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Category Archives: Parenting

How to Prepare a Montessori Toddler Environment at Home

Written on August 30, 2011 by Deb Chitwood in Infants and Toddlers, Parenting

Transferring Water Activity (Photo from Barefoot in Suburbia)

Toddler programs in Montessori schools generally start at 15-18 months and run to age 2½ or 3. You can use many of the same Montessori principles and ideas to create a Montessori-friendly toddler environment at home.

The Montessori phrase “Help me to do it by myself” is probably the most important concept to keep in mind for your toddler. Create an environment that will help your toddler gain as much independence as possible.

There are many things you can do to make your home a Montessori-friendly toddler environment. You’ll want to have low shelves with activities in baskets and on trays, toddler-size table and chair, and real child-size tools and utensils. Practical life activities for care of self, care of the environment, control of movement, and grace and courtesy will be essential.

Ideas for Creating a Montessori-Friendly Toddler Environment

I have a number of posts on infants and toddlers.

Montessori for Everyone has Essentials of a Toddler Classroom and other infant and toddler posts.

The International Montessori Index has resources for Montessori Birth to Three.

Daily Montessori has information for Montessori 12-24 Months and Montessori 24-36 Months.

If you have someone handy with carpentry, Walden University has directions for How to Make a Montessori Toddler Table.

Lovely Examples of Montessori-Friendly Toddler Home Environments

Montessori Toddler Closet (Photo from The New Mommy Files)

The New Mommy Files (photo: The Montessori Toddler’s Closet)

Sew Liberated

A Montessori Home

Kitchen Corner (Photo from Peaceful Parenting)

Peaceful Parenting

Things to Remember

Our Montessori Chronicles

Montessori-Style Bed (Photo from To the Lesson!)

To the Lesson! (Montessori bed post) and toddler posts

Carrots are Orange

Sparkling Bay

Lesson Plans to Pots and Pans

The Montessori Child at Home (ideas for both toddlers and older preschoolers)

Some Helpful Resources

I have a post on Top 10 Montessori Principles for Natural Learning.

Montessori for Infants and Toddlers has blog posts with lots of Montessori ideas.

Montessori Mom has Toddler Scope and Sequence & Lesson Ideas – Practical Life Skills.

“What’s unique about a Montessori program for toddlers?” is a 1-minute video from Cottage Montessori.

It’s best to provide lots of manipulatives for learning, but don’t worry about doing many formal Montessori lessons with your child. Follow your child’s interests and let him or her choose activities.

Here’s a reassuring post from Confessions of a Montessori Mom Blog: Can You Give a Toddler a Lesson?

Montessori MOMents has a post on ages 0-6 with some information and links appropriate for toddlers.

Montessori Learning Materials and Activities for Toddlers

For older toddlers, see the links in my posts How to Set Up a Montessori Space at Home and How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom.

Montessori Mom has a post on Toddler Scope and Sequence & Lesson Ideas-Practical Life Skills.

Fruit Cards (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Montessori Print Shop has inexpensive toddler materials (materials for language development).

Montessori for Everyone has inexpensive toddler materials (materials for language development along with a comprehensive checklist).

Our Montessori Home has many posts on infant and toddler activities.

1+1+1=1 has Tot School ideas and links to other parents who often use Montessori-inspired activity trays and manipulatives.

Lily Tots has many Montessori-inspired toddler activities.

Putting Straws in a Container (Photo from Growing a Godly Girl)

Growing a Godly Girl has many Tot School posts and tells how she adapted activities according to her daughter’s readiness and interest level. (Photo: Tot School – 15 Months)

Little Red Farm has lots of Montessori-inspired toddler activities.

Cherry Blossom Adventures has many Montessori-inspired activities during “tot school.”

Barefoot in Suburbia has lots of toddler posts (photo at top of this post: Toddler Tuesday).

Montessori Mama has many posts with toddler activities.

The Adventures of Bear has a Montessori-friendly toddler environment and lots of activities for toddlers.

Kingdom of the Pink Princesses tells how they’ve adapted their home and homeschool to include a toddler.

