WHY I LOVE TODDLERS Most Montessori teachers have a favourite age to work with. For me it is working with my toddler friends. People are often confused by this preference. Toddlers can be hard work, they are emotional, and they do not always listen to us. I want to paint a new picture of the toddler. Toddlers live in the present moment. Walking down the street with a toddler can be a delight. While we make lists in our heads of the errands we need to run and what we need to cook for … [Read more...] about Toddlers are brilliant – The Montessori Notebook
child development
Looking after toddlers is hard – and what we can do about it
Looking after toddlers is indeed hard. They are impulsive. They run the other direction when we want them to get dressed. They throw things. They don’t listen. They ignore us and others while they are busy mastering so many skills for themselves. They need to move. They need to test limits to see how the world works. They need to test their bodies to become stronger and more capable. It’s hard because: We have to be our toddler’s pre-frontal cortex. As my friend Jeanne-Marie says, … [Read more...] about Looking after toddlers is hard – and what we can do about it
Montessori and testing: why do we keep asking “What colour is this?” and other questions to test our child?
So today I’ve been wondering why do we test our child? We keep asking questions like “What colour is this?" and so many others. I’ve done it too. Before I had any exposure to the Montessori approach, I was unknowingly and constantly testing my son. “Can you show grandma how you can clap?"“What sound does the cow make?"“What’s this? And this? And this?" I don’t even know why I was asking him these things. Often I’d ask him to perform some new skill or trick on cue, maybe to make myself … [Read more...] about Montessori and testing: why do we keep asking “What colour is this?” and other questions to test our child?
How not to stop a tantrum. Yes, you read that right.
Firstly a huge thank you to everyone who responded to the recent tour of our Montessori toddler classroom here. And to everyone who has been receiving their copies of The Montessori Toddler book and sharing them. The excitement has been infectious. So fun to be part of a revolution to help people see toddlers in a new way. So many pictures have been coming in – I love this one on Instagram by @ourmontessoristory – her shelf nearly looks like the cover of the book. Now onto today’s … [Read more...] about How not to stop a tantrum. Yes, you read that right.