A regular theme in my coaching practice for parents is to remind them that they don’t have to go out and buy the newest toys to entertain their young ones. Very often, we can look around the home and find everyday objects that make for just as joyful and purposeful play. Placing sets of […]

 In the Montessori method of education, we frequently encourage children to grow and develop new skills through their practical lives at home. The simple task of washing windows with parents is just one great example of this. Asking a child to use a spray bottle to clean the windows exercises their gross motor skills; […]

 A regular theme in my practice as a parenting coach, and in the Montessori method in general, is that of including your children in everyday household chores whenever possible. There is much to gain from these activities, and watering your indoor plants is no exception. The process may begin by showing your child how […]

 It’s a simple sequence of steps that, as adults, we take for granted. But in the Montessori method, we understand there is great value for a child to learn the sequence of ironing for themselves. It begins when we go to the closet, remove the ironing board, plug in the iron, lay out the […]

In my practice as a parenting coach, I regularly advise my clients to involve their children in everyday cooking tasks in the kitchen. Next time your recipe calls for zucchini, why not ask your child to help you peel it? These types of activities are a heavy point of focus in the Montessori method of […]

Other than telling your child to run outside and roll around in the grass, there may be no faster way to connect them with nature than through the beautiful and simple everyday chore of cleaning a household plant. In my practice as a parenting coach, I sometimes advise my clients to read a book by […]

I was fortunate enough to visit three schools during an organized tour at the 27 International Montessori Congress, and an additional one on my own while in Portland. A long line of yellow school buses loaded up curious adults that had traveled from all corners of the world.  A volunteer welcomed us and informed us […]

The Family Adventure in Nature lead by Janice Swaisgood organized with Manchester Family Child Development Center a showing of Mother Nature’s Child a film concerning the importance of children and everyone for that matter to be able to spend time outdoors exploring nature. The film addresses the issue of needing more unstructured play time in a […]