Lacing Activity Basket (Photo from Jada Roo Can Do)

Jada Roo Can Do has many toddler activity trays (photo: Thrift Store Finds).

There are so many activities you can do with a toddler. But you don’t need to feel overwhelmed. Just follow your toddler’ needs and interests and encourage your toddler’s independence. And have fun!

Linked with The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions , Link & Learn, Pinterest Tuesday and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.

Tags: independence, Montessori, Montessori toddler, Montessori toddler environment, toddler home environment

Help Your Child Develop Persistence by Using Montessori Principles

Written on June 21, 2011 by Deb Chitwood in Montessori Principles, Parenting, Teach/Learn

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This post is part of the Teach/Learn Carnival. This month our theme for Teach/Learn was Persistence, something that is needed to string all the pieces together and achieve something big.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” Calvin Coolidge, US President.

We all want our children to grow up with the ability to persevere at a task, to work through difficulties, to have confidence they can succeed with their goals. Following Montessori principles at home can definitely help.

Here are some ways you can help your child develop persistence by using Montessori principles:

Following an Interest and Reaching Success with the Trinomial Cube (Photo from Discovery Days and Montessori Moments)

1. Follow your child’s interests.

This principle almost seems too simple and obvious, but it definitely is much easier for your child to stick with a task he or she finds interesting. The concentration your child gains and pride your child feels from completing work often encourages your child to undertake new goals and reach new heights in the future. Interestingly, self-chosen work often has finished results much more impressive than a teacher or parent would assign.

This works at any age and for any situation! For my daughter’s BA in Performance and Professional Practice from Sheffield Hallam University in England, she chose to do a dissertation related to her interest and career in figure skating. She came up with A Study to Investigate if There is a Need for Acting Lessons for Competitive Figure Skaters. She used questionnaires, interviews, and a focus-group discussion as research methods. Because she was interested in the topic, she didn’t do 25 or some other minimum number of questionnaires – she approached enough people to have 457 questionnaires in the end. Of course, she was a Montessori child and had already learned persistence!

Practical Life - Pouring Water (Photo from Barefoot in Suburbia)

2. Have lots of practical life activities and opportunities available for your preschooler. Practical life activities are an essential part of Montessori education. I can’t stress enough the importance of them for developing order, concentration, coordination, and independence. For basic information: Montessori Practical Life Activities. For lots of ideas that you can easily use at home: Activities – Practical Life.

Using a Mortar and Pestle after Demonstration (Photo from How We Montessori)

3. Demonstrate how to do an activity, showing the entire work cycle from taking a material off the shelf to cleaning up at the end and returning the material to the shelf.

It’s important that your child knows the steps involved and learns to complete an activity for the development of persistence.

Working to Complete an Activity (Photo from Julie at The Adventures of Bear)

4. Allow your child to choose work, repeat an activity as many times as he or she chooses, and complete a cycle of activity uninterrupted.

Sensitive periods are an important part of Montessori philosophy and should be encouraged. They allow your child to work for long periods of time and repeat activities many times while compelled to meet the needs of a particular sensitive period. When referring to sensitive periods, Maria Montessori said:

“The child makes a number of acquisitions during the sensitive periods, which place him in relation to the outer world in an exceptionally intense manner. Then all is easy; all is eagerness and life, every effort is an increase of power. But when some of these psychic passions die away, other flames are kindled and so infancy passes from conquest to conquest, in a continuous vital vibrancy, which we have called its joy and simplicity. It is through this lovely flame that burns without consuming that the work of creating the mental world of man takes place.”

Working with Four Cylinder Blocks at Once with Their Built-in Control of Error (Photo from Montessori MOMents)

5. Don’t do for your child what your child can do for him- or herself.

In Montessori education, children are helped to help themselves – helped to become independent. In Maria Montessori’s words:

“These words reveal the child’s inner needs: ‘Help me to do it alone.’”

