Want to Build Fine Motor Skills? Get Nuts.
When I was a kid, my parents took me to a restaurant where you were not only allowed to throw peanut shells all over the floor. You were actually encouraged to. Sure, it may have just been a marketing...
Songs We Love: Inchworm
I'm not above singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but I also believe that along with the simple, happy melodies we are all familiar with, children should be offered more. They deserve to hear harmonies and discord...
Conflict Resolution Starts in the Sandbox
The sand beckons them. One child reaches for a shovel and kneels, prepares to dig. The other takes off his shoes and swishes his bare feet back and forth. “A sand angel!” he exclaims. His whole body ...
Considering Homeschooling? Here’s How to Make It Work
Curious about homeschooling? You’re not alone. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, almost 3.5% of school-aged children (and growing) are homeschooled. For context...
Knock Down the Pink Tower? Say It Ain't So!
Sometimes we come upon a quote from Maria that shocks us and makes us reconsider everything we've been taught in the name of Montessori. Where do we go from there?
You Can Make a Nearly Perfect Learning Tool For Pennies
Playdough is great. It feels so good to kids because it stretches and strengthens their wrists, their hands, their fingers. But you know what's better? Real dough...
Get Rid of (Most of) Your Kids Toys
Every three months or so I go crazy decluttering my house and removing nearly all of the children's toys. I'm not an organized person by nature, so while my minimalist goals may never be reached, I find...
Get Out Of Your Child’s Way (So That The Magic Can Happen!)
Children are magical beings! The development that occurs naturally within the child is completely unseen and uncontrolled by us. But first, you have to get out of their way.
The Heart of Montessori is Actually Pretty Easily Found in Homeschooling
What do you think of when you hear the word “Montessori”? Is it a private school? A classroom full of shelves and children choosing activities independently? You would be on the right track, but this isn’t the end of the story. Montessori homeschoolers get right to the heart of the method.