Montessori advent calendar countdown – Week 3

Let’s continue with the advent fun. Here is Week 3 of the Montessori advent calendar to help y0u bring Montessori into your home.

Day 15

The brilliance of this advice is its simplicity. Today’s tip is from Seemi of Trillium Montessori. You can’t find a sweeter person out there – she does so much to help others and has an amazing school too. Thanks for joining us Seemi!

If this was the only thing you took away from the advent calendar, your connection with your child would sky rocket. Everyone just wants to be heard. And here we listen mindfully by looking into their eyes when they talk to us. One for me to keep practising for sure!

Day 16

Accepting others for who they are is one of our biggest challenges. The security a child receives when they are accepted for both their strengths and weaknesses will hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives. And will help them accept others for all their good and bad bits too.

It means not trying to deny their feelings, not to have plans for their future, or not to push them away when they are lying flat on the floor in the supermarket. Love them for all of them. A true challenge for every parent.

Day 17

Love this wisdom from Amy Dorsch of Midwest Montessori. Amy has the sweetest little ones exploring the world Montessori-style. Her pictures are inspiring and her spaces beautiful. So be sure to follow along.

Treating our children as “whole, capable people” is so empowering. For us to trust their bodies, their choices and their exploration. Better to focus on patience and understanding. Instead of hovering and telling them to be careful, we can observe them and step in just when they need a little help along the way.

Day 18

Do you find yourself saying “my child doesn’t listen”? And you repeat yourself over and over?

When getting cooperation from kids, they need time to process what we have said. I taught myself a trick to make a request from the child and then count to 10 slowly in my head (not aloud).

What I find amazing is that they did actually hear, it just takes them time to process our request, and very often you’ll see it takes them nearly until I’ve counted to 10 before they respond. And I’ve not even had to repeat myself.

Beautiful words from Anna of Eltern vom Mars. You’ll need Google Translate to read her blog, or just enjoy her photos. But you’ll be met with beautiful spaces to explore and practical wisdom we can all learn from. It’s one of the Montessori blogs you’ll absolutely want to add to your reading list.

Absorbing beauty is a core concept of the Montessori approach. In our homes and – as Anna points out – while studying plants, animals and people from all over the world. With the hope that these children will care for what they love. Beautiful.

Day 20

Punishment can make children angry at their parents, make them seek ways to not get caught, or make them obedient through fear of the consequence. Punishment is basically an extrinsic motivation to behave.

Instead, if we want to build connection with our children, let them take responsibility for their mistakes, and raise children with self-discipline, we need to help build more intrinsic motivation.

When they get angry, upset or out of control, hold them if they’ll allow you to help them calm down. Or keep them safe, sit nearby, verbally assure them you are there if they need you, if they don’t want to be touched. Then once they are back to calm you can help them make amends – it might be getting a tissue for their friend who is crying, cleaning the mess off the floor, or repairing a siblings’ broken toy.

They learn that you accept them even in the darkest moments, and they take responsibility for their actions. Win-win.

To follow along for the last days, head over to the Facebook page. And enjoy some Montessori tips to keep in mind.

And if you missed the first 2 weeks, here is a round up of Week 1 and Week 2.