INSIDE MONTESSORI: A DOCUMENTARY INSIDE MONTESSORI (82:05) is a documentary film and library of short videos (chapter & focus videos and bonus videos) that reframe the national education conversation toward creating learning environments that allow children to achieve their full potential. The proven, developmental and child-centered practices of Montessori education can support ALL children, regardless of background and learning style, in having the opportunity to flourish in learning...
To receive your Montessori Family Alliance member discount when you register for the Parenting Puzzle – The Basics go to https://montessorifoundation.thinkific.com/courses/the-parenting-puzzle-the-basics-updated Choose the MFA Member price on check out. As a member, the system will allow you to check out at the discounted family registration...
Concentration: What is it? In a LinkedIn post this past June, “Want Kids to Succeed? Teach them Focus,” Daniel Goleman explains why concentrating is a precursor for both learning something new and developing self-control. We all know that success in school and in life depends on developing this ability, so it’s encouraging to see modern psychologists and educators recognize this is a fundamental skill to address in school. Goleman offers great suggestions. There are limits, however, to...
Snapshot The holidays can be wonderful, and exhausting, for young children. Late nights, unfamiliar visitors, travel, excitement, and disrupted routines can lead to tears and behavior that surprises parents. A little preparation helps children feel secure while still enjoying the season. Here’s how to protect sleep, prepare for gatherings, slow down gift-giving, and keep expectations realistic for children and adults alike. Quiet time together at home is one of the things worth...
Snapshot Children may not remember every gift, but they often remember what their families did together. Game nights, cooking, reading aloud, making decorations, neighborhood walks, and small rituals can become treasured traditions. Here are ways to create family experiences that include children of different ages without turning the holidays into another exhausting schedule. Everyone has a place in a simple family game, and the joy comes from sharing it together. What We Remember Ask...
Two children share the simple goal of keeping the ball moving between them. Snapshot Not every game needs a winner and a loser. In cooperative games, players work together toward a shared goal: finishing a puzzle, rescuing characters, completing a journey, or beating the clock. These games are especially appealing to young children because they build teamwork, communication, and patience, and everyone shares in the success. Here's how to introduce cooperative play at home and choose...
Children build together, each contributing in a way that works for them. Snapshot When siblings or friends play together, things don't always go smoothly. One child wants to build a castle; another wants to knock it down. Someone wants to be in charge, and someone feels left out. These moments are frustrating, but they are also how children learn to communicate, cooperate, and solve problems. Here's how to set up successful playdates and family gatherings without becoming the...
With a few simple materials within reach, a toddler can repeat an activity at their own pace. Snapshot Children don't need adults to entertain them every minute. With a little preparation, even toddlers can find satisfying things to do on their own. The key is offering a few activities that match the child's abilities, keeping materials within reach, and protecting enough uninterrupted time for the child to become absorbed. This article offers practical ideas for children from...
A teacher’s careful observations help bring a child’s developing story into view. There was a time when some schools sent home progress reports that read almost like a letter from a teacher who truly knew your child. This was never universal. The familiar American report card, with its list of subjects, its grades, and perhaps a sentence or two of comment, has been with us for generations. But some schools, particularly Montessori and independent schools, took a different approach. I...
The Montessori Family Alliance Raising children doesn’t come with an instruction manual. We’re here to help. Understand your child. Find answers to everyday parenting questions. Discover simple ways to make family life happier. From the first exciting months of life through childhood and adolescence, every stage brings new discoveries, challenges, and questions. Why does my toddler say no to everything? How can I help my child become more independent? What should I do about...
A younger child observes an older classmate working independently in a calm, mixed-age Montessori prepared environment. The first time parents encounter a Montessori mixed-age classroom, it can raise real questions. Wouldn’t a three-year-old be better off with a room full of other three-year-olds? Won’t the older kids get held back waiting for everyone else to catch up? How does one teacher possibly meet the needs of children spread across such different developmental stages at...
Real-world activity gives children time to concentrate, experiment, and discover what they can do. Snapshot Smartphones and tablets can be remarkable tools. They can also absorb enormous amounts of a child’s time and attention. For young children especially, the important question isn’t simply, “How much screen time is too much?” It is: What is the screen replacing? Before making a personal digital device part of your child’s everyday life, consider what...
Snapshot A good home art area does not need to be elaborate. It needs to be inviting, orderly, accessible, and stocked with materials children can use more independently. The goal is not to produce perfect projects. It is to give children a place to draw, paint, cut, glue, build, and experiment with their own ideas. Children like to make things. They draw, cut, tape things together, paint, and build strange constructions from cardboard. They collect scraps that adults may mistake for trash....
Membership in The Montessori Family Alliance means direct access to Montessori experts and other friends and parents of Montessori. Now, you have a one-stop resource for all of your Montessori needs. Brought to you by The Montessori Foundation.
