Cathie Perolman | Montessori Foundation | MFA

Dear Cathie: Enough movement?

by Cathie Perolman | MFA, TC March 2025

by Cathie Perolman MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING PRESCHOOLS FOR OUR ACTIVE THREE-YEAR-OLD. OUR CHILD LOVES TO BE “ON THE MOVE” AND IS HAPPIEST BEING BUSY. WE THOUGHT A MONTESSORI SCHOOL MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR SUCH AN ACTIVE PERSONALITY. WE EXPECTED TO SEE A BIG...

Dear Cathie Growing Global Citizens

by Cathie Perolman | MFA, TC December 2024, TC May 2024

DEAR CATHIE— AS FAIRLY NEW PARENTS, WE ARE WATCHING OUR CHILDREN BEGIN TO DEVELOP INTO WHO THEY WILL BE, AND WE REALIZE THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BE PURPOSEFUL IN MOLDING THEM INTO THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE WANT THEM TO BECOME. WE ARE LOOKING FOR IDEAS AS TO HOW TO DO THAT!...

Dear Cathie – Play Kitchen

by Cathie Perolman | MFA, TC September 2024

Play Kitchen DEAR CATHIE— MY DAUGHTER LOVES PLAYING IN HER COUSIN’S PLAY KITCHEN. WHENEVER WE ARE AT HER COUSIN’S HOUSE, SHE GRAVITATES TOWARD THAT ACTIVITY AND SPENDS A LOT OF TIME THERE. WE HAVE VISITED QUITE A FEW MONTESSORI PROGRAMS, AND WE NOTICE THAT THEY...

Dear Cathie: Building Concentration and Focus

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, MFA, TC May 2024

DEAR CATHIE— WE THINK IT IS TIME FOR OUR CHILD TO EXPERIENCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDITION TO MONTESSORI SCHOOL. WE THINK HE IS READY FOR SOME EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. WHILE WE KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE OVERSCHEDULED, WE DO WANT OUR CHILD TO TAKE...

Dear Cathie: Building Concentration at Home

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, MFA, TC February 2024

DEAR CATHIE— WE ARE SENDING OUR CHILD TO A MONTESSORI SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO CONCENTRATE, AMONG OTHER THINGS. WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE HER TO CONCENTRATE AND FOCUS AT HOME. WE SEE IT IN SCHOOL MUCH MORE THAN WE DO AT HOME. ANY ADVICE TO HELP US WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT...

Dear Cathie: Family Traditions

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, MFA, TC December 2023

DEAR CATHIE— WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND HOW AND WHEN TO BRING OUR CHILD INTO OUR FAMILY’S TRADITIONS. SOMETIMES, IT FEELS TOTALLY OVERWHELMING, AND MAYBE IT IS JUST TOO SOON TO THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BEGIN, AND WHAT KINDS...

Dear Cathie: Attributes of Montessori Children

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, MFA, TC September 2023

DEAR CATHIE— WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH BEDTIME AND GETTING OUR CHILD TO SLEEP EVER SINCE HE WAS BORN. EXHAUSTION IS JUST A MATTER OR COURSE IN OUR FAMILY. IT IS SO HARD TO GET OUR CHILD TO GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT ME OR HIS OTHER PARENT SPENDING HOURS WITH HIM AND...

Attributes of Montessori Children

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, Emotionally Healthy Children, MFA, TC February 2023

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DEAR CATHIE: The Silence Game

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, MFA, TC November 2022

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Dear Cathie: First Days at School: Morning Routines

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, TC September 2022

First Days at School: Morning Routines DEAR CATHIE— WE WILL BE ATTENDING OUR LOCAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL BEGINNING NEXT FALL, AND WE HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND THE MONTESSORI METHOD. THIS WILL BE OUR CHILD’S FIRST TIME TO BE SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN HOME ON A...

Raising a Child to Love Literature

by Cathie Perolman | Language, MFA, Montessori Family Life, Nature, Reading, TC May 2022, Tomorrow's Child

Parents often wonder and worry about how to encourage children to read and how to raise a child to love literature. How can you inspire your preschooler, school-aged child, or teen to love the written word? It begins with adult modeling, sharing literature at all...

DEAR CATHIE: A CONCERNED PARENT

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, Family Resources, Lower Elementary (6-9), MFA, Montessori Education, Montessori Family Life, Montessori Parenting, Montessori students, Montessori Teachers, Primary (3-6), Tomorrow's Child, Tomorrow's Child Online Issue, Upper Elementary (9-12)

DEAR CATHIE— I have visited a number of Montessori schools as we consider a placement for our 3 and 4 year old children next year. I see the children all busy on different projects, and it all looks great. But can it really work? How can one teacher, even with an...

Dear Cathie: How can I guide my children to help around the house?

by Cathie Perolman | Dear Cathie, Family Resources, Finances, MFA, Montessori Education, Montessori Family Life, Montessori Parenting, TC November 2021

DEAR CATHIE— I have always done everything for my children. I just thought that is what good parents did! I thought it showed my love. But now that they are growing up, and I am learning more about the Montessori Method from their school and my reading, I understand...