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 […]

The sight of a newborn baby is such a joy, many of your friends and relatives inevitably come knocking soon after the birth to behold your creation. Many will ask to hold the infant in their arms. Imagine the discomfort this can cause an infant who is being passed around from person to person while […]

A parent I consulted with recently asked me how she could best ensure her young daughter would grow to become a proficient reader. I told her that in the Montessori approach to language development and reading, we believe that sound games should come first. Sounds are ultimately the essence of the words we read on […]

Teaching a young child to drink from a glass doesn’t have to be as daunting or premature as you might think. The sippy cup was invented more as a crutch for the concerned parent than for the beneficial development of the child using it — it is intended to ward off any unwanted spills, in […]