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babies

Mar 25, 2018 07:02am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under On Parenting, babies, buddhism, child development, children, montessori, montessori education, montessori method, parent education, parenthood, parenting & parents

Full Bloom

When you're pregnant, it's as if you're handed a seed of unknown origin. You put it in the soil, water it, and give it light. The first seed leaves emerge, and you feel so proud! As the first set of true leaves unfurl, you begin to imagine the possibilities. You're sure your plant will be a hydrangea, because those are your favorite plants and surely nobody would give you a seed of a plant you don't like!

But then, much to your surprise, your hydrangea begins to look more and more like a...

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Mar 25, 2018 07:02am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under On Parenting, babies, buddhism, child development, children, montessori, montessori education, montessori method, parent education, parenthood, parenting & parents
May 31, 2016 11:04am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under babies, early childhood development, infants, montessori, Montessori Materials, montessori method, toddlers & toys

Simple Is Better

egg-and-cupMost commercial toys try to cram a lot of “bang for their buck”. Imagine, with just one toy, your child will be able to learn colors, numbers and shapes! She’ll practice sorting and stacking while listening to classical music, and each time she does it right, the toy will light up and shout out “Good job!”

This sounds like a great toy, right? Wrong! The best toys are the simplest ones… Click here to find out why and watch a short video!

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May 31, 2016 11:04am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under babies, early childhood development, infants, montessori, Montessori Materials, montessori method, toddlers & toys
Apr 16, 2016 07:26am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Practical Life, babies, early childhood development, eating, food, manners, meals, montessori, montessori method, picky eater & weaning

Mealtime with Baby

placematTable manners… Healthy eating habits… Self-control. We all want our children to develop these abilities, but it’s hard for parents to know how and when to start! Did you know that children have the potential to develop these qualities from the time they start showing interest in solid food?

While you might think it’s impossible to instill these qualities in your baby or toddler, it’s really not that hard if you have the right expectations and tools. Click here to learn more about Montessori...

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Apr 16, 2016 07:26am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Practical Life, babies, early childhood development, eating, food, manners, meals, montessori, montessori method, picky eater & weaning
Mar 23, 2016 07:59pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, children, early childhood development, infants, maria montessori, montessori, montessori education, Montessori Materials, montessori method & parenting

Environment As Teacher

"The environment itself will teach the child, if every error he makes is manifest to him, without the intervention of a parent or teacher, who should remain a quiet observer of all that happens."

- Dr. Maria Montessori

https://youtu.be/pr--aPdD_Bk

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Mar 23, 2016 07:59pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, children, early childhood development, infants, maria montessori, montessori, montessori education, Montessori Materials, montessori method & parenting
Mar 21, 2016 07:37pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Language Development, babies, children, early childhood development, education, montessori, montessori activities, montessori blogs, Montessori Materials, montessori method, parenting & toys

On Our Shelves: materials for a 9-month-old and a 4-year-old

I recently posted a picture of 9-month-old Nadia's shelves on my Facebook page, and several people wrote to me asking for links to her toys and materials. I hope this helps you when you set up your baby's shelves!

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Top row of cubbies(left to right):

Takane ball: I made the ball for Zachary when he was a baby, and both kids have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it. I used this tutorial from Beautiful Sun Montessori, but there are many other tutorials out there if you search for"takane ball...

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Mar 21, 2016 07:37pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Language Development, babies, children, early childhood development, education, montessori, montessori activities, montessori blogs, Montessori Materials, montessori method, parenting & toys
Mar 17, 2016 03:05pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, development of senses, early childhood development, maria montessori, montessori, montessori approach, montessori method, play, RIE & senses

Exploring Sound

"The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge."

- Dr. Maria Montessori

Baby Nadia, 9 months old

https://youtu.be/BrY-Db6KZTo





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Mar 17, 2016 03:05pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, development of senses, early childhood development, maria montessori, montessori, montessori approach, montessori method, play, RIE & senses
Mar 11, 2016 12:45pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, On Parenting, babies, early childhood development, independence, infants, montessori, montessori method, parenting & RIE

Letter From Your Baby

Dear caregiver,

I know you have the best intentions. When you take me to the park and "walk" me by the arms, sit me on the teeter-totter, or send me down the slide, you're doing itbecause you want me to have fun.

But here's the thing:I am a baby. I am driven by developmental urges you can't see. The things I want to do may seem slow and boring to you, but they are exciting and challenging to me. When you push me to do what you think is fun, you rob me of the opportunity to do what I know is...

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Mar 11, 2016 12:45pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, On Parenting, babies, early childhood development, independence, infants, montessori, montessori method, parenting & RIE
Mar 10, 2016 09:18am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, On Parenting, Social and Emotional Learning, babies, early childhood development, infants, montessori, montessori education, Montessori Materials, montessori method & parenting

Now You See It...

Welcome to Theory Thursday, where Jeanne-Marie Paynel (from Voila Montessori)and I team up to share our knowledge and love of all things Montessori through text and video!

obj-perm-boxI recently received this question from a client: “My 8-month old freaks out every time I am out of her sight. I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself! What’s going on and how can I help her understand that I’m coming back?”

This is very normal behavior for babies around the second half of their first year of life. They are...

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Mar 10, 2016 09:18am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, On Parenting, Social and Emotional Learning, babies, early childhood development, infants, montessori, montessori education, Montessori Materials, montessori method & parenting
Feb 25, 2016 09:16am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, early childhood development, education, independence, maria montessori, montessori, Montessori Materials, montessori method, parenting, parents, Practical Life & toddlers

Your Child Has a Secret

nut-boltIf you’ve been following the Voila Montessori video series, you’ve probably had the opportunity to give several presentations to your child by now. She might have shown interest in some activities, and completely ignored others. Do you feel frustrated when that happens? All that hard work to put together the material, and your child isn’t interested in it!

Find out why this happens and what you can do about it by clicking here!

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Feb 25, 2016 09:16am
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Montessori Theory, babies, early childhood development, education, independence, maria montessori, montessori, Montessori Materials, montessori method, parenting, parents, Practical Life & toddlers

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