Whether you’ve never heard of it or have already embodied the aspects of the Montessori way and its educational method, I’d like to share the reasons why I’ve become so passionate and compelled to make sure it is available to families worldwide. Montessori helped me understand my children from the very beginning. The principles guided […]

More often than not, parents believe that it is their job to control and manage their children’s emotions. I beg to differ. The importance is how we show up and how we model managing our own emotions especially when children push our buttons. Before I share a few tips that have worked for me and […]

 If you’re a follower of my work, you’ll know that one of my favorite Maria Montessori quotes, which I regularly like to share with clients of my coaching practice, is that she famously described the hands as “the tools of intelligence.” It should come as no surprise then, that activities as simple as opening […]

 To help your child know where their belongings are, a low open shelf is ideal to place only a few well-chosen activities or toys. This shelf is made out of natural wood with rounded corners (see below for DIY instructions). Young children go through what Dr. Montessori coined as ‘sensitive periods’. Order, is one […]

Refreshed and Inspired Last weekend I gave myself permission to step away from the daily responsibilities of family life and running my business to dive back into what I believe to be fundamental truths. Every once in a while it is essential to do so, taking time to refine ones’ practice by attending a ‘Refresher […]

New Beginnings 2017 has come and gone*, a new day, a new year, a new beginning, and a supermoon to welcome us into 2018. The full moon is a time to re-evaluate intentions we have created for ourselves, it’s a time to reassess whether they still serve us, asking ourselves whether we need to let […]

The Gift of Love As I reflect on this past year I wanted to share my immense gratitude for having you as part of this wonderful global community of like-minded parents. My gift to you, four interviews, a favorite conversation from each of the four seasons of Be the Best Parent You Can Be. Make […]

Often times in my coaching practice I will advise parents that they don’t need to go out and spend a lot of money on the latest or most expensive educational toy on the market. By thinking outside the box just a little, they’ll find many household objects are a great option for purposeful play. Such […]

Cleaning up by Jeanne Marie Paynel from voilamontessori.com Find out how to encourage your child to clean up after themselves! Teach Your Child to Clean Up After Themselves A theme that comes up consistently in the Montessori approach to parenting is the idea that we want our children to become independent human beings even at […]

When I was working as a teacher in the mixed-age Montessori classroom it was always a delight to look around the room and see flowers on the tables. Most amazing was that the children took even more delight in preparing these arrangements themselves. In the Montessori approach, we know that children thrive most when they […]