"The pressures and fast pace of today's society have taken away the times of quiet togetherness which we should have with our children... We all know how quickly they grow up and leave us, so let us not wait until it is too late."—Elizabeth G. Hainstock, Teaching Montessori in the HomeWhen the family navigates major transit... Read More

"There are many people in the world who want to make children into performing seals. And as long as children can perform well, those adults will applaud. But I would much rather help a child be able to say who he or she is."—Fred Rogers, in Maxwell King's The Good NeighborIn answer to the question, "What do you want from li... 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

"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

We often take for granted the natural growth of children that happens without our direct involvement. Just think of the physical changes that take place in the first year of life. We do so many things to encourage and support our children's growth, but often without knowledge of what we do or how we do it.We help children l... Read More

There is a lively debate going on in the country about whether, in this age of electronics, cursive handwriting is a necessary skill. Cursive is not required by the national educational Common Core Standards. Many states across the country are removing or reducing cursive instruction from the curriculum while only a few sta... 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

Explore the "universal language" of music with your children Children have a wonderful capacity to appreciate and make music. Early exposure to a music of all types has intrinsic value -- it can tell a story, set a mood, and reflect the character of a culture. Music stimulates the part of the brain associated with pattern r... Read More

Ah, summer... When magic words like "sleep-over" and "camping trip" nudge the older child's inclination to stretch beyond their immediate circles... When younger children clamor to explore their immediate outdoors... When parents juggle schedules to make outdoor experiences available to all their children... immediately!Exp... Read More

Maria Montessori urged us to "give the child a vision of the whole universe..." so that children might better understand Earth's place in the cosmos. Books, card materials, and star charts take children only so far - no photograph can replace the awe-inspiring vision of millions of diamond-bright stars twinkling overhead.Wh... Read More