"The education of our day is rich in methods, aims and social ends, but one must still say that it takes no account of life itself."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindBy now your children are settled in their classrooms and are being cared for and educated by your extended "village." Perhaps you're still concerned about w... 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

"Solicitous care for living things affords satisfaction to one of the most lively instincts of the child's mind. Nothing is better calculated than this to awaken an attitude of foresight."—Maria Montessori, The Montessori MethodChildren can plant a seed now and nurture the seedling for next year.Planting an Arbor Day tree t... Read More

New School Year, New Families, New BeginningsAutumn means back to school—a joyful reunion for returning families and a chance to help new families integrate smoothly. Most Montessori schools host a Parent Education night; we've collected a handful of invaluable resources available to schools and parents, either for a formal... 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

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

"By teaching children what they need to learn early in life, they may be better able to cope with the problems of their culture than by learning late the basic rules when little time is allotted for their mastery."—Nancy Rambusch Learning How to LearnWe often overlook how important it is for our children to have experiences... 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

"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 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