Montessori is not only an incredible educational method but it’s also a way of life! What children learn in Montessori becomes part of their being. Sure they learn to read and write and do math, but more than that they learn how to learn; they learn how to be part of a community; they learn how to articulate their ideas confidently; they learn how to listen and seek to understand; they learn how to take care of themselves; and they learn how to solve problems.
As parents, it’s our job to keep that learning going by our words and actions. But children don’t come with a user’s manual, and sometimes we may find ourselves wondering how Montessori teachers work their magic?
Just as it has for 110 years, you will find that the time-tested methods used by Montessori educators will help you build even stronger bonds within your family, stop disruptive behavior as it begins, strengthen parenting partnerships, learn alternatives to punishment and reward, and much more.
If you’ve found yourself engaging in power struggles with your children, reacting instead of responding to everyday situations, such as taking out the trash or trying to be the referee when your children are squabbling, you may appreciate a more Montessori way of parenting. Our new online course, The Parenting Puzzle, was designed with you in mind.
The Parenting Puzzle: The Basics is the first in a new series of Montessori parenting courses developed by the Montessori Foundation. The course can be taken online or in person through a growing community of Montessori schools.
Our first five-week course will teach you the essential strategies to meet your children’s emotional needs and minimize misbehavior. It can help you turn your home into a peaceful haven, rather than a battlefield. Lorna McGrath has been a Montessori parent educator for years and is thrilled to be the Program Director for the Montessori Family Alliance and the primary presenter for The Parenting Puzzle. Based on her work with children of all ages and their families, Lorna provides strategies for cultivating closeness, cooperation, and open communication.
The Parenting Puzzle: The Basics is based on the work of Maria Montessori, Rudolph Dreikurs, and Kathryn Kvols. It will help you to meet children’s emotional needs while refocusing disruptive behaviors in a respectful, positive way. You will experience the atmosphere that you marvel at in Montessori classrooms, as you put the ideas and strategies from the course to work in your family life.
Along with issues raised by parents participating in this course, we will address the following issues:
Taking time to breathe
Raising confident children
Feeling part of a family community
Communicating with honesty and respect
Enjoying your time together as a family
Learning how to work out solutions without excessive family drama
Creating a home environment that is filled with peace, understanding, and harmony
Topics
Week I— Parenting for the Long Haul
Week II— Why Do They Do What They Do?
Week III— What to Do When You Want to Trade Them In!
Week IV— If We Can’t Punish or Reward, What?
Week V— Parenting on the Same Page
Bonuses
Downloadable resources (checklists, worksheets, PDF guides, etc.)
Access to a live group with others
Direct email access
Weekly live webinars
Course completion certificate
Course Texts:
Redirecting Children’s Behavior and accompanying workbook by Kathryn Kvols
How to Raise an Amazing Child: The Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
Other Suggested Readings:
The Child in the Family by Maria Montessori,
Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard
Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents by Maren Schmidt
The Cost:
$150 a parenting couple/$125 for Members of the Montessori Family Alliance (plus the cost of books)
If you are reading this in Tomorrow’s Child magazine then you are probably a member of the Montessori Family Alliance. The online course is available for only $125 (member price) plus the cost of books. You can sign up today at www.montessori.org
Or if you prefer live classes, talk to your school administrator to find out how your school can offer The Parenting Puzzle: The Basics live.
To Register: tinyurl.com/parentingpuzzle
To join the Montessori Family Alliance:montessori.org/mfa/
Tomorow’s Child/ November 2017/ Pg 25
