The Montessori Way

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

  Snapshot A Montessori parent conference is more than a progress report. It is a chance for the two groups of people who know your child best, parents and teachers, to compare notes, ask questions, notice patterns, and think together about what your child needs...