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infants
Simple Is Better

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!
Environment As Teacher
- Dr. Maria Montessori
https://youtu.be/pr--aPdD_Bk
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 it because 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 i…
Now You See It...

This is very normal behavior for babies around the second half of their first year of life. They are di…
Floor Bed Confidential
The One Thing I'll NEVER Do as a Parent
When I was pregnant, people who knew I was a Montessori guide would say: "Wow, you're going to be such an amazing mom!"
My standard, humble reply was: "I'll be a mom, like any other mom."
But deep down inside, I had my list of things I was sure I would NEVER do, buy or use as a parent. That list was long and it was judgemental.
My mom and her best friend took me shopping for baby items. "You'll need bottles," they said. Of course not, I'll breastfeed on demand.
Sippy cups? Waste of money, my…
Floor Bed Round-Up

I've been getting a few questions about floor beds, so I thought I'd do a quick round-up of what I've written so far and share my experiences... Hope someone finds it helpful!
Floor bed and infant development:
http://www.voilamontessori.com/en/guest-post-the-floor-bed/
With a floor bed, the child calls (some of) the shots:
http://www.voilamontessori.com/en/guest-post-the-floor-bed-part-2/
Quick overview of sl…
MontessoRIE
The Basket of Known Objects
As its name implies, this activity requires placing 4-6 safe objects that you find around the house into a child-sized basket. It can be introduced around the age of three months, or when you see that your child is beginning to grasp objects. If your baby can sit up against pillows, you can int…
He Likes to Move It, Move It...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhZOv680Q9k
Motives for movement: The development of movement is two-pronged. There is an evolutionary drive to move that comes from within the child, but it mu…
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