Pumpkins are more than just a symbol of autumn or a staple in pumpkin spice lattes. They are a gateway to a magical world of exploration, learning, and wonder, especially in Montessori preschools. As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, the humble pumpkin takes center stage, offering a cornucopia of opportunities for young minds to grow, discover, and flourish.
Good manners are learned in the million moments we spend with our children. It's during the everyday interactions we have with them that we have the chance to impart valuable lessons. We can teach manners, but it is in practicing our own courteous and respectful behavior that we reinforce the lessons.
Unlike other species that are born with a predetermined set of behaviors, human babies are born with a set of potentials. When a child is born, we have no idea if they will be a master musician or a creative chef. It’s pretty amazing when we think about it! Children are constantly creating the skills they need to become contributing adults.
When we pick up our children from school, it can be so tempting to ask, “How was your day?” Often the responses we get are lackluster. The reality is it can be hard for children to talk about their experiences at school. If we shift our approach, however, we can often start meaningful conversations and get more insight into our children’s day.
The abundance of toys often leads to clutter, overstimulation, and decreased interest in each individual plaything. This is where the magic of toy rotation comes in. The idea is to curate a carefully selected set of toys and activities for your child to explore during a specific period. By offering a limited number of options, you enhance your child's focus, encourage deeper engagement, and even foster a sense of gratitude for the toys they have.
We place a lot of emphasis in Montessori on independence because we want to help children become highly capable young people! For our youngest children, this means supporting them in the mastery of basic functions such as eating, toileting, and sleeping. Supporting growth in independent skills is significant because these are areas of life where children have control over what does and does not happen.
Everything we do to care for the environment, ourselves, and others make up what can be called "practical life" activities. In a Montessori home or school environment, practical life activities help children learn about cultural norms, while also helping them develop internal motivation, intellect, and body coordination.
Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. Hopefully, we even learn from them! Intellectually, we probably understand that mistakes are part of our children’s process of learning and growing. Yet as parents and caregivers, it can be hard to know how to handle situations when our children don’t do the right thing.
The first moments after giving birth are some of the most precious. Newborn and mother come together for the first time as separate beings. This relationship is so intimate and incredibly unique because of the symbiotic link between the birth mother and her newborn child.
As caregivers and parents, we have a bit of a bittersweet role. While we want to keep our children close, we ultimately need to support their path toward independence. Indeed, one of the most important things we can do is to help them learn and support them in growing to become functionally independent.