Many Montessori materials have a built-in control of error so a child can instantly see if a mistake is made. If uninterrupted, the child will typically work with material (learning persistence) until he or she reaches success. If your child doesn’t specifically ask for help, even if your child appears to have some difficulty with a task, it’s generally best to let your child figure it out alone.

Helping your child develop persistence can either be one of the simplest or one of the most difficult tasks. Following Montessori principles can let it be one of your simplest tasks.

Photo Credits – thank you to:

Discovery Days and Montessori Moments for Following an Interest and Reaching Success with the Trinomial Cube Photo

Barefoot in Suburbia for Pouring Water Photo

How We Montessori for Using a Mortar and Pestle after Demonstration Photo

Julie at The Adventures of Bear for Working to Complete an Activity Photo

Posts in the June Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival:

Catherine from Adventures with Kids has been making all sorts of creations with recycled materials lately. It has been a wonderful opportunity for talking to her son about persistence.

Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares ideas from Montessori education that you can use at home to help your child develop persistence.

Monique from Your Cheeky Monkey explores what persistence means and its place in our play and learning.

Deb at Science@home observed her kids and saw they kept coming back to things over and over.

Tags: cycle of activity, independence, Maria Montessori, Montessori principles, persistence, sensitive periods

How to Create a Summer Bucket List for Your Family

Written on June 2, 2011 by Deb Chitwood in Homeschooling, Parenting

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Whether you homeschool or not, I think a summer bucket list is a great idea for summer fun and learning. [Note: a summer bucket list is a list of activities your family wants to do before the summer ends.]

Without an intentional focus on choosing some summer activities, it’s too easy to feel a bit aimless and lost during summer vacation. I’m all for unstructured time to dream and create … you can even add ideas and time for that in your bucket list (for example, “Lie in the grass and look at the clouds”)!

It’s great if you have a bucket list of activities your whole family can enjoy. If you wish, you could also have a special bucket list for your toddler or preschooler.

Remember, a summer bucket list is supposed to be fun … maybe you “win” if you don’t actually accomplish everything! You can choose a format for your bucket list or activity list that gives you the amount of control over the activity for the day that you wish. For little control but more suspense, draw the activity from slips of paper with an activity written on each one. Use a format like an activity calendar or grab bag if you’d like more control.

Some Great Ideas for Creating a Summer Bucket List or Activity List

Summer Bucket List 2011 from Little Wonders’ Days (using an actual bucket – includes suggested activities) and Summer Bucket Ideas (more suggested activities from around the blogosphere)

Summer Bucket List (also using a bucket) from Montessori 3-6 Homeschool

Summer Bucket List Activity from Thrifty NW Mom

Summer Bucket List Banner from Fakin’ It

Summer Activity Jars and Grab Bags (with printable ideas) from The Crafting Chicks

The Family Fun Sack from Oopsey Daisy

Doorway into Summer from The Artful Parent

Jar of Fun from the Daily Digi

Get Organized for Summer Learning (learning space and learning options) from Imagination Soup

Summer Boredom Jar from I’m Bored, Let’s Make Something

“Mom, I’m Bored” Jar from Somewhat Simple

Activity Calendars (an option for an activity a day instead of a standard bucket list) from Quirky Momma

Bucket Lists from Around the Blogosphere

Summer Bucket List Party and Summer Bucket List Posts from Little Wonders’ Days

Summer Bucket List for a Toddler and Five Simple Tips for Summer Time Learning from Teach Preschool

Summer Bucket List Activity from Thrifty NW Mom (has a blank Summer Bucket Activity Sheet)

Share Your Summer Bucket List Posts and Ideas

Starting this Saturday, June 4, at Little Wonders’ Days, you can link up your summer posts and see what others are doing this summer!

Please also share your summer bucket list posts and ideas in our Living Montessori Now Community!

