Whether you’re out traveling with your young ones or looking for a way they can pass the time at a restaurant, look no further than this portable toy I often recommend to clients of my parenting coaching practice: the incredible nesting boxes. Your young child will have fun solving the mystery of the contents in […]

 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 […]

In my practice as a parenting coach, I often guide my clients into understanding the incredible benefits of engaging our young ones in sensorial play. Simple activities such as moving grains from one container to another are not only accessible and inexpensive, they offer a wealth of educational benefits to our children. The Montessori method […]

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 […]

Making Orange Juice by Jeanne Marie Paynel from voilamontessori.com Why Toddlers Making Orange Juice Is a Brilliant Idea As a parenting coach, I love to advise my clients to involve their children in ordinary housework. The kitchen is an especially great place for our young ones to learn important life skills, and offers a laboratory […]

Sorting and Matching – Grains by Jeanne Marie Paynel from voilamontessori.com Toddlers Sort and Match Grains to Refine Their Language and Senses As a Montessori educator, I’m always interested in sharing examples of educational activities parents can do with their children using everyday household objects. Sorting and matching grains of varying shapes and sizes, while […]

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 […]

Removing a Button by Jeanne Marie Paynel from voilamontessori.com Find out how teaching a child to sew and remove a button can be a wonderful activity for their development! Children Master New Skills Sewing and Removing a Button In my mentoring practice, I often advise sewing as a great educational activity for parents to do […]

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 […]