From the Vault: Our Favorite “Montessori in the Home” Blog Posts
Now that we are learning from home for the time being, implementing Montessori practices with your family is more helpful than ever. Here are some of our favorite past resources by age level. Whether your child is a toddler, teen, or somewhere in between, there is something here for everyone!
For Toddlers
Now that we’re spending more of our meals together, it’s a great opportunity for your toddler to enjoy food prep activities! Learn about the benefits of cooking with your child and how to optimize your kitchen for a toddler-sized chef.
“What we say to our toddlers and how we say it is one of our most powerful and effective teaching tools.” Beginners teacher Samantha Foley shares simple (and effective) ways to implement positive language and achieve desired behaviors.
Household chores are an excellent way to help develop a child's independence, and ultimately, confidence in their own capabilities. This post provides suggestions on how to involve your child in housekeeping, while keeping in mind realistic expectations for their age and ability.
For Primary (Age 3–6)
Parents often remark that Wellan teachers have a magical power for getting children to listen. Read on to learn about valuable tools teachers use for communicating with students and how you can implement these practices at home.
Practicing mindfulness has psychological benefits for both children and adults—especially during these uncertain times. Primary teacher Ashley McLean discusses how she approaches mindfulness in the classroom and how families can incorporate mindfulness at home.
Though it’s no longer winter, Primary teacher Jutta Lossner-Liang highlights an abundant list of outdoor activities that are fun in every season! She also provides resources and activity ideas for exploring nature with children.
For Elementary/Middle School (Grades 1–8)
Design Lab teacher Merav Rosen explains the concept of “tinkering” as well as its benefits to young minds. She also makes several suggestions on how to encourage tinkering at home (including ideas for making your own "tinker tray", which fosters curiosity, creativity, and collaboration).
This is a great read for parents of adolescents who are navigating their place in the world. Middle School teacher Julia Tatsch dives into what real happiness looks like and how it relates to making positive change in our world, which in turn can help us redefine our approach to educating adolescents.
Elementary and Middle School Division Leader Caitlin Bowring highlights several simple ways to make gratefulness a habit at home. While this blog post is geared towards the holiday season, we know gratefulness is a beneficial practice all year round!
As you navigate learning from home, what resources have you found most helpful? Let us know in the comments.