Thanks to the Flickr Creative Commons photographers for the adorable photos of babies in buckets! Photo Credits:

My Nephew 004 by Dabe Murphy

Tin Bucket Baby 2 by Charlotte Morrall

A Child and Her Bucket by Chandra Marsono

Beach Baby by Turkinator

Tags: activity calendars, family, family fun sack, homeschool, summer, summer activity list, summer boredom jar, summer bucket list

Using Montessori Principles to Advocate Natural Parenting

Written on April 12, 2011 by Deb Chitwood in Natural Parenting, Parenting

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Welcome to the April Carnival of Natural Parenting: Compassionate Advocacy

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared how they advocate for healthy, gentle parenting choices compassionately. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

Will (13), Deb, Christina (8), and Terry on Mother's Day, 1998.

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I like to apply Montessori principles to as many aspects of my life as I can. That includes being a compassionate advocate for natural parenting.

I was never one to beat anyone over the head with my beliefs. Using the analogy of a Montessori teacher’s role is probably a good way for me to describe my advocacy style. Of course, even though Montessorians have the greatest respect for their students, I don’t see other parents as children or students. This isn’t in any way a condescending approach to advocacy. But the Montessori teacher’s role is one that shows respect for everyone and has techniques for helping others in a compassionate and effective manner.

Here are my top 4 ways to be a natural parenting compassionate advocate by using Montessori principles:

1. Prepare myself.

The training of the teacher who is to help life is something far more than the learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit. – Maria Montessori

Our family now with kids and kids-in-law - Terry, Deb, Chrissy, Tom, Will, and Chea at Veg 'N Out in San Diego.

In anything, I think my most effective role is as a role model. I was lucky that I was interested in and worked to follow natural parenting principles from the time of my first pregnancy in 1984. I’m lucky that my children are grown-up examples that natural parenting principles – including breastfeeding, baby wearing, healthy living, attachment parenting, gentle discipline, and natural learning (which for my family included Montessori principles and homeschooling) – do work.

2. Prepare an attractive, orderly environment.

In the motif of natural parenting advocacy, my environment right now is my blog. I work to be consistent and encouraging in my posts. I hope that others will find some beauty in what I have to offer.

3. Demonstrate ideas.

In Montessori education, the teacher demonstrates materials and ways of interacting. The Montessori teacher offers to work with students and give demonstrations but doesn’t force demonstrations upon anyone. In the same way, my blog posts, Facebook page, and Living Montessori Now Community are always available, giving ideas I’ve used and links to ideas I’ve discovered.

4. Allow freedom of choice.

And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being. – Maria Montessori

I’ve been amazed to hear how my posts have affected people’s lives. I realize that it’s not because my knowledge is so great or I’m so perfect. It’s because the individuals were ready to make a change, and I just happened to say the right thing at the right time.

Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission. – Maria Montessori

Even though I’m a real believer in peace, love, and tolerance, there are times when I do need to say something. If individuals are dangerous to themselves and their children, then my role is to gently intervene. Otherwise, my role is to have faith that people will have an inner urging toward self-development and want to be the best parents they can be. Their exact parenting path is their choice and is usually the right one for their family.

