"If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."—Abigail Van Buren (the original "Dear Abby")It's still July, but it's not too early to think about the beginning of the school year. Taking a hint from the stores filled with school supplies and back-to-school specials, we c... Read More

Tips & Activity Ideas from Birth to Age 6"Good morning. It is a lovely day today. Should we take a walk in the park? Let's get our mittens and jackets. It's crisp and cold this morning."You might chatter with a four-year-old this way. What about a four-month-old? It might not even occur to parents to communicate like this w... Read More

I must admit that I can vividly recall a time when I graciously traded my younger sister five whole pennies for one quarter. In the process I absolutely convinced her what an amazing deal she was getting, because "everyone knows five is more than one." Glowing with pride over her newfound wealth, she shared the details of o... Read More

Inside the Montessori community and beyond, multi-age classrooms are a hot topic for parents, teachers, and school administrators. Multi-age class, combination class, double grade, split-grade class, mixed-age class, ungraded class, vertically-grouped class... Are we all talking about the same thing?Angeline Stoll Lillard, ... Read More

"...the mind of the child in infancy is different from ours, and we cannot reach it by verbal instruction,..."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindWhat a baby learns without conscious thought (intent) is absolutely amazing! Parents watch this miracle happen on a daily basis. In just ten to twelve months, an infant is no lon... 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

A Book Review by Kelly Griffith-Mannion, M. Ed.As a Montessori mom, I've just found the perfect best friend—a well-informed, articulate "Montessorian, " always ready to give me succinct, detailed advice on how to pull off the best parenting job ever! Well, all right. My new best friend is an invaluable book from the Sandpip... Read More

The holidays are almost here and many of us are wondering how we will find our way through the maze of our strange new world. Despite many losses, our children often remind us that we can find joy every day. With some creative thought and planning, we can feel the season's spirit and create some special memories filled with... 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

In primitive societies, and even in quite recent times, children always participated in the life of the home. A sense of belonging, along with pride of accomplishment, help the child to grow up strong and secure. When we begin to draw the child into family chores, there are, of course, difficulties. But taking time to show ... Read More