with our friends or playing at home with siblings. In this era of goal-oriented and… continue reading »
Talking Respectfully to Your Children By Jane M. Jacobs, MA If you have observed a Montessori class, you may have wondered: How does the teacher manage 20 or more children when I have trouble with just one or two? If only I had her skills and patience! Having taught for several years before I had… continue reading »
The Joy of Reading to Children By Dane Peters As a father, teacher, head of school, and now a grand- father, I have always loved reading to children. I read to my sons from birth and sustained this habit as they grew up. I saw the amazement in their eyes as I read; they were… continue reading »
Starting Each Day: Tips to Get out the Door On Time By Anne Prowant Mornings can be tough. Everyone needs to get up, get dressed, have breakfast, and be ready to go, often in a short amount of time. We parents can end up rushed, frazzled, and short on patience. No one wants to begin… continue reading »
Today’s Grandparents By Kathy Carey, MAT How do grandparents fit into today’s hectic, technology- driven world? Probably just fine, if at moments we become a bit agitated by the seemingly volcanic changes in our surroundings. We use cell phones and wonder how we ever left home without them! We email, text, use electronic map programs… continue reading »
An Interesting Mistake By Chip DeLorenzo, MEd In our home, we limit screen time to weekends; our children are allowed to watch one movie per weekend day. My oldest child (age 11) will go to any lengths to get just a few minutes in front of a screen, even if it means breaking the house… continue reading »
Toileting for Toddlers By Mary Broeckling Though helping your toddler transition from diapers to underwear can feel like a daunting task, it can in fact be an empowering experience that encourages confidence and independence. Use the terms “toileting” or “toilet learning” instead of “potty training,” so your child can be an active participant in the… continue reading »
The Importance of Family Meals By Jana Morgan Herman, MEd Did you know there is a way to increase your children’s vocabulary by tens of thousands of words, help them to become better listeners, allow them to express themselves more civilly, convey feelings of parental understanding, ensure they have higher nutrition levels, reduce their stress,… continue reading »
Throwback Parenting By Jennifer Wheelhouse The parent looked at me with worry. “Is that safe?” she asked, gesturing at our school’s new playground. I turned to look at the source of her concern. The playground is made of natural materials, such as downed trees that act as balance beams. A 3-story tree house offers an… continue reading »
The Longest Runway The Longest Runway Models have 45 seconds to present the latest fashions to people sit- ting on either side of the 60-foot runway they walk. With spot- lights illuminating every inch of the way, each model’s gait, poses, and gestures help entice retailers to buy. There is another much longer runway—a runway… continue reading »
Your Smartphone Or Your Life By P. Donohue Shortridge, MA On a crisp Saturday morning at a Den- ver farmers’ market, the smell of roasted chilies hangs in the air. A wig- gly 10-year-old girl waits in line at the burrito vendor’s cart, arm linked with her dad’s. All skinny jeans, sweatshirt, and braces, she… continue reading »
Proactive Planning: One Parent’s Approach By Jana Morgan Herman The holiday season is upon us. This very busy time of year affects children, who depend on us for consistency, in so many ways. Although the increased activity of the holidays is fun, it can also be stressful, for adults and children alike. Here are some… continue reading »
Bringing Montessori Home By Staci Jensen As a parent and a teacher in a Montessori Early Childhood classroom, I have noticed a glaring disparity between my 7-year-old daughter’s behavior at home and at school. She does fine, in- dependent work in her Montessori school environment, yet, when handed a broom after a mealtime at home,… continue reading »
What Your Child’s Teachers Would Like You to Know By P. Donohue Shortridge Dear Parents, There is so much for you to think about when raising young children. We honor you as your child’s first and best teachers, and our goal as your child’s Montessori teachers is to collaborate with you. In service of that… continue reading »
The Importance of a Simple Environment By Olynda Smith Think about how you feel when your home is a mess—unmade beds, toys strewn everywhere, dust on the floors, grimy dishes in the sink. Compare that to when your home is clean and tidy, with everything in its place. Does one scenario bring on stressful feelings,… continue reading »
Why Montessori Education Is Priceless By Sunitha Pailoor, MEd One of my favorite commercials, even though it is simple and sentimental, is the MasterCard ad that shows family time or human interactions and calls them priceless. To me, Montessori edu- cation is priceless in the same way. It is beautiful, comprehensive, and, in its most… continue reading »
Why Montessori Education Is Priceless One of my favorite commercials, even though it is simple and sentimental, is the MasterCard ad that shows family time or human interactions and calls them priceless. To me, Montessori education is priceless in the same way. It is beautiful, comprehensive, and, in its most authentic form, a treasure of… continue reading »
Please Stay…Here’s Why By P. Donohue Shortridge So, let’s get real. You’ve loved the first two years of the Montessori Early Childhood program for your young child. Now, as you look ahead, you are facing a decision about the third, and final, year of the EC program— the capstone year, sometimes known as kindergarten. What… continue reading »
There’s No Such Thing as the Real World By Peter Piché Last spring, I attended the Spring Chorus Concert at C. E. Jordan High in Durham, NC, the public high school that both my children attended after they’d gone from the Toddler program through eighth grade at Montessori Community School, also in Durham. My daughter… continue reading »
Separation: The Beginning of Letting Go As you walk your child into school for the very first time, you may think, “How is this possible? I can’t believe she is old enough to go to school! It seems as if just yesterday. . . ,” and your thoughts drift back to the day your newborn… continue reading »
Manners Grace, Courtesy, and Manners, can be Easily Integrated into Daily Family Life Marian Wright Edelman once said, “Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree.” You most likely did not need this reminder however your children adore you! They look up to you and are always watching… continue reading »
Parenting in a Crisis – the New Reality! by Ruwaidha Liwaza Isn’t this the strangest time for all of us? Let’s rewind back a month and see ourselves in our normal mornings. The fire-stress-builder and a typical cause of morning madness was getting children up, packing breakfast and lunch, and getting them out of the… continue reading »