***

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Natural Parenting Advocacy by Example — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction uses her blog, Twitter and Facebook as her natural parenting soapbox.
You Catch More Flies With Honey — When it comes to natural parenting advice, Kate of The Guavalicious Life believes you catch more flies with honey.
From the Heart — Patti at Jazzy Mama searches her heart for an appropriate response when she learns that someone she respects wants his baby to cry-it-out.
I Offer the Truth — Amy at Innate Wholeness shares the hard truths to inspire parents in making changes and fully appreciating the parenting experience.
Advocating or Just Opinionated? — Momma Jorje discusses how to draw the line between advocating compassionately and being just plain opinionated. It can be quite a fine line.
Compassionate Advocacy — Mamapoekie of Authentic Parenting writes about how to discuss topics you are passionate about with people who don’t share your views.
Heiny Helpers: Sharing Cloth Love — Heiny Helpers is guest posting on Natural Parents Network to share how they are providing cloth diapers and cloth diapering support to low income families.
Struggling with Advocacy — April of McApril still struggles to determine how strongly she should advocate for her causes, but still loves to show her love for her parenting choices to those who would like to listen.
Compassionate Advocacy Through Blogging (AKA –Why I Blog) — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares how both blogging and day-to-day life give her opportunities to compassionately advocate for natural parenting practices.
A Letter to *Those* Parents — Zoie at TouchstoneZ shares how to write an informed yet respectful reply to those parents — you know, the ones who don’t parent the way you do.
Why I Am Not A Homebirth Advocate — Olivia at Write About Birth is coming out: she is a homebirth mom, but not a homebirth advocate. One size does not fit all – but choice is something we can all advocate for!
Why I Open My Big Mouth — Wolfmother from Fabulous Mama Chronicles reflects on why she is passionate about sharing parenting resources.
Watching and Wearing — Laura at Our Messy Messy Life advocates the joys of babywearing simply by living life in a small college town.
Compassionate Advocacy . . . That’s The Way I Do It — Amyables at Toddler in Tow describes how she’s learned to forsake judgment and channel her social energy to spread the “good news” of natural parenting through interaction and shared experiences.
Compelling without repelling — Lauren at Hobo Mama cringes when she thinks of the obnoxious way she used to berate people into seeing her point of view.
I Am the Change — Amanda at Let’s Take the Metro describes a recent awakening where she realized exactly how to advocate for natural parenting.
Public Displays of Compassion — The Accidental Natural Mama recounts an emotional trip to the grocery store and the importance of staying calm and compassionate in the storm of toddler emotions.
I will not hide behind my persona — Suzi Leigh at Attached at the Boob discusses the benefits of being honest and compassionate on the internet.
Choosing My Words — Jenny at Chronicles of a Nursing Mom shares why she started her blog and why she continues to blog despite an increasingly hectic schedule.
Honour the Child :: Compassionate Advocacy in the Classroom — Lori at Beneath the Rowan Tree shares her experience of being a gentle and compassionate parent — with other people’s children — as a classroom volunteer in her daughter’s senior kindergarten room.
Inspired by the Great Divide (and Hoping to Inspire) — Rosemary at Rosmarinus Officinalis shares her thoughts on navigating the “great divide” through gently teaching and being teachable.
Introverted Advocacy — CatholicMommy at Working to be Worthy shares how she advocates for gentle parenting, even though she is about as introverted as one can be.
The Three R’s of Effective and Gentle Advocacy — Ana at Pandamoly explains how “The Three R’s” can yield consistent results and endless inspiration to those in need of some change.
Passionate and Compassionate: How do We do It? — Kelly at Becoming Crunchy shares the importance of understanding your motivation for advocacy.
Sharing the love — Isil at Smiling Like Sunshine talks about how she shares the love and spreads the word.
What Frank Said — Nada at miniMOMist has a good friend named Frank. She uses his famous saying to demonstrate how much natural parenting has benefited her and her family.
Baby Sling Carriers Make Great Compassionate Advocacy Tools — Chante at My Natural Motherhood Journey shared her babywearing knowledge — and her sling — with a new mom.
Everyday Superheroes — Who needs Superman when we have a community of compassionate advocates?! Dionna at Code Name: Mama believes that our community of gentle bloggers are the true superheroes.
Words of advice: compassionately advocating for my parenting choices — MrsH at Fleeting Moments waits to give advice until she’s been asked, resulting in fewer advocacy moments but very high responsiveness from parents all over the spectrum of parenting approaches.
Peaceful Parenting — Peaceful parenting shows at Living Peacefully with Children with an atypical comment from a stranger.
Speaking for birth — Lucy at Dreaming Aloud soul-searches about how she can advocate for natural birth without causing offense.
Gentle is as Gentle Does — Laura at A Pug in the Kitchen shares how she is gently advocating her parenting style.
Walking on Air — Rachael at The Variegated Life wants you to know that she has no idea what she’s doing — and it’s a gift.
Parenting with my head, my heart, and my gut — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares her thoughts on being a compassionate advocate of natural parenting as a blogger.
At Peace With the World — Megan at Ichigo Means Strawberry talks about being an advocate for peaceful parenting at 10,000 feet.
Putting a public face on “holistic” — Being public about her convictions is a must for Jessica at Crunchy-Chewy Mama, but it takes some delicacy.
Just Be; Just Do. — Amy at Anktangle believes strongly about her parenting methods, and also that the way to get people to take notice is to simply live her life and parent the best she knows how.
One Parent at a Time… — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment believes that advocating for Natural Parenting is best accomplished by walking the walk.
Self-compassion — We’re great at caring for and supporting others —from our kiddos to other mamas — but Lisa at Gems of Delight shares a post about treating ourselves with that same sense of compassion.
Using Montessori Principles to Advocate Natural Parenting — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now tells how she uses Montessori principles to be a compassionate advocate for natural parenting.
Advocacy? Me? — Seonaid at The Practical Dilettante discovers that by “just doing her thing,” she may be advocating for natural parenting.
Feeding by Example — Mama Mo at Attached at the Nip shares her experience of being the first one of her generation to parent.
Compassionate Consumerism — Erica at ChildOrganics encourages her children to be compassionate consumers and discusses the benefits of buying local and fair trade products.
The Importance of Advocating Compassionately — Kristen at Adventures in Mommyhood acts as a compassionate advocate by sharing information with many in the hopes of reaching a few.
Some Thoughts on Gentle Discipline — Darcel at The Mahogany Way shares her thoughts and some tips on Gentle Discipline.
Compassionate Advocacy: Sharing Resources, Spreading the Love — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle shares how her passion for making natural choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting have supported others in Dominica and beyond.
A journey to compassion and connection — Jessica at Instead of Institutions shares her journey from know-it-all to authentic advocacy.
Advocacy Through Openness, Respect, and Understanding — Melissa at The New Mommy Files describes her view on belief, and how it has shaped the way she advocates for gentle parenting choices.
Why I’m not an advocate for Natural Parenting — Mrs Green at Little Green Blog delivers the shocking news that, after 10 years of being a mum, she is NOT an advocate for natural parenting!
Natural Love Creates Natural Happiness — A picture is worth a thousand words, but how about a smile, or a giggle, or a gaze? Jessica at Cloth Diapering Mama’s kids are extremely social and their natural happiness is very obvious.
Carnival of Natural Parenting: Compassionate Advocacy — Even in the progressive SF Bay Area, Lily at Witch Mom finds she must defend some of her parenting choices.
A Tale of Four Milky Mamas — In this post The ArtsyMama shares how she has found ways to repay her childhood friend for the gift of milk.
don’t tell me what to do — Pecky at benny and bex demonstrates compassionate advocacy through leading by example.

