My husband and I put a lot of effort into keeping our home free from violent media influences. It’s an uphill battle that we’re committed to fighting, and one that sometimes requires a little creative thinking. Zachary’s male classmates (ages 3 and 4) are fascinated by Star Wars. Yes, you read right: ages 3 and 4,… Read More Making Peace with Star Wars
Last week we talked about preparing our home to help our children be successful. This week, let’s focus on Montessori materials. How hard is it to make them? What should you keep in mind? Click here to learn more and watch a short video!
Many parents like to help feed or dress their children, even when the children become capable of doing it on their own, because they feel it’s a way of showing love. While parents who follow the Montessori philosophy understand that it’s important to support their child’s budding independence, they sometimes don’t know how to channel… Read More Prepare to be Amazed
When I decided that screen time would no longer be a part of my 4-year-old’s life, I knew I would have to deal with screen detox. The first day of Spring Break was also the first day of the “No More Screens” rule. Almost immediately after waking up, Zach asked to watch videos. I said… Read More Manic Brain
Screen time update: A couple of weeks ago, I posted on Facebook about screen time at our house. I wrote about how Zachary was frustrated when it came time to turn off the computer after his daily 15-minute screen time allotment, and how he had found a healthy outlet in crying. I wish I could… Read More The Medium is the Message
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… Read More Three Steps to Academic Success
So many struggles with our children stem from conflicting goals: you need to go grocery shopping and they want to stay home; you need them to sit down for dinner and they want to keep playing. Imagine if there could be a way of communicating with your child that allowed you to achieve your goals while… Read More Communication for Peace
I recently posted a picture of 9-month-old Nadia’s shelves on my Facebook page, and several people wrote to me asking for links to her toys and materials. I hope this helps you when you set up your baby’s shelves! Top row of cubbies (left to right): Takane ball: I made the ball for Zachary when he… Read More On Our Shelves: materials for a 9-month-old and a 4-year-old
I was sitting outside, enjoying a bit of sunshine, when Zachary walked out of the bathroom and approached me with an inquisitive look. “Mom, can plants grow with pee?” The question from my just-turned-four year old caught me off guard. “Uh, I’m not sure.” He reasoned: “Well, pee comes from water, right? So maybe they can.”… Read More Bathroom Botany
One of the activities I felt was lacking in my child’s previous Montessori experience was the use of extensions. No, I’m not talking about artificial hair pieces! Extensions are activities that are introduced after the initial presentation with a material, in order to encourage the child to re-visit the material and solidify the skills and/or… Read More Extensions
