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A Deep Understanding
When I became a mom, I realized that it takes a parent to understand a parent. I have been blessed to have a worldwide community of Montessori-trained friends who are navigating the same beautiful, yet often turbulent, waters of parenthood with me.
One of my wisest friends is Junnifa Uzodike, the founder of the Nduoma Montessori blog. She contacted me through my blog some years ago, when she was beginning her Montessori journey, and we have shared countless conversations about motherhood and Mo…
One of my wisest friends is Junnifa Uzodike, the founder of the Nduoma Montessori blog. She contacted me through my blog some years ago, when she was beginning her Montessori journey, and we have shared countless conversations about motherhood and Mo…
One Day
For more than 12 months, Zachary threw stuff when he was tired, or angry, or couldn't find the words to communicate how he felt or what he wanted. Toys, food, china and silverware; it all flew across the house. And then one day, it stopped. Limits helped. Consistency helped. But what was the magic bullet? Time.
I practiced elimination communication with Zachary. By the time he was one, he was diaper-free all day. By two, he was diaper-free at night. Then, when he was 3 1/2, his sister wa…
I practiced elimination communication with Zachary. By the time he was one, he was diaper-free all day. By two, he was diaper-free at night. Then, when he was 3 1/2, his sister wa…
Simple Is Better
Most 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!
Three Steps to Academic Success
Thirty thousand. 30,000! That’s the number of words scientists say you should be speaking to your child daily to increase his chances of academic success. Most parents reach and exceed this magic number, but how do you know if your child is really benefiting from your efforts? Do you feel you might be choosing the wrong words or confusing your child by rambling?I’m about to share with you a simple but powerful Montessori technique that will put your worries to rest. To find out what it is, and …
If You Only Do ONE Montessori Activity...
I challenge you to think of one activity that exposes your child to math, language and science, while helping her develop concentration, motor skills, and delayed gratification. It’s not found in workbooks, and you probably won’t see it taking place regularly in most schools (unless they’re Montessori schools).If you want to know what it is, click here!
Ditch the Workbooks
I recently came across a series of workbooks for two-year olds that promised to help toddlers “develop fine motor skills” through coloring and pasting stickers. Do you feel pressured to buy workbooks to support your child’s development? Did you know that your child benefits more from everyday objects you have around your house than he ever will from those workbooks?Find out how and why here!
Your Child Has a Secret
If 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!
Spooning & Point of Interest
This is the first installment in a joint effort between The Full Montessori and Voila Montessori. Every week, we'll share with you a video (by Jeanne-Marie) and a blog post (by me) highlighting one presentation from the Primary curriculum and explaining one aspect of Montessori theory. It's bite-sized Montessori training that you can immediately put to good use at home! If you enjoy this, please share with others so our efforts can reach many families!
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When little children participat…Happy Pi Day!
In honor of Pi Day, Zachary and I made a quiche following this tried-and-true recipe. While not the speediest quiche to make, it was perfect for keeping us entertained on an otherwise lazy afternoon. Here are some pictures of Zach working, to give you an idea of what a toddler can help with. Please pardon the shades; he's 100% three years old and 100% determined to assert his will. And that includes cooking with sunglasses.
Transferring chopped chard from a bowl to the pan with tongs.
Rolli…
Transferring chopped chard from a bowl to the pan with tongs.
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