Tags: advocacy, Montessori principles, Montessori teacher, natural parenting, natural parenting advocate

Parenting Essentials

Written on February 8, 2011 by Deb Chitwood in Montessori Principles, Natural Parenting, Parenting

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Welcome to the February Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting Essentials

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared the parenting essentials that they could not live without. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

Christina, my little dancer, at age 1, 1991.

This month’s Carnival of Natural Parenting theme is parenting essentials. What is something I cannot imagine parenting without? For me, the obvious answers are my faith and my family. I am so thankful that I’ve always had the complete support of both my husband and my parents. But the other essential I cannot imagine parenting without is an understanding of Montessori principles.

Montessori principles not only made my transition into parenting easier, but they worked all the way through my children’s childhoods … and still work even when my children are adults.

I was lucky that I had taken Montessori training and was a certified Montessori teacher before I had children of my own. I also attended a Montessori conference with a special workshop on Montessori and infants before I even became pregnant. But anyone can learn to use Montessori principles without formal Montessori training.

Here’s how my understanding of Montessori principles helped me:

1. I gave my children freedom to explore in a safe and secure environment as infants and toddlers. I talk more about what I did in How to Set Up Your Home for An Infant by Using Montessori Principles.

Christina (6) giving a repeat performance at home after her first ballet recital, 1996. Christina's love of dance led to her career as a professional ice dancer, choreographer, and Zumba instructor.

2 I focused on my children’s sensitive periods so that I could give them the best opportunity for meeting their potential.

