"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being."—Maria MontessoriMontessori Education Week: The Last Week of FebruaryThis time of year, we Montessorians celebrate the history and success of the Montessori method, ... Read More

Glass at Home—by Tim Seldin, How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori WayWhenever possible, try to build a control of error into each activity so it becomes clear to your child when she has made a mistake. The rationale behind letting children use cups and bowls that break if they are dropped or misused is that children... Read More

"Eventually we gave up either punishing or rewarding the children."—Maria Montessori, The Secret of ChildhoodIt's a new year and many of us make resolutions. As parents, in spite of our best intentions, we sometimes get stuck in patterns that are no longer working or may not be the most beneficial for our children. What are... Read More

How often I wished for some "peace and quiet" as a multi-tasking parent! Some moms say they retreat to the bathroom for time alone, only to find their children knocking or calling through the door. How can we keep our own inner composure and help our children learn to be thoughtful of others and content with themselves? In ... Read More

We've all seen young children doing any number of imaginative things with wooden blocks: building a toy animal corral or a parking lot for cars, or a doll's cradle. What makes block play open-ended, after all? Merriam-Webster's definition of open-ended, applied:"not rigorously fixed": the outcome of the child's activity is ... Read More

The short days of January invite us to "hunker down" and enjoy a cozy evening at home. The calendar seems less hectic after the holidays, and perhaps the children don't have as many after-school activities. This is a good time to schedule a special evening with the whole family. I have fond memories of those winter nights w... Read More

"The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist."—Ananda CoomaraswamyIt's the first month of the year and you may still be making room for holiday gifts. In my house, these gifts traditionally included fresh, new art supplies. As the children grew up, the size of the crayon box al... Read More

"The dugout in the weeds or leaves beneath a backyard willow, the rivulet of a seasonal creek, even the ditch between the front yard and the road—all of these are entire universes to a young child."Maria Montessori? Not this time. This insight into the young child's relationship with the everyday world comes to us from Rich... Read More

Last spring I bought my four-year-old grandson a set of gardening tools and he helped his dad plant a garden. The next day he spent at least an hour digging one hole. He said he was "looking for things in the ground." The next day he went out to dig again. After a little while, he came in for his dump truck and bulldozer, s... Read More

Is there anything more rewarding than being able to care for one's own self? Help your child on the path to independence with home activities that support similar self-care "lessons" in the Montessori classroom. A little planning and a lot of patience will go far!The most important (and the hardest!) part? Allow plenty of t... Read More