3. I gave my children as preschoolers many practical life activities, which helped them develop order, concentration, coordination, and independence.

4. I used phonics and other Montessori methods and materials to help my children learn easily from a young age.

5. Montessori philosophy discourages tests and grades. That helped me feel confident to homeschool without grades and traditional tests (except for what was mandated by state law) as well. It wasn’t until I had to create high school transcripts for college that I assigned grades (in retrospect) for high school work. I think my children had so much less stress and more enjoyment of learning without being tested or graded (and they most likely retained information easier and more permanently without the associated stress)!

Will, 11, and Christina, 6, in their first pairs skating experiences, 1996. Their interest in skating led to their careers now as skating coaches and professional skaters.

6. Probably the most important Montessori principle was that of following the child, of simply observing my children to see what their needs and interests were. That’s an idea that worked all through childhood and is relevant when they ask for advice as adults. My post at Natural Parents Network tells more about my thoughts on Montessori and Natural Parenting.

When I look at Will and Christina as adults, I couldn’t be prouder. And I owe much of the credit to Montessori! At 25 and 20, Will and Christina have accomplished so much with their lives already. They’re successful entrepreneurs. They have bachelor’s degrees and both still love learning. They’re kind and loving people who are happily married to kind and loving people. What more could I ask for?

***

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Not Without Him — The love Starr at Taking Time shares with her husband is the foundation of her parenting.
I Cannot Imagine Parenting Without B(.)(.)bs — From an uneducated dreamer to a breastfeeding mother of a toddler, nursing has forever changed Kristy at Strings to Things’s relationship with her daughter and her outlook on life.
Raising a Child in the Internet Village — When Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction has a question or concern about parenting, she turns to the Internet. What did parents do before Google?
Partner in Crime and Parenting — Bethy at Bounce Me to the Moon can’t imagine parenting without her husband’s sense of humor – he brings her laughter and love every day.)
I Make Milk — Patti at Jazzy Mama can’t imagine trying to mother her babies without her breasts, but she could do it if she had to.
New Perspectives Bring New Beginnings — MJ at Wander Wonder Discover, who is a former authoritarian mamma, has gained perspective via parenting.
Time Out! — Mrs. Green at Little Green Blog explores how time apart can increase your capacity to give unconditionally.
Unimaginable Without Him — Kristina at heyred designs is celebrating her amazing partner, without whom none of her parenting experience would be possible.
My Parenting Necessity — Claire at The Adventures of Lactating Girl needs “me time” in order to be the Mama she wants to be.
Babywearing As a Way of Life — Darcel at The Mahogany Way talks about the benefits of babywearing in everyday life.
Parenting Partnership — Sometimes Abbie at Farmer’s Daughter doesn’t appreciate her husband enough, but she definitely couldn’t imagine parenting without his help.
Parenting Essentials — Momma Jorje loves her parenting products, but she needs you even more.
My Parenting Must-Have: Support — Joella at Fine and Fair wrote a letter to her daughter about the role that support from friends and family plays in her mothering.
It’s More Than Just Hair — Think doing hair is full of fluff? Too girly? Useless? Karli from Curly Hairdo Ideas used to think so too.
The Minimalist Parent — The parents at Living Peacefully with Children embrace a minimalist perspective when it comes to baby gear. A good sling is all they need.
Without My Breasts — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama can’t imagine parenting without her breasts; here’s why.
Loves Books, Loves People — Seonaid at the Practical Dilettante discovers that the library is a perfect fit for her family’s needs.
An Ode to the Maya Wrap — RevMama’s next child might be named Maya, because of her fondness for the sling.
Avoiding the Padded Room — Pecky at Benny and Bex is here to testify that it takes a village to raise a child.
My parenting essentials, from Tivo to battery-operated monstrosities — Lauren at Hobo Mama presents a list of parenting essentials you didn’t even know you needed (and probably don’t…).
Attachment Parenting Through Separation: It Makes It a Little Better — Jessica at This Is Worthwhile talks about how she couldn’t survive her separation without attachment parenting and the bond it’s afforded her with her 3 year old son.
Parenting Essentials — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares the principles she used to parent her children from infants to adults.
My Parenting Essentials — The things that are truly essential to Kim at In Desperate Need of Entertainment aren’t things at all.
I’m No One Without My Sling — How baby carrying is essential to the parenting of Jessica Claire at Crunchy-Chewy Mama.
I Cannot Imagine Parenting Without… — Isil at Smiling Like Sunshine talks about what she needs to raise her children.
February Carnival of Natural Parenting — Through her experiences over the last five and a half years, Casey at Love What Is has discovered her most important tool for parenting is using her instincts.

CNP: I Cannot Imagine Parenting Without __________. — The Artsymama discloses the one thing that gave her back control of herself as a parent.
Laugh Until I Cry — Laughing with her sons keeps Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes connected and grounded.
I Cannot Imagine Parenting Without — Luschka at Diary of a First Child realizes what the one thing she can’t imagine parenting without is, and it turns out it’s not a thing after all.
It Takes Two — Here are a few of the reasons why Jenn at Adventures Down Under cannot imagine parenting without her fabulous husband.
Stopping to Listen — Though it wasn’t easy at first, Knocked Up – Knocked Over cannot imagine parenting her daughter without listening first to what she is telling her.
The Essence of Parenting — There are many wonderful resources that make life easier for Michelle at the Parent Vortex to parent, but the essence is the relationship between parent and child.
What I Cannot Live Without — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker considers her computer to be a parenting lifeline.
True Blessings: White Noise and Grandparents — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment can’t live without her white noise machine and the support of her parents.
The Necessities! — What “stuff” does a natural parent like Lily, aka Witch Mom really need? Not much, it turns out.
Mama Showed Me — Mama Mo at Attached at the Nip writes about how parenting wisdom is passed on by example.
Ode to the Loo — For Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch, the bathroom is her safe place, where she can take a minute to calm down if she is feeling touched out.
Go, Mama. Go! — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. has been able to integrate her many roles through her get-up-and-go parenting essential, exercise!
My Other Half — Becky at Old New Legacy realizes what a relief it is to have her husband parent alongside her.
Grace, Love, and Coffee — MrsH at Fleeting Moments realizes that lifelines can take the form of the profound, or the mundane. Both are ok.
Supportive Spouse, Check! — There are so many parenting tools and gadgets that are superfluous, but the one essential, for Danielle at born.in.japan, has been her supportive spouse.
Why I’m a Babywearer — Meredith at Becoming Mamas reflects on the ways babywearing has enhanced her mama baby relationship…and made life easier to boot.
It’s Marvelous Out Here, Kiddo! — Rachael at The Variegated Life can’t imagine parenting in the big city without the marvels of Prospect Park to share with her Critter.
Yes, Thank You — Amy at Anktangle offers tips on how to ask for and accept help, an essential for successful parenting.
Parenting Essentials Checklist: Mom’s Inner Rebel and Her Kids’ Voices — Olivia at Write About Birth reflects on raising global citizens and saying no to societal norms.
Eco-Mama Online! — An Eco-Mama living in the mountains of a nature island, Terri at Child of the Nature Isle finds it essential to connect to nature and to connect online.
Sorry, We Just Sold the Last One — Nev at The Adventures of Lime confesses she missed out the day they handed out patience.
Laugh — Tashmica at The Mother Flippin’ Blog reveals her super power, her talisman agains mean mommy.
My Priceless Parenting Resource — What do books, a magazine community, my mother and the local playgroup have in common? Lucy at Dreaming Aloud tells us…
The Gift of Shared Time — Tree at Mom Grooves strives to experience the world from her daughter’s perspective.
Follow the Giggles — Dionna at Code Name: Mama can’t live without the sound of her child’s giggles – come watch her video and you’ll agree!
Can I Mommy Without Boob? — Emily at Crunchy(ish) Mama shares her fears about weaning and losing part of that the mother/child bond.

Tags: homeschool, Montessori, Montessori principles, parenting